That One Patient

Chapters

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 1
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 2
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 2
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 3
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 4
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 4
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 5
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 5
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 6
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 7
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 7
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 8
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 9
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 10
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 11
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 12
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 12
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 13
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 13
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 14
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 15
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 16
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 17
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 18
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 19
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 19
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 20
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 21
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 22
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 22
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 23
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 23
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 24
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 24
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 25
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 26
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 26
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 27
Epilogue
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 1
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 3
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 6
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 8
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 9
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 10
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 11
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 14
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 15
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 16
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 17
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 18
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 20
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 21
Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 25
Case ID: #73104-921, Page 27

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 1

St. Solaris Mental Institution
4104, Birchwood Lane
Manehattan, Equestria

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 1

Patient Name: Apollo Glint
Residence: 742 Nebula Street, Canterlot, EQ
Occupation: Dayshift Manager at Cornucopia Fruit Market
Species: Unicorn
Blood Type: O+
Eyes: Brown
Coat: Magenta
Mane: Teal
Marks: An unknown marking on his right hoof
Relatives: Sorbet (Sister), Comet Blaze (Brother, Deceased), Glacier Frost and Melody Encore (Parents, Deceased)
Reason for admittance: Psychotic breakdown that led to the deaths of his marefriend, brother, and a few other ponies. Was declared ‘Insane’ by the court as a result.

Apollo Glint was admitted to this institution after a mental breakdown resulted in the deaths of several ponies while attending a party. By the time the guards arrived on the scene, he hardly spoke a word as he was escorted out and offered no resistance to his arrest.

During his temporary incarceration and subsequent trial, he sat in his cell, responding to nothing and never eating anything the jail staff provided. After the sentencing, he was sent here to our care where he exhibited the same quirks until his interview. The following is a transcript of his interview with our Head Psychologist, Dr. Farsight.

Farsight: (Takes a seat) Hello, Mr. Glint. My name is Dr. Farsight and I’ve taken on your case. How are you today?

Apollo: …

Farsight: Is there something wrong?

Apollo: …

Farsight: I understand what you went through has been… traumatic and you undoubtedly feel remorse for what you did. I’m not here to admonish you for what you did. I want to help you. If you’re able to, please recollect everything you’ve felt i-

Apollo: No! No please! (Grips his temples with his hooves)

Farsight: What? What happened that you’re so afraid of? Please, tell me everything if you wish.

Apollo: No… I can’t.

Farsight: Why not?

Apollo: Because… no… NO! (Charges at Nurse Faraday and starts slamming her against the wall) THE DARK ONE WON’T GET ME UNLESS I MAKE THE RED STUFF SPILL!!! I’LL SPILL IT LIKE FOUNTAINS!!! SPILL!!! SPILL!!! SPILL!!!

Faraday: Doctor, get the damned guards in here! (Head gets slammed into wall) Arrgh! Buck!

Farsight: (Guards enter room and separate Faraday and Apollo, restraining the latter) You two, keep him restrained! (Pulls out a sedative syringe, jabs it into Apollo’s neck, administering the drug and subdues him) Don’t worry. Hopefully, you’ll remember none of this.

(Interview ends)

In accordance with Farsight’s advice, we’ve set up increased surveillance in his cell and posted guards there to prevent him from causing self-harm. We’re working to diagnose him with all the conditions and disorders that stem from this behavior but it’s too early to make a valid conclusion. We’ll follow up on this matter as soon as more information is made available.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 2

This is day two of my treatment of Patient Apollo Glint (AKA: #73104-921) and I first thought it would be more of the same as was yesterday. However, when the staff let him outside of his room for the day, he seemed… a little different. He kept to himself for the most part but he was calm nonetheless. However, there was the matter of that when he stared at the T.V., the picture was seen as being filled with static and distorted. The static I can see is a natural phenomenon but how the staff described the distortion, undulating among other things. I might need to have the wires here checked. I want to rule out any weirdness.

When he had his lunch (Mashed potatoes, Cornbread, and Hayburger), he ate everything EXCEPT the potatoes. Odd, I never met a pony in my life that didn’t care for mashed potatoes. Here’s where it gets odd. All he did with the potatoes was draw something in it, a symbol of sorts. I advised the staff to keep me abreast of any and all occurrences involving him so they handed me the tray with the symbol intact.

Crossreferencing it with some pictures we took of him during processing, it matched the marking on his right hoof, possibly a birthmark. It’s a circle with two elongated triangles on the top and bottom of it and what looks to be “C’s” flanking either side of the circle. It’s an odd symbol but I will read up on it for further study. It could have meaning. But, something about it seems oddly… unnerving.

After I had a chance for some lunch myself, I got right into interviewing Apollo again. Earlier, he was given a dose of his medication to control his outbursts. Initially, I feared such a combo would render him unresponsive but when I greeted him, he said hello back, followed by an apology for yesterday’s outburst. I might have to consider marking Schizoaffective Disorder on his document, especially after his interview today.

He was rather talkative today but nonetheless kept himself on guard and cautious throughout. When I asked him what happened that day he killed all those ponies, here’s what he described.

When he went to wash his hands in a bathroom, he looked in the mirror and say his eyes bleeding yet he couldn’t feel any blood, followed by a burning sensation in his eyes. From the sheer pain, he began to scream, begging it to stop. That’s, apparently, when he heard some sort of deep and commanding voice, one that wasn’t there. It said:

“Only through the spilling of blood shall my presence be cast aside!”

After rushing to the kitchen, his marefriend tried to comfort him to no avail. That’s when he took a knife and slashed her throat before she could blink. When his brother came in, he lunged at him and stabbed him twenty-eight times before killing two more as panic broke out. When he got outside and saw his sister approach with a few guards, that was when he tried to stab himself with the knife but the guards were quick enough to subdue him. After all that, he claimed everything was like a blur to him.

After his recollection, I showed him the tray with the symbol being more pronounced for clearer visibility. I… have no clue as to the significance of the symbol, its meaning, or its connection to him but he started panicking. He practically jumped out of his seat and began screaming and crying. That was when I had to cut the interview shorter than I hoped.

That symbol… what about it caused him to exhibit so much fear? Could it have something to do with a traumatic experience? That fire his parents died in? I need to look more into this. But all in all, we got a bit done in regards to him

On a side note, to myself, have the cooks improve upon the mashed potatoes recipe here. This slop would make my mother feel ashamed.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 2

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 2

Today marks the second day of Appolo Glint’s treatment. After administering the appropriate dosage of medication, he was allowed to interact with his fellow patients. However, he kept his distance from others and preferred to sit alone near a window. Going by observations, this could be a sign of future unsociable behaviors. Recommend closer observation of the patient.

When he stared at the television in the break room, orderlies observed that the tv started to behave outside its intended use. It was only when Apollo left the room for lunch did the television in question resume proper function. Institution staff are looking into this phenomenon and Dr. Farsight was notified. After lunch was finished, all that was left of Apollo’s lunch was mashed potatoes that had something drawn in them reminiscent of the marking on his right hoof. The aforementioned tray was brought intact to Farsight as per his instructions.

When it came time for his interview, he was reported to be more sociable and receptive to Farsight’s questions. He was able to recall the incident that led to his commitment to this institution. Unfortunately, the interview was cut short due to an episode where he exhibited intense and irrational fear when asked about the symbol he drew in his lunch. Here’s the following transcript of that interview.

Farsight: Hello, Mr. Glint. I trust that you’ve had a good day today.

Apollo: I… I did. Sorry about yesterday.

Farsight: That’s okay. Just remember that we’re not here to hurt you. It’s far from our intentions.

Apollo: Can you tell that mare that I’m sorry?

Farsight: I’ll be sure to tell Mrs. Faraday that the next time I see her. (Flips through his notebook) Now, yesterday you had a psychotic episode when we asked about why you did what you did and what went through your mind. If you want to, please go into as much detail. All we want is the truth.

Apollo: (Crosses his arms, rocks back and forth) After helping make the dessert for the party, I went to use the bathroom. When I looked in the mirror, I saw my eyes… bleeding! Yet, I felt nothing! There was no blood! But my eyes… Oh harmony, th-they burned! The pain was so unbearable that I started to scream. That was when I heard… the voice.

Farsight: What did it say?

Apollo: (Shudders) “Only through the spilling of blood shall my presence be cast aside!”
Farsight: That was when the killings started?

Apollo: I ran into the kitchen to get away from it and my marefriend tried to help. When she touched me… I just grabbed the knife and slashed her throat. She fell to the floor the moment my brother walked in. Before he could even react, I pounced and stabbed him until I was sure he was dead, about twenty-eight times. That was when the screaming started and I… I couldn’t help myself and I just kept attacking others until none were left in the house. After I got outside and my sister and the guards saw me, I realized what I had done. They tackled me before I could end myself!

Farsight: I understand you feel a sense of guilt over what you did. However, suicide isn’t the answer. What you did may stick with you but ending your own life doesn’t make it right. There are better ways to cope. (Reaches for Apollo’s lunch tray) Now, this was brought to me after your lunch was over. From what I understand, this symbol you drew here resembles the symbol on your hoof. (Gives tray to Apollo) Can you tell me what it means?

Apollo: ...No! (Recoils in fear) No, please!

Farsight: What about the symbol scares you? Please explain so I coul-

Apollo: (Jumps out of seat and lays in corner) NO! PLEASE! I… GET IT AWAY FROM ME! I CAN FEEL HIM! AARRGGGHHH!!! HE CLAWS AT MY MIND! (Begins to cry)

Farsight: (Sighs) I guess that’s it for the interview for today. (Turns to guard) Please get the orderlies, quickly!

After that, the patient was medicated and sent back to his room. While we were grateful to acquire more information and insight, much still remains to be discovered. Tomorrow, we will abstain from interviews to allow the patient a reprieve and a chance to for more extensive observation. As always, any information and future incidents pertaining to Mr. Glint is to be sent to Dr. Farsight for future analysis.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 3

Today was a rather boring day because we didn’t interview Apollo as we did the past two days. After conferring with the rest of the psychologists after the patient’s second interview, I agreed that it was best to switch things up a bit. So, for the day, we maintained a passive observation of him. It was through this that we wanted to make a not of any and all abnormal behaviors that Apollo may exhibit for the sake of more efficient analysis and prepare for any situation.

Like yesterday, he was given the opportunity to walk around a bit for some fresh air but with supervision. He went into the T.V. break room where he sat on a chair and began reading a Daring Do book. It was an odd choice as I figured he wouldn’t be interested but nevertheless, I marked it down as him enjoying books. He seemed to be entirely glued to the thing. Hell, I’ve even heard from his attending caretaker that he seemed to smile. Mark that down for an oddity.

But, another incident occurred between two patients, Acheron and Cheddar. It all started with both of them complaining about headaches, followed by general irritability and hostility. It all came to a head when a heated exchange between them before it erupted to blows. Apollo was reported to have observed the exchange as things got worse when somehow, Cheddar pulled out a scalpel and stabbed Acheron in the throat.

It was a grisly by the time the guards separated them. Blood pooling around, things, strangely enough, cooled down when Apollo was removed from the room. As a result of this, Cheddar was put into solitary confinement until his condition improves. As for Acheron, he survived… but his vocal cords have been irreparably damaged and as a result, may never be able to speak again. I’ll be looking for possible alternate methods of communication for him.

I find it odd, however, that they only ceased their fighting after Apollo was removed from the room and to the library. I’ve drawn two conclusions from this: a possible side effect from the medication or, though unlikely, a fault in his magic suppression ring. The reason why I’m considering ruling out the latter is that I made sure that all those rings we get are of high quality and built to take any measure of magic. But, I can’t discount that possibility. I’ll look further into this.

At the end of the day when he was sent to his quarters for the night, his handler gave me a notebook he drew in. It was an idea I had to give him something of that sort as a way to encourage expression and also gather valuable data. All he really drew was the same symbol as yesterday on all of the notebook’s pages. Each iteration of the symbol was accompanied by:

“He demands blood.”

I have no clue as to who ‘he’ is in reference to. However, since I’m heading into Canterlot tomorrow, I’m going to try to find some time to broaden the investigation a bit and dig up some more information. As a result of today’s incident, I’m ordering all medical equipment to be monitored and put under lock and key when not in use. It’s inexcusable that our security is beginning to lax.
But, I must get some sleep. I hope it can get rid of this migraine.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 4

I’m going to preface this log by saying that I’m rather pissed off. I went to Canterlot the other day to visit with family and check the local library for further information. My search there proved fruitless as I scanned through every conceivable book on symbols and their meaning. To be blunt, I’ve found jack shit, not a damned thing and the library in the city was useless. I wanted to go to the castle’s library but only royalty and government employees are allowed access and I have the misfortune of being neither. The only way I’m going to get any new info is just by talking to Apollo at this point.

Before today’s interview, Apollo’s behavior had taken a rather shocking turn from what he exhibited previously. During his free time at lunch, he was reported to have been talking to himself. What he said was left unclear to many of the staff but those that did hear him described it as ‘speaking in tongue’ like it’s some dead language akin to Ancient Equestrian. Over and over, it sounded like he was repeating some phrase. I might need to hire a linguist to help understand this if it becomes a regular occurrence. But, this wasn’t the only incident.

Off the bat, Apollo exhibited heightened aggression, higher than what he showed during our first meeting. It was when I got back from an early lunch that I got to witness him assault another patient named Honeydew. It all started when he accidentally bumped into Apollo and the latter began growling and barking all sorts of curses before attacking him. He first thrashed Honeydew against the wall, bashing his face before throwing him to the ground. He was kicking him repeatedly before the orderlies came to restrain him. I ordered no sedatives be used on him as I wanted him lucid for the talk. Thankfully, they complied with my request.

When the usual time came, he was carted in a straightjacket dolly to keep him restrained due to the earlier incident. Despite his earlier incident, he was quite a chatterbox. I’d even say that he was rather aggressive in his delivery of the answers. Just when I thought the investigation was going to be a long, drawn-out affair, he revealed quite a bit of info, much more than I had anticipated. He told me stuff that even caught me off guard.

For starters, Apollo stated that he didn’t have a favorable relationship with his father. He was often his favored target for beatings and his mother stood by and watched. His other siblings got beatings too but not to the same degree he received them. It was when his older siblings were out with friends that he suffered a beating so bad that the same voice he described before compelled him to get revenge. There, he revealed himself to be the true perpetrator of that house fire that killed his parents, claiming that “He deserved to die! They all deserved to die!”

When I asked about the marking on his hoof, he revealed it to be a birthmark. So, I can mark that down and rule out all other possibilities like a scar. For the rest of the interview, he began singing some song that was like one a mother would sing as a lullaby. The only difference was I could detect some form of malice in the words. After he finished, I declared the meeting concluded. I was quite honestly surprised it turned out to be productive.

In light of all this, I’m considering diagnosing him with DID and Schizophrenia as I now have a strong enough case for both. His medication should be altered to account for this and guards must be posted in the break room from now on.

He's... a lot more troubled than I thought.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 4

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 4

Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) had exhibited signs of heightened aggression, a drastic change from any previously recorded behaviors. He was reported to have been walking around and muttering something to himself. It was later determined to have possibly been a dead language that is not too dissimilar to Ancient Equestrian. As per directions from Dr. Farsight, we recorded parts of what he said and will be hiring a linguist from Canterlot to translate it. We anticipate their arrival to be within the next few days at which time we will have them be a regular fixture at this facility.

On the subject of the altercation between Mr. Glint and Patient #45520-893 (Honeydew), Mr. Glint’s heightened aggression came to light after Honeydew accidentally bumped into him. Mr. Glint retaliated by brutally assaulting him during which Dr. Farsight was present. It took approximately two minutes before staff arrived to diffuse the situation and Mr. Glint was put under restraint for the rest of the day. No drugs were administered as per Farsight’s advice and Honeydew is presently recovering in the infirmary.

Below is the transcript of the day’s interview with Mr. Glint.

Farsight: Apollo, are you feeling alright after today’s little incident?

Apollo: What? Why do I fucking care? He shouldn’t have bumped into me like that.

Farsight: But that doesn’t give you the right to assault him the way you did.

Apollo: Whatever.

Farsight: Okaaayy… moving on. Now, I’ve read up on your file and it mentioned your parents died in a fire when you were ten.

Apollo: Do they honestly keep track of every damned thing?

Farsight: It’s part of our job, Apollo. We need as much relevant information to determine the best way to treat you.

Apollo: And I suppose you want me to recollect what had happened?

Farsight: Well yeah, and in as much detail as you can. Don’t rush yourself.

Apollo: (Sighs) Fine. I’m willing to guess that you believe that I had a good relationship with my folks, like its some happy-go-lucky story.

Farsight: Was it?

Apollo: No, it wasn’t! My father would regularly beat me and my brother and sister and I got the worst of it. I hoped that my mother would help me afterward or would intervene… but she fucking didn’t! That BITCH just watched with apathy as I screamed out her name. She abandoned me, throwing me to the damned timberwolves. They treated me like I was lower than shit, ten levels lower than shit!

Farsight: But what about the fire?

Apollo: Oh, that is the million-bit question. You see... after my dearest daddy beat me over the head one night while my bother and sister were out with friends, I heard a voice in my head. He called himself… Mr. Skull. He spoke to me, saying that they needed to pay and told me how to do it. After my parents went to sleep, I poured some oil around the house and lit the match. I didn’t even see them burn as I left and I didn’t even give a damn. My father… mother… He deserved to die! They all deserved to die!

Farsight: Is that all?

Apollo: What do you think? (Notices Farsight staring at his mark) What’s the big deal with you staring at my birthmark?

Farsight: Wait, that’s your birthmark?

Apollo: No shit, genius! (Laughs loudly) Mommy, mommy, tuck me in! Please check underneath my bed! Mr. Monster stalks the night, giving foals dreadful fright! (Laughs loudly)

Farsight: What are you singing?

Apollo: Mr. Monster hungry for the foals that don’t sleep right at night. If he finds you, don’t you cry or he’ll bring a tide of red! (Laughs loudly)

Farsight: Okay, that’s all we can get for today. End interview.

In accordance with Dr. Farsight, we have a strong enough case to diagnose him with Dissociative Identity Disorder and Schizophrenia. As such, his regular medication regimen is to be altered and more staff to be assigned to the breakroom after the aforementioned incident.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 5

Alright, now is where I’m starting to get worried. A lot happened today that I wasn’t able to find any time to interview Apollo. It… It was crazy and it’s still making me shake my head! Earlier this morning, our linguist from Canterlot had arrived. Her name is Rosetta Scribe, a professor at the Canterlot Institute of History. Since it’s believed that we were dealing with a dead language, she volunteered as she claimed. I have to say that her eagerness and devotion to her discipline will prove useful but I hope that she’ll be unaffected by what has been going on here as of late.

As per usual, we’ve spent the day gathering notes and recording anything Apollo speaks in that tongue. Speaking to himself, we recorded that. Anything he writes, we copied. We made sure to acquire EVERY possible bit of data we could get our hooves on. Finally, we had enough to get Rosetta to work her magic. To her astonishment, the language was identified as “Tambelonese”. From what she said, it’s an ancient language that went even farther than Ancient Equestrian and no recorded texts of said language exist anymore. It was odd that a unicorn would be fluent in a language as old as Tambelonese. Out of what was translated, one phrase stuck out:

“My arrival is nigh! I am inevitable!”

Obviously, that was in reference to this “Mr. Skull” that he mentioned the other day. So, whoever this “Mr. Skull” might be, he might either be some outside entity or just a figment of his imagination, it remains to be determined. I can’t believe that now a piece of our ancient history is involved in some way. Yet, it’s another thing I have to take into account for this case. But, that wasn’t the only crazy thing that happened.

A patient came here a year ago named Prospero. She had lost her filly to drowning as it went for a swim and it left her near-catatonic as a result. Tragic, it truly is. Due to her state, we didn’t have much to worry about apart from nourishment and basic care. That was… until this afternoon where she took her own life. When we got to her cell, we saw that her hooves had been slashed diagonally with a piece of glass that she might’ve snuck in and she wrote a phrase that was later confirmed to be Tambelonese. The only other pony that knew it was Apollo.

This… I don’t know. I mean, I’m now starting to believe that Apollo has a hoof in what happened but it’s impossible without magic, something he can't use because of the ring. I know that an ancestor of his was a powerful sorcerer as I’ve read up on his family tree after the first day of all this but he shouldn’t be able to use it. I don’t fully believe that he did it but as a precaution, I’m going to commission the princesses for a better magic suppression ring. I want to be one hundred percent sure that Apollo isn’t responsible or keep him contained if that’s the case.

But, one of the translated phrases still unnerved me.

“The Tide of Red is upon us!”

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 5

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 5

Today, a Class-B incident occurred at approximately 4:32 PM in A-Block involving Patient #34312-825 (Prospero) and #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) was suspected to be involved. Around an hour before she was discovered, Prospero had made cuts on her wrists with what looked to be a piece of broken glass. It also looked to be that Prospero had written a phrase in an unknown language and the information will be analyzed jointly by Dr. Farsight and Dr. Rosetta Scribe.

Unfortunately, by the time Prospero was discovered, the doctors had pronounced her dead via suicide (Bleed out). Her body is currently interred in the morgue, pending retrieval by any relative of the deceased. On the same note, an investigation into the incident has cast probable suspicion on Apollo Glint being the root cause. Speculation has posited a fault in his magic suppression ring. Further investigation revealed that his paternal great-great-great-grandfather was Balthazar, a known sorcerer who’s power tier is on the same level as Starswirl The Bearded.

Furthermore, our new temporary employee, Dr. Rosetta Scribe, the linguist from C.I.E., needs to have our full cooperation for the duration of her stay. As such, anytime Apollo Glint is heard speaking the language she and Farsight identified as “Tambelonese”, it’s to be captured with a tape recorder device along with any accompanying notes and only to them. As per Farsight’s orders, a more potent MSR is being commissioned from Princesses Celestia and Luna to better contain Apollo Glint’s magic. We should expect it to arrive within a week.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 6

That… That dream I had last night… I didn’t remember it at first but I slowly recognized it. Ponies would like to think that we psychologists with our knowledge of how the mind works would be mentally stoic. But, that couldn’t be any farther from the truth. We’re just as psychologically frail as everypony else. In our lifetimes, we all experience some form of mental trauma that just sticks with us. For me, it’s like an old friend of mine, rooted in what could be considered a childhood. In fact, I didn’t have a childhood at all.

It all started with me in my room, playing with blocks as any foal would back in the day. I’m not sure how long ago it was but I guess I was around seven or so at the time. Then, I saw the door open and through it, entered a face I wished I forget: My father, Peppermint. Anypony, ideally, would have a good relationship with their mother or father, but not me. My mother and I never had the best of ties with that stallion. Every beating, every shout and insult, I try to forget it all with a memory suppression spell.

I’ll never forget that night and I still remember that scent of Appleloosa Malt Whiskey in his breath. He knocks over the tower I was building, laughing like some jackass that kicks down your sandcastle at a beach. Calling me everything between “Weak”, “Worthless, and a “Pansy fairy”, he gave me an earful before he started hitting me with the classic leather belt. Cursing my name with every hit, I screamed for it to stop, calling out to my mother to save me which she does most of the time. Still, I remember every bit of pain from those lashes. Something felt different about it though.

As my father gave me the lashes, I saw a shadowy figure behind him, one that glowed with the eyes of a timberwolf. It looked familiar and it took me a while to figure it out that it was…

Apollo Glint?

How in Celestia’s name was he able to reach into my mind and access those memories? How is he potentially that powerful to where he can do mental influencing and manipulation? We already suspect him of being behind the death of Prospero but… I don’t know. I’m at that point where I’m beginning to believe that I’ve bitten off more than I can chew. But, I’ve already committed myself to this case, not going to back down.

With Apollo’s interview tomorrow, I hope to get some answers from him but I’m still unsure if that is actually him. As a scientist, I have to explore every possibility to find some rational explanation for all this. If it turns out to be him, then I’ll implement any and all measures to keep him contained. There’s still much I have to learn from him but I need keep other ponies here safe. I pray that the MSR made by Celestia and Luna arrives tomorrow.

I need to cast that memory suppression spell again.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 7

Two days ago, we finally got the Enhanced MSR from the princesses in Canterlot. I have to say that it’s been working like a charm. But even then, we have to take every precaution to ensure the safety of the other patients here. As such, the decision was made to move Apollo to a more secure residence in C-Wing. This residence had some modifications to it that would block any and all magic from getting in or out. So no matter where he’ll be, there’ll hopefully be no incidents like the last few. Quite ingenious actually. Also, his free time has now been restricted.

But before we were able to get everything in check, yesterday we had an incident where… well, it started when Apollo refused to leave the break room after free time was up. Not wanting to be moved, he fought with the orderlies until he lashed out with his magic, causing the patients in the facility to go into a frenzy. The outburst was so strong that it actually shattered his original MSR. Even the staff had trouble trying to contain him and it took a good ten minutes before they hit him with a potent sedative. He was out for an entire day due to the dose.

All in all, he was passive for the entire day even to the point of being well mannered. Whether or not it can be attributed to his change of rooms, the new MSR or both, it’s debatable. Yet, it was a welcome change of pace but it reinforces my idea of mood swings being one of his main problems among other things. His cheerful attitude reminded me a bit of Pinkie Pie when I talked to her a year back. Hopefully, this will be a constant and we can avoid further trouble.

During today’s interview, he was rather cheerful, much more so than usual. We talked about a lot of stuff but I didn’t mention that one dream I had where he was seemingly in it. Felt that would break his seemingly good spirits. Topics ranged from the mundane to who this Mr. Skull is. However, he was able to draw what looked to be a crude stick sketch of what Mr. Skull (at least how his mind sees him) looks like. He looked somewhat like a pony but hairier than most ponies with horns and a somewhat short mane. At least we now have a rough idea of who Mr. Skull looks like.

In regards to the drawing, I’m going to cross-reference it with any known figure in the libraries I can access. We’re geeting into the meat of this whole investigation and it’s starting to make the hairs of my coat stand straight. Perhaps when we can solve this, we can end this before it can get worse. It’s always in my own personal nature to expect the worse. I’ve had my fair share of things getting worse. It’s an old familiar feeling for me that killed my optimism.

Everglade, my love, I miss you dearly.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 7

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 7

The Type-7 MSR from Canterlot has been delivered to the facility and its effects were readily noticeable. There was a change in behavior for Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) where he seemed more responsive and his aggression was significantly reduced. As a result of yesterday’s incident where Mr. Glint experienced an Aggressive Magic Lashout (AML), We’ve transferred him to a specialized room in C-Wing where the walls are lined with the same magical properties as an MSR, essentially making it a theoretical “Sunaday Cage”. Furthermore, Mr. Glint’s free time has now been shortened and restricted to enable more effective observation. Apart from all that, nothing of note to report.

Below is a transcript of today’s interview between him and Dr. Farsight.

Farsight: Apollo, I trust you’ve had a good day today?

Apollo: Absolutely. I didn’t run into any problems except that nightmare I’ve had last night.

Farsight: Was it this “Mr. Skull”? You always talked about him

#73104-921 Yes, it was him.

Farsight: What about that dream scared you so much?

Apollo: It’s a bit hard to describe but I’ll do my best. I was in a rocky desert area, don’t know where but it might’ve been Appleloosa. I was being surrounded by razorsnakes of varying kinds as Mr. Skull watches the scene as he laughs at and taunts me. After that, the snakes started to devour me, slowly ripping the flesh from my bones! I swore I could feel every fang tear through me, every bit of that pain. It was only when a couple got to my eyes that I woke up. It.. was just horrifying.

Farsight: I know that it scared you. But, nightmares are just figments of your mind and aren’t real, no matter how real they feel. They can’t hurt you. How about we change things up a bit here. Do you remember what Mr. Skull looks like?

Apollo: Vaguely. Why?

Farsight: (Gives Apollo a piece of paper and pen) Why don’t you draw what he looks like? It doesn’t have to be detailed, just enough to where we can get a good enough idea as to what he looks like.

Apollo: Okay, but I’m a terrible drawer in general. (Draws a crude stick drawing of Mr. Skull) Here it is.

Farsight: (Looks at drawing) Okay, this will do. But unfortunately, that’s all the time we have for today as I have a meeting in an hour. Also, if you need to talk to me, don’t be afraid to ask me.

Apollo: Is that allowed?

Farsight: I see no issue with that. (Gets up from his seat) Anything else you want to say?

Apollo: Yeah. The mashed potatoes here are terrible. Can you get the cooks to do better?

Farsight: (Giggles slightly) I can pull a few strings. Sure.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 8

I had another nightmare last night but… it was about… I saw quite a bit then and it’s a lot to describe. But, fuck it, I’ll at least try to. It was in the part of Manehattan that I grew up in, the upper east side if I can recall. Strangely, I saw nopony around, not even the slightest sign of activity. Not so much as a stray dog or cat could be seen anywhere, a truly eerie sight. It was odd because that part of the city is the commercial district and it’s usually the busiest part of Manehattan. It was like one of those old ghost towns in the Appleloosa area that I’ve heard about but intact.

I walked around the area a bit before a found an alley where light illuminated it. My red flag radar was going off at that point but I had no choice and went in there anyway. Save for the sounds of some squeaky fire escapes and air conditioners, nothing caught my eye until I was at a two-way intersection. I went right and I swore I could hear the sound of what sounded like wet peanut butter being smooshed around in a bag with lemon juice, sickly sounding I might add. It was only I came up to a small buckball court that I saw something that nearly made me puke.

There was a shadowy figure, completely cloaked in some kind of black miasma… eating some mare. Like, it was eating her flesh and pulling out her intestines like they were pasta or some shit. The sight… the smell… I had to look away so I wouldn’t lose my lunch then and there. As I did, I accidentally kicked over a small soda can and flinched but I felt an oddly cold presence on my shoulder. Slowly, I turned around to see a sight that I swore nearly gave me a heart attack.

The shadowy figure was all black, every part of it’s being, blacker than the night brought on by Luna and devoid of stars. It was like I was staring into a literal void. It had what looked to be horns and a short tail or mane at the back. Its eyes opened to a piercing fiery yellow with anger and malice of a measure I’ve not seen before. But then, it clicked with me. The way he looked, I recognized it from that drawing Apollo made. It was Mr. Skull himself.

Before I could think about running, he knocked me a good distance away and held me down with powerful magic. I couldn’t move a single muscle of mine as I was splayed out onto the ground with him hovering above me with droplets of blood dripping from his maw. He chuckled lightly as he licked his lips before I heard a familiar voice. Everglade? Then, it said to me this:

“You’ve been doing a good job trying to find me out but you’ve also become quite an annoyance. Soon enough, I shall get what I want and the Great Tide of Red shall wash over all of Equestria. Even if you figure me out, you won’t be around to see it. Worry not, You’ll be reunited with your precious everglade soon enough.”

Just as he bit down on my insides, I was shocked wide awake in a cool sweat. My heart raced as I saw the sun breaking through the horizon. That was the first time I ever saw or heard Mr. Skull talking to me. Now, I’m believing there is more to this case and it’s starting to make me panic quite a bit. I normally don’t crack under such pressure but I’m beginning to doubt if I can see this to the end. But, I must.

Going to hit myself with another memory suppression spell after that.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 9

After yesterday’s dream, I tried to access the historical archives in Canterlot Castle. But yet again, I got hit with a dead-end, not being able to access a damn thing. But I was told that if I filed a written request to the princesses, I might be granted access to explore the archives. The downside to this is that it’ll take about three or more weeks to be processed due to the workload they have to go through. I understand that they are busy but could they just speed things up or hire more to handle these requests? I’m often dumbfounded at how inefficient our government can be at times.

Ever since I got an up-close and personal look at who Mr. Skull looked like, I couldn’t help but shake the feeling that he was more ancient than what originally thought at first. I first thought him to be a figment of Apollo Glint’s broken mind. It was until I saw him practically invade my dreams so it’s not limited to Apollo. He has to be some sort of malevolent entity of sorts but who could he really be? There is honestly something deeper going on here and it’s rattling me to the core. Then again, my own morbid curiosity is driving me to continue. I… have to know more.

I gotta say that for the most part, Apollo Glint was well behaved, in light of the previous incident. I did notice a series of scars on his face that he presumably earned from the beating. It was a shame what happened to Mr. Loudwhistle. I used to have coffee every morning with him. Still, something about what happened doesn’t add up.

He was a normally calm and collected stallion, rarely, if at all, losing his cool in any situation. How he beat Peanut Swirl seemed very much out of character for him. That level of aggression was not normal. I mean… I saw him incapable of that amount of anger and violence. He had to have been influenced by some force. Could it be? It has to have been Mr. Skull or whoever he really is. This is starting to go beyond just mere psychology, no other rational explanation.

Now I’m really, REALLY, hoping that the archive access request comes through soon and I can get to the bottom of this. Based on how I’ve seen what Mr. Skull looked like and that of Apollo’s drawing, he must’ve been around for years or maybe even longer. Maybe, I’ll write to Princess Twilight Sparkle to dig up some information for me. Hopefully, she can streamline this whole process for me and I can actually get some fucking answers.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 10

It turns out that in light of the recent incident at Princess Twilight’s School of Friendship, the formal request I sent in for accessing the royal archives is going to take longer to process. I appreciate our leadership being so quick to respond to an incident and solve it but all this red tape is getting on my last damned nerves. To be blunt, it’s bullshit! I and many others here are trying to help a patient that may or may not be possessed by an ancient malevolent entity and we’ve had incident after incident since Apollo Glint arrived! I’m starting to lose a bit of my willpower on this!

What I really want is a bit more communication and transparency between us and the crown. Don’t get me wrong, I love the princesses and the work they do for our country. But, I just feel that they made a stupid decision by hiring ponies that are the least efficient in Equestria, slower than a snail crawling through molasses. I thought they were wiser and quicker in handling their workload but… it annoys me quite a bit. The efficiency with the government is all I really want and I can’t really do much when I got my hooves tied up enough as it is.

Also, I have heard of the unfortunate death of Mr. Almond Dream. I was honestly shocked to hear him die because I was good friends with him, having suggested him a position here. I could only imagine his wife and colt going through such grief and I share their pain. His wife, Silver Mist, invited me to his funeral and I do intend to pay my respects. It’s my hope they can find some solace in these trying times. I might have to call off Monday for this if the board allows it. I need a bit of a break from this insanity.

I might visit my mother in the city next week as well. It’d been a while since I kept any form of contact with her, about a month. I wonder if she’s whipping up some fresh eggplant parm. That really was my only form of comfort from my abusive asshole of a dad. I’m glad he’s in a jail cell. Maybe, I’ll go tell him off that day as well. He made my foalhood a living nightmare and I won’t forgive him for it.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 11

Case ID: #73104-921, page 11

Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) has made a full recovery today but remains in a withdrawn state. He even went out of his way to keep his distance for staff and other patients. It’s unknown if it’s from trauma as a result of the incident or another factor that has yet to be identified. Dr. Farsight has been suspecting it to be a case of possession by some malevolent entity but that has since been dismissed as a myth. Any occurrences in this facility and those afflicting our patients here are to have a rational explanation and evidence to back up such claims.

Furthermore, all employees must practice due diligence at all times, no matter what the situation may be. On top of the previous incident, another comes to mind in regards to Patient #09681-343 (Tangerine Blitz). Several months ago, he attempted to [REDACTED] with one of our staff, [REDACTED]. Since then, [REDACTED] had requested primarily office work in regards to maintaining our archives. We anticipate the change in work environment to help ease [REDACTED]’s mind and avoid any potential legal issues.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 12

Well, today was… rather unexpected, something I never thought would happen. A while back, I advised Apollo Glint that he can come talk to me whenever he needed to. I said it as a way to reassure him but he walked into my office this afternoon with an escort. The look on his eyes… I never saw that much desperation. After I got him seated, I told the guards to leave, which they did. I think that he rarely felt comfortable with a couple of stallions walking him around and holding his hoof. I’m still a bit irate about the time they used stun batons on him… AGAINST my orders.

He seemed nervous to start at first but I guess it was more him just trying to transition his thoughts to words. He first mentioned how Mr. Skull was antagonizing him, hurting him mentally. As he put it himself, it was like pairs of sharp teeth gnawing on his brain. I can only begin to imagine how much that hurt, given that description. It was at that point he decided enough was enough and began to take his life in his own hooves. As per the report, he began bashing his head against any hard surface to get him to stop.

This tells me two things I already know but cemented those thoughts: one is that Apollo is afraid of Mr. Skull. The second thing is that I now believe this to be more than mere psychological problems and a ‘magical presence’, for the lack of a better term, to be the culprit. But, with anything, there’s always a psychological element to this and it’s influencing Apollo’s mind in both drastic and subtle ways. Now, I firmly believe that I’ve bitten off way more than I can chew and I’m starting to worry.

As a result, I’m going to hire, in addition to Dr. Scribe, some experts in dealing with strange and old forms of magic. I considered consulting with Twilight Sparkle at one point but she is busy with other matters so I won’t bother her with this. However, she and the other princesses are still my last resort option if this somehow goes completely awry. I have written letters requesting immediate assistance in the event that this goes completely beyond what I can do. It’s good to have a safety net in place and I always come prepared. Better safe than sorry.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 12

Case ID: #73104-921, page 12

It has been three days since Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) was able to make a mental recovery from his previous incident. During his examination today, we found no sort of abnormalities with his ‘Psychoanalytical Baseline’ as Dr. Farsight terms it. Still, there is a chance for further problems to develop later on so an increase in caution is advised around Mr. Glint. Be careful to monitor any and all signs of mental instability and take the appropriate action, whether it be to report on the issue or pacify Mr. Glint. His safety and that of everypony in the facility is paramount so no deviations will be tolerated.

Below is a transcript of Dr. Farsight’s impromptu interview with Mr. Glint.

Farsight: Please, make yourself comfortable. (Apollo sits down) As I’ve said before, you can come to my office any time you need to talk. So, whats on your mind?

Apollo: A-a lot of things. It’s about Mr. Skull.

Farsight: I see. I also heard about your incident involving him. Care to elaborate?

Apollo: Yes. It all started when I was minding my own business while reading a book. During that, I heard him talk to me.

Farsight: What did he say?

Apollo: He… kept taunting me, saying that the killings were my fault! I didn’t mean to!

Farsight: I know that you were ‘influenced’ by him to commit those acts.

Apollo: That’s not what he thought! He kept screaming at me that it was all my fault! There was no end to the torment! I wanted it all to end so that’s why I tried to… (begins to cry)

Farsight: (Comforts Apollo) I know you feel a deep sense of guilt over what had happened. Mr. Skull is using that to control you. Don’t let him.

Apollo: I know! He just… won’t leave me alone! Please, you’ve got to help me!

Farsight: As I’ve always said, I’ll do anything in my power to help you out in any way I can.

Apollo: Everyday, there is no end to it! Please!

Farsight: Don’t worry about it. I’ll do what I can but I advise you to take it easy for the rest of the day, like go get a bit of a nap in. I promise you that you’ll feel better.

Apollo: I… suppose.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 13

Somehow, I really thought the security here was as good as they claim but… nope. It’s absolutely piss-poor beyond belief. This morning, shortly after I came in for work, I had to hide in my office after a riot broke out for some reason. While I was reading, they put the entire facility on lockdown as a result. From what I knew, a bunch of the inmates had gotten overtly aggressive and started attacking everypony they could see, even each other in some cases. But, that wasn’t the worst of it, not by far. It was like a can of worms let loose all over.

A group of the patients got the bright idea of breaking into the main security control room and opened all of the rooms. Originally, we had that implemented in the event of an emergency where we would need to evacuate but soon became a means to keep order in exigent circumstances. But, that was where the single point of failure resides. If anypony has access to that control room, they have the keys to the facility. For that reason, though I’m a psychologist, I advised them having a secondary security control room somewhere separate from the facility and in a secure location.

So, once all the prisoners were freed, our guards were hard-pressed to hold them at bay and contain the chaos. The worst of it was in Block A and that block, in particular, was known for housing some of our more… unpredictable patients. Out of all the recorded fatalities during the incident, Block A was where the most and worst of it occurred. I kept my office well barricaded until the Equestrian Riot Police were able to intervene. It took them about an hour to respond and arrive and contain the rioting. However, for the rest of the day, productivity took a hit due to the lockdown.

The only odd thing was that Apollo glint reportedly hadn’t so much as moved during the incident, only reading from his book as he sat on his bed. Also, his room on the C-Wing can only be opened through a keycode which thankfully none of the patients know about but they might not have cared about him in the first place. Oddly enough, none of the rioters haven’t come near his room either. It was as if something was warding them away, possibly Mr. Skull or whoever the fuck he really is.

This reinforces my theory that regardless of it being Apollo or Mr. Skull’s doing, the influence either of them exerts over everypony here is dangerous. If they’re somehow able to influence the minds of the other patients here, then it would explain why the others have been so aggressive as of late. It makes no sense though as the material lining the walls of his room was supposed to prevent this from happening. Mr. Skull must be more powerful than what I originally estimated and we could very well be in some serious danger.

I hope my request to access the archives goes through sooner than later.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 13

Case ID: #73104-921, page 13

Today, a Class-Alpha lockdown was put into place regarding the riots that broke out in the early parts of the morning. While being escorted, Patient #07793-592 (Ajax) was able to incapacitate some of the guards and triggered a series of events that led to said disturbances breaking out. Through that, he was able to sneak into the main security control room and open all the room doors throughout the facility. All throughout the duration of the riots, there were a total of twenty-eight fatalities with most of them being patients from Block A and a few guards. Fortunately, the Equestrian Riot Police were able to neutralize the situation but Ajax was sent to a high-security facility in Canterlot as a result.

In regards to Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), he was reported to have spent the entirety of the event reading as if completely ignorant of what was happening. As per Dr. Farsight’s theories, it could be that either Mr. Glint’s magic is stronger than thought or there is a fault in the Caraway Cage that is his room. Both possibilities are now under investigation and the appropriate action will be taken once the cause has been found.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 14

Case ID: #73104-921, page 14

There has been a change in staff here. As some of you may know, Dr. Rosetta Scribe, our linguistics consultant for the case involving Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), has passed away due to falling from a building in an apparent suicide. This may come as a shock to most here as some have spoke highly of her. Her colleague, Dr. Farsight, is starting a fundraiser to help cut the funeral costs and the drop off for the bits is in the main lobby. Also, there’s a card to be signed as well so stop by in your free time and add your signature.

As far as this concerns Mr. Glint, Dr. Farsight made mention that Dr. Scribe had gathered her own data on the matter and will be analyzed as soon as her replacement has been found. Dr. Farsight has raised concerns that the situation will escalate if the needed references aren’t available for access. The board is in agreement with his statements and will petition the princesses for access.

On a side note, Chief Director Shamrock has announced his retirement and we’ll dearly miss his leadership over the last thirty years. Preparations are being made for his retirement party and everypony on staff is invited.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 15

Case ID: #73104-921, page 15

As of today, on behalf of all staff, we would like to extend a warm welcome to our new Chief Director, Dr. Nebula. Hailing from Trottingham and graduated from the University of Canterlot, her knowledge and leadership skills will make her a worthy replacement for Shamrock. With her induction into our team, her first act was to aid in Dr. Farsight’s case involving Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint). In that regard and on top of another petition, access to the royal archives of Canterlot will be coming within the next two weeks.

On a side note, we would like to announce the arrival of the late Dr. Scribe’s replacement, Parchment Scribble. As with his predecessor, he has expected our full cooperation in the matter of Mr. Glint and translating the language of Tambelonese. With his approach, Parchment is taking a more hands-on and active approach so have guards on standby for safety purposes. Any and all information on that matter is to be shared with him and all accommodations are to be made as he sees fit.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 16

Case ID: #73104-921, page 16

There was another incident regarding Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) during dinnertime this evening. But, reports at this time have yet to be confirmed so be advised to not draw up any theories. During dinner, Patient #33923-821 (Red Delicious) began experiencing a psychotic breakdown. He began doing, among other things, screaming that his eyes were bleeding while throwing various objects around and causing a panic among the other patients/ According to eye witness statements, Mr. Glint experienced no fear and was relatively calm throughout the incident. It didn’t take the orderlies too long to pacify him through the use of tranquilizers before he began to hurt himself.

As per any incident where Mr. Glint is suspected or confirmed to have been involved, Dr. Farsight has been notified about this and Director Nebula as well. Upon the former’s suggestion, surveillance has been increased and supplemented through the use of specialized devices that have been calibrated to detect the specific signature of Mr. Glint’s magic. Once the alarm goes off, teams of orderlies and guards will be ready to prevent any use. As what Dr. Farsight suggested, the usage of the specialized Magic Suppression Ring hasn’t proven to be entirely reliable.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 17

Case ID: #73104-921, page 17

There was an incident in the lunch area today involving Patients #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), #67734-007 (Steelwing), and Dr. Farsight when a fight broke out. Mr. Glint attacked Steelwing without any provocation, attempting to choke him before Dr. Farsight intervened. Unfortunately, Dr. Farsight was brutally assaulted by Mr. Glint, speaking the language of Tambelonese before he was sedated by Dr. Farsight. Dr. Farsight suffered some moderate injuries and would be taking a break for the next week to recover. Steelwing is currently in the infirmary recovering from some minor injuries and Mr. Glint will be quarantined to his room for the rest of the day and the entirety of tomorrow.

First and foremost, all employees should maintain a constant watch on any situation that could potentially spiral into an altercation. At a moment’s notice, all staff must step in and resolve any issue that might result in the endangerment of the safety of any patient or employee.

Work hard. Work safe. Be diligent at all times.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 18

Case ID: #73104-921, page 18

Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) has displayed rather peculiar behaviors all throughout the day which seemed different. He displayed signs of PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) in relation to his reason for being sent here. He screamed the names of his brother, Comet Blaze, and that of his late marefriend, Gale Breeze. He cried as he claimed ‘ghosts’ of those he killed were haunting him. His episode became bad to the point where he had to be put back into his quarters before lunch was finished. However, his breakdown didn’t end with his confinement.

Mr. Glint reportedly began carving a word in Tambelonese into his right forehoof while cackling in said language. Medical personnel was, fortunately, able to stop the bleeding but he is under medical supervision for the remainder of the day. The object he used appeared to have been some sort of makeshift knife made from rock. How he managed to obtain such materials is unknown. But, Parchment Scribble was able to give us a translation of the carving.

“Repent.”

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 19

After recovering and a much-needed break, I’m back to the old grind at St. Solaris. I have to say that I still feel a tad sore from the beating but I’m fine but also amazed that Apollo Glint can hit hard for a stallion like him. But, as much as I would like to appreciate his stamina and strength, that isn’t pertinent to this entry. It was today that I decided to take a more direct and aggressive approach to interview Apollo, much like l usually do, but different. I wanted to talk to Mr. Skull himself, even though it might put stress on Apollo but I have to sidestep a few ethics to get results.

In preparation for his interview, I ordered the staff to restrain him in whichever way possible to ensure he doesn’t become a threat to everypony and himself. In regards to any possible occurrences of magic, it’s up to the magic suppression ring to handle it as we have no other methods to counter it. Also, we’ll be doing it in the usual room where the guards can step in at a moment’s notice. It’ll be my face to face with Mr. Skull and I want to have layers of contingencies in place in case I fail. Thankfully, the board is already starting to consider my evidence.

I was waiting in the room when Apollo was wheeled in on an upright stretcher, bound by many straps and restraints, complete with a facemask. It was a bit overkill but it should work. First, I started with the usual pleasantries and greetings before I asked Apollo if I could speak to Mr. Skull. He was hesitant at first but with some pressure from me, he agreed as I assured him that it was to help him in the end. With a bloodcurdling scream from him, Apollo allowed Mr. Skull to use him as a medium.

As I spoke to Mr. Skull, he sounded like a mix between his voice and that of Apollo’s which was strange but I’ve seen stranger stuff. Mr. Skull was polite at first until the point where I asked him about why he used that dream about my husband’s suicide to torment me. My anger was spiking as he taunted me and hooves were ready to start swinging. If it weren’t for the fact he was using a patient as a medium for communication, I would’ve lunged at him to show him my anger. He crossed a great many lines by using a tragedy of mine as a weapon.

Toward the end, Mr. Skull further intimidated me with confirmation that he existed for thousands of years, having a vast amount of power and knowledge with the will to use them both. He ended it with a warning that even though I may finish my case, death would be bestowed upon me. Then, he stopped using Apollo as a puppet and the strain from the experience rendered him unconscious. All in all, I have to say that this interview provided me with some juicy information but…

...I’m sure he’s just trying to intimidate me with that threat. Will keep going.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 19

Case ID: #73104-921, page 19

As of today, apart from previously recorded behaviors, Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) had a relatively good day. Nothing of note, except the occasional bouts of talking to himself in Tambelonese, had happened. Dr. Farsight did another interview with Mr. Glint today but with one condition. This “Mr. Skull” entity that Farsight had been talking about could be another entity dwelling within Mr. Glint, influencing his actions. To that end, Dr. Farsight decided to coax Mr. Glint into letting him talk to “Mr. Skull” and get some answers.

Below is a transcript of today’s interview.

Farsight: Mr. Glint, how are you today?

Apollo: I’m… doing fine, doctor.

Farsight: That’s good to hear. (Briefly examines Apollo’s forehoof scars) I’ve heard about what happened the other day. I do apologize.

Apollo: That’s okay. What are we going to be talking about?

Farsight: Well, I’ve been thinking about it for a couple of days now but I’ll just say it. I want to talk to Mr. Skull but the only way I can is if you allow him to control you.

Apollo: No! No Please! I… I’m scared!

Farsight: I know it scares you but this is the only way we can move forward at this point. (Notices Apollo’s distress) Please Apollo, I won’t be long with this and chances are that you won’t remember anything about it. I swear.

Apollo: A-are you sure?

Farsight: I promise. Just let your mental guard down and allow him to take control.

Apollo: (Struggles for a bit and unleashes a bloodcurdling scream before going silent)

Farsight: Mr. Skull, is that you?

Apollo/Mr. Skull: At last, you sought me out yourself, Mr. Farsight.

Farsight: Well, after you weaponized the memories of my husband’s suicide against me, I wanted to confront you about this. Believe me, I’m none too happy about it.

Apollo/Mr. Skull: Ah yes. A shame you weren’t able to save that pitiful excuse of a special somepony. It was a delight to see you cradle his blood-soaked corpse as you cried. Your misery is like a sweet symphony.

Farsight: (Struggles with his anger but takes a few calming breaths) Okay, I’ll be willing to ignore your insults for now. So, why, out of all ponies, did you choose to possess Apollo?

Apollo/Mr. Skull: His ancestor, Balthazar, like many others like him, worshipped me like a god. Long after I was struck down, ponies giving me tribute sustained me and I never truly died. Apollo is just another disciple of mine, whether he wants to or not.

Farsight: Okay, but what is your endgame? What is it that you want?

Apollo/Mr. Skull: Long ago, even before your ancestors were a thought, I ruled Equestria with my legions of monsters. All who defied my rule paid the ultimate price. I ruled through fear and kept my subjects in line. When those insolent ponies banded up to strike me down, I bid my time to plan my return. Now, my name has been forgotten by many and only a few to this day know it.

Farsight: Then… what is it?

Apollo/Mr. Skull: You’ll find out in due time. Toward the end of your little investigation, you’ll know my name and the power it carries with it. I’d bet you wished you had that power to save your precious Everglade. Even then, you’re too weak to do anything, much like how weak you were to save him.

Farsight: (Gets angry, slams hoof on table, raises voice) Listen, motherfucker, if you weren’t possessing this stallion, I would kill you for saying such things! You’ve tormented my dreams and that of many others! You’ve made me very angry! Don’t you dare go there!

Apollo/Mr. Skull: Let’s get one thing clear, welp. At the height of my power, the level I channel through this vessel is but the tiniest fraction of what I can do. I have knowledge and power that spans millennia that will make any mortal pale in comparison. But, I will warn you. Even if you finish this investigation, you won’t live long enough to see the fruits of your labor blossom. I’ll be there when you’ll least expect it and your death will come. But, I want to have a bit of fun with you before the end. Let’s see how long until you crack. (Mr. Skull ends the possession, Apollo faints)

Farsight: Somepony, get the nurses, ASAP!

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 20

Case ID: #73104-921, page 20

After yesterday’s interview with Dr. Farsight and Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), the latter has since fallen into a comatose state. At this time, we have don’t an exact time to when he’ll awaken from his state but we do estimate that it’ll be approximately a week at the latest. Since then, medical personnel has been examining his brainwaves through the use of specialized instruments we’ve been getting from Canterlot and Manehattan. Through that, any and all data from the graphs shall be analyzed and given over to Dr. Farsight at the end of the day.

On the subject of Mr. Glints brainwave data, the patterns have no pattern. It’s all chaotic, going from one offset to another at a moment’s notice. That may be the result of yesterday’s experience when he allowed Mr. Skull to assume control of his mind and body. That may throw a wrench Dr. Farsight’s Psychoanalytical Baseline but it remains to be determined. We will continue to do as much as we can for Mr. Glint.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 21

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 21

To all the staff involved with the case of Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), we are pleased to announce a new member to the team in that case. Ms. Aurora Dream, a medium hailing from Canterlot, has been sent here by Princesses Celestia and Luna to assist Dr. Farsight’s team. As with all new additions to the team, we have expected her full cooperation as much as she is to us. Her talents and her leadership of the Order of the Dreamweavers will prove useful in this matter.

As expected, she gave us an explanation as to why Mr. Glint’s dreams couldn’t be accessed by Luna. She claims that the entity known as Mr. Skull is exerting an influence over the stallion in question with a strong enough magic that is preventing her access. Despite this, she said that she would be able to at least gain access into his mind by using a spell that has been modified to take his magical signature into account. Dr. Farsight will be joining us this afternoon for the event to take notes. All staff is to be on alert and prepared for anything that might result from this.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 22

Finally, at long fucking last, I get a message from the princesses themselves that say access to the archives will be granted in about seven days. Nice to have gotten an exact ETA on that end. If that library has the sum of this world’s knowledge packed into one large room, I bet I can find the information. If it’s as big as I guess, I might need Celestia’s help on that end but she’s dealing with the aftermath of what that filly Cozy Glow did. Still, I have that letter on standby and ready to send it to her at a moment’s notice. I can sense the end of this long road and it has taken a lot out of me. Maybe then, I can finally rest.

Today, my charge, Apollo Glint, had woke up from his short coma. As I suspected, he didn’t remember a thing and thank harmony for that. However, he exhibited increased levels of aggression, much more than I previously observed. When I brought him lunch, he just chucked straight across the room while shouting various obscenities. Then, he tried to start an altercation with one of the staff which led him to be confined to his room for the remainder of the day. I couldn’t just go through an entire day and take no notes. That was where the CCTV Cameras in his room came in handy.

Combined with a steaming pot of Canterlot Roast, I observed Apollo from the CCTV feeds but it was difficult at times to focus. What he did was a routine of pacing around his room while screaming in his regular voice and a deeper on in Tambelonese, alternating between the two. For that, I would’ve brought Parchment to my office so he could translate for me but he took an early day off as his wife had gone into labor. But, I knew enough to be able to translate enough to get by.

Unknown to the staff, I snuck in some markers for Apollo to use so he could put his mind in print, so to say, instead of blood. Well, he did use the markers to full effect, drawing a figure that matched the description of Mr. Skull, at least in the drawing he did a while back but similar nonetheless. What he wrote down was, when translated, was this:

“I am here. I am nigh. Equestria shall be brought to its knees and all who resist will be swept away in The Great Red Tide. I am inevitable.”

Apart from that, when he began hurting himself, I signaled a group of guards, led by Silver Star, to intervene. Unfortunately, Apollo had anther magical lash-out which caused Silver Star’s head to explode in a bloody mess before Apollo was brought down with tranquilizer darts. At this point, if one more incident occurs where somepony dies, I’m sending that scroll to Celestia.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 22

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 22

Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) had woken up from his comatose state. According to the nurses in the medical ward, he had no recollection of last week’s event involving his possession by the entity known as Mr. Skull. However, Dr. Farsight and other staff members have noted Mr. Glint giving off heightened aggression and causing a disruption that nearly ended with a fight between him. In response, he has been confined to his room for the remainder of the day and is only to be let out in the event of an emergency.

During the time Mr. Glint spent in his room, Dr. Farsight observed him doing many things ranging from yelling out expletives in different languages and writing Tambelonese on the walls with a marker but it’s unknown how it got there. When he began engaging in self harm, Silver Star and a few others stepped in to stop him. Unfortunately, though Mr. Glint was eventually pacified, Silver Star had been killed via a magical lash-out when his head had exploded. His next of kin will be notified and tighter restrictions have been placed on Mr. Glint.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 23

Author's Note

I would like to apologize for the lack of a new chapter yesterday because circumstances beyond my control prevented me from uploading it. Anyways, It's my hope you enjoyed this so far and continue to do so.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 23

Sometimes, the work of a psychologist is never done. Even as we sleep and live our lives like everypony else, our ever-active minds are ALWAYS at work to discover how they function. Maybe it’s our curiosities at work but that varies from pony to pony so that might be only a small factor. But then again, even the smallest of factors can affect the mind and the same could be said about whatever we feel, see, taste, and think. It’s all about the stimuli, even from forces outside our control. Lately, we’ve been beset upon the spirit of an ancient but powerful evil that has been using one of our more troubled patients as a medium.

Earlier today, I got a chance to go through some of the material that Rosetta had left behind. She did put them together in lieu of a puzzle that I have to solve on my own. However, the “Gr-” that I heard Aurora Dream mutter the other day lined up with one piece of paper that adds more to Mr. Skull’s possible identity and there are four more letters to his real name. It’ll take time but not that much, I hope. However, that wasn’t the only bit of information about him by far as I came across an interesting tidbit.

As I and some of my other associates know, Mr. Skull existed thousands upon thousands of years ago. He also used an unknown artifact of sorts that looks like some sort of bell that he could wear. My guess was that Rosetta was about to discover what it could do before she did what she did and… I honestly can’t dwell on that anymore at this point. She did point out that the bell was eventually stolen and hidden from him by a hero known only as “Gusty”. Alongside her, some other ponies joined in taking down Mr. Skull, leading to his presumed death.

But, if Mr. Skull was that powerful as the notes say, did he truly die or did he somehow find a way to survive as a disembodied spirit? Either idea, I find them both equally disturbing as even though I’m a scientist, magic is just as much part of our natural order. Legends like the tale of Mr. Skull and Gusty have a historical basis so thats what also makes this disturbing to me. Yet, I don’t know his name so maybe I’ll figure it out and the context of the legend may make more sense.

I’m going to spend the whole day working through the notes so I won’t be able to attend to Apollo at all. I hope the staff will be able to handle him.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 23

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 23

As Dr. Farsight is unavailable today due to him devoting his time toward information processing, the following incident report shall be brought to his attention. At approximately 6 AM Canterlot Standard Time this morning, the patients all throughout the facility began exhibiting bouts of intense psychosis while they were still in their rooms. As per the policy on situations involving this sort of phenomena, all the doors were locked to prevent any damage to the facility and any danger to the staff. But, the situation soon deteriorated to the point where all the patients were convulsing on the floor in apparent pain.

That was when the magic detectors in Patient #73104-921’s (Apollo Glint) room started going off and we had to act fast. Fortunately, we were able to stop him from doing more harm by knocking him out via tranquilizer rounds. The disturbance had ceased the moment Mr. Glint was rendered unconscious and no fatalities were reported. It would be in our best interest to keep the knowledge of this from Dr. Farsight as it may cause him to abandon this investigation.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 24

Yikes! As I went through this investigation, I somehow have forgotten how much time I’ve devoted to this case but it has certainly become one that I shall always remember. Going through all those notes, my mind is still processing all this information. From the intriguing story of Apollo Glint and his possession to the mystery surrounding this Mr. Skull, it proved the earlier assumptions of my career being a boring one to be wrong. I ofttimes felt like some sort of professor or detective solving some sort of crime which is true in some way. It took a lot out of me and son some occasions, I nearly got killed.

Still, I found myself torn apart in regard to Apollo Glint and his predicament. Part of me believes that he willingly surrenders himself to Mr. Skull’s will as a form of revenge against society over a perceived slight while the other half tells me that he didn’t want any of this. All that ambiguity has me scratching my head as I try to make sense of all of this. It’s like I’m torn between my own personal morals and my professional side. Could there really be any sort of end to all this… for me and him?

The more this case drags on, the more the other patients and staff are put at risk. Did the board honestly believe that they could hide any record of incidents? I have at least one other pony whom I could trust in their ranks. I always find out and why I can’t trust any of them, to begin with. I’m still pissed off about that one time they went behind my back and used a stun baton on Apollo, against my orders. They have yet to fire to that stallion who gave the order.

THough the prior incident hasn’t resulted in any fatalities, I’ve made the decision to summon the princess here to help solve this situation. The letter has been sent via my messenger hawk, Icarus and I anticipate a response within the next couple of days as they are understandably busy with other duties. I just hope that they won’t take so long with their response.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 24

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 24

It has come to our attention that Dr. Farsight has grown dissatisfied with how we handle things in regard to the treatment of Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint). Somehow, the information we explicitly said must not come to his attention has unfortunately become known to him. We have identified Board Member Leo Starblaze as the one responsible for the information leaks. As such, his position has been terminated and is no longer employed at this facility as per Article #28-7A of the employee handbook. All employees should take heed of that rule for proper information disclosure.

Also, Dr. Farsight has informed us that he has summoned the princesses, Celestia and Luna, to assist with the treatment of Mr. Glint due to the nature of his magic and its mystery. We anticipate a response from them within two days or less as they’re still dealing with the aftermath of the incident involving Cozy Glow.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 25

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 25

Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) displayed no out of the ordinary behaviors today, a break from what has been seen over the past several days. He seemed to have been getting better in regards to eating willfully. One of the nurses had seen scarfing down his meal with much gusto when it was given to him. Though, he did give some complaints about the quality of the mashed potatoes, describing them as underseasoned and too stiff. Mr. Glint’s complaints have been noted and will be sent to the cooks to improve upon the recipe. Some of the staff here share the same sentiment.

Our resident, Aurora Dream, did another mind-meld with Mr. Glint this afternoon and got to peer more into his mind without any issues. She managed to have a face to face with the Mr. Skull entity where she reportedly discerned not only his intentions but also his identity. The latter of which she was reported too scared to reveal, citing a threat of death Mr. Skull apparently made toward her.

As of now, Dr. Farsight is busy looking over the late Rosetta Scribe’s notes and won’t be available for the next few days. Any and all inquiries will be handled by his subordinate, Tree Blossom, until the next time he is available.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 26

Most of the staff here know that I may sleep in my office sometimes when I’m working on something that requires me to be present for a long while. In fact, there’s a little alcove behind a small door that I use as my secondary bedroom in that case. There were times that I had to do just that during my time figuring out the issue with Apollo Glint. It’s sort of a home-away-from-home deal from me but I ain’t complaining in the slightest. It’s a good living arrangement and allows me to be adjustable but I do occasionally get a few glances from my colleagues because of that.

I woke up in my office at around 1 AM when I heard a small commotion going throughout the halls. Peaking my head out from the office, I saw nothing so I went back in thinking it was another riot until my eyes caught something on a CCTV feed. Apollo’s room was empty and the magic suppression ring he wore had broken into two pieces. I knew right away what it meant and everypony in the facility was in danger, staff and patient alike. None of the security measures we’ve set up did a damned thing.

Arming myself with a syringe of high potency sedative, tranquilizer gun, a taser, and stun baton, I combed through the halls looking for any sign of Apollo’s presence. As I began seeing the dead and mutilated bodies of both staff and patients, I had a feeling of how bad it was but I undersold that when I saw the decapitated head of Parchment Scribble with his eyes gouged out. His face… I honestly hate to have to share that detail with his wife. His filly is going to have to grow up without him. I nearly puked at that sight but what I came across next certainly made me did.

When I got to the cafeteria, the smell of death and blood was already getting to me. Blood everywhere, patients and staff hanging from wires, it was grisly sight until I came across Ms. Aurora Dream’s body literally nailed to the wall. She had been disemboweled, entrails all around her, throat slit, and her private region apparently violated with what looked to be a stun baton. This… was pure evil and whoever Mr. Skull was had certainly embodied that idea. Then and there, I puked and felt slightly disoriented for a while and rushed out panting like I just ran a race. It was beyond evil, utterly unspeakable. Pure rage.

I found myself heading toward the intersecting hall between Blocks C and D as I’ve been following a noise coming from there. As I got partway through there, I saw him, Apollo Glint. His garments were stained with the crimson color of blood, holding a makeshift shiv with his teeth, and grinning maniacally. His eyes, as they locked onto me, glowed a deep red with a black mist-like aura surrounding him. I tried negotiating with him but to no avail. I tried reaching for my taser but he was right on top of me in almost an instant.

I struggled to keep him from stabbing me for several minutes while trying to escape from him but his magic kept me pinned down. He kept screaming in Tambelonese which I knew translated as “The Dark One demands blood!”. It was as if Mr. Skull had taken full control of him like a puppet. His shiv was getting closer and closer to my neck, making my heart beat faster as the end seemed inevitable. I thought it was it for me.
Just as I was ready to see the Elysium Fields, Celestia and Luna, flanked by a group of royal guards, stormed the halls and were able to subdue Apollo with their magic. He put a bit of a fight at first but Celestia was able to end his possession and bring him back to old usual self. He was frightened beyond belief through the experience. If I had to guess, he was fully aware of what he was doing but Mr. Skull’s influence made it impossible for him to resist. I had hoped that it would end there but I was proven wrong.

Apollo began screaming that Mr. Skull was clawing away at his mind once more. In a flash, he snatched a knife from one of the guards and tried lunging at Celestia, only to be cut down by the other guards, stabbing him with their spear. He laid in a pool of his own blood, gasping his last bit of air before he died in my hooves relieved that his nightmare was over. I was in too much shock to be able to move for several moments until Celestia was able to bring me out of my daze. I left the facility still shaken from the events.

After I met up with the other survivors, I was left mentally breathing sighs of relief that I was still alive but it was a bittersweet pill for me. The one pony I tried to help essentially committed suicide to escape a malevolent entity’s influence. It was a truly tragic end for him. Celestia pulled me aside for a bit to inform me that in light of what had happened, she was granting me immediate access to the royal archives. If she had gotten me access to the archives earlier, then maybe Apollo and so many others could’ve survived and the incident wouldn’t’ve happened.

Tough I got what I’ve been waiting for, I have to put that off until tomorrow because… I don’t know. I’m just in too much shock over what I had just seen earlier. Never once in my life did I see something so abhorrently evil before. Whoever in Tartarus’s name Mr. Skull is, I shudder to imagine what will happen when he accomplishes whatever his goals were. Did he intend to assassinate the princesses with Apollo as a puppet? I can’t dwell on that any further without any sleep. The case won’t be closed without my say so.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 26

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 26

Around 1 AM CST this morning, the facility had suffered a major catastrophic event which resulted in an extensive loss of life and damage to the overall infrastructure. For reasons that are still being investigated, the power to the facility had been cut. The emergency generators were supposed to have kicked in though they never did. Because of that, all of the doors to the patients’ rooms had been unlocked but all of them, except for Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint), were asleep around that time. Both security teams were put on high alert but weren’t prepared for what was to follow.

According to one surviving member of Security Team Alpha (Aegis Zeal), they found Mr. Glint in a room with three other patients that were confirmed to have been killed by him. He was also reported to have been eating from one of the dead bodies. When approached, his Magic Suppression Ring was reported to have been absent from his horn. Then, according to testimony from Mr. Zeal, his magic erupted, causing Stoneheart to explode in a messy cloud of red. From there, he proceeded to massacre the remaining members of Sec Team Alpha, save for Mr. Zeal who was knocked unconscious during the chaos.

After that, Mr. Glint proceeded to move throughout the rest of the facility, killing anypony his eyes could see. Once the screaming started, some of the staff and patients were able to escape through various methods but the rest weren’t so lucky. Eye witness reports from both staff and patients indicated that his eyes were a deep glowing red and a black aura surrounded him. This was a sign that the entity identified as Mr. Skull had taken full possession of Mr. Glint and decided to go on a rampage throughout the facility. It was theorized that Mr. Skull was waiting for his moment to act like he was planning for weeks.

Dr. Farsight had stayed the night in order to get some extra analysis work in and woke up around ten minutes after the event had started. He intercepted Mr. Glint in the hallway between C and D Wing, armed with a taser, tranquilizer gun, and a syringe with a potent sedative. He attempted to negotiate with Mr. Glint in order to bring a non-violent resolution to the situation to no effect. He struggled a bit with Mr. Glint before Princesses Celestia and Luna arrived with a contingent of royal guards and managed to subdue the patient in question with Celestia managing to bring Mr. Glint back from the possession.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long as Mr. Glint started to convulse while screaming that Mr. Skull was trying to control him once more. According to testimony from one of the guards, Mr. Glint snatched a knife from one of his comrades and ‘attempted’ to lunge at Celestia’s neck with it, only to be fatally wounded by the others in her defense. Shortly after, Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) has been declared deceased through a combination of ten stab wounds and blood loss. There were many theories as to why he tried to attack Celestia but the more probable was SBG (Suicide By Guard). Mr. Glint’s next of kin shall be notified of his death.

In light of this incident, the facility has been shut down for the next three months in order to assess and repair the damage done. The surviving patients have been sent to nearby facilities and all surviving employees shall be given paid vacation until the facility is back to optimal operational conditions. As for the case pertaining to Mr. Glint, the board is inclined to declare it closed in light of Mr. Glint’s death but the final decision on that matter is ultimately left up to Dr. Farsight’s decision. He is expected to continue the investigation to determine the cause and background of Mr. Glint’s condition and that of Mr. Skull.

Also, the funerals for Parchment Scribe and Aurora Dream have been set to take place two weeks from this report’s posting. All employees are encouraged to attend.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 27

After a day of trying to wipe away all of the horrors from a bad day at work, I woke up ready for an entire day worth of combing through the royal archives. When I arrived, I was led by Celestia to the archives and I swore my eyes nearly jumped out of my head at such an incredible sight. Rows of towering bookcases filled to the brim with books, something like this is sure to make Twilight Sparkle back in her heydays jump around with glee. I was staring at the entirety of Equestria’s knowledge put to ink and parchment. Utterly incredible.

With the notes in my bag, I began combing the stacks for books about Gusty, the mysterious bell, and anything about ancient Equestrian history and Tambelonese. The best thing about the archives is that everything within is recorded history so there’s none of that embellished bullshit used for the sake of a story. I’d say that I gathered about thirty books before I began my studying session. I’m honestly thankful to Celestia for sending me the occasional fresh pot of coffee when I need it. She has to be the most hospitable pony I know without a doubt.

After everything was gathered, I confined myself to a corner of the room where I scanned through all the books in my possession. They all went over the basic history and background of their respective subject matters. Most of that stuff I already knew from prior experiences and the notes that were gathered beforehand. I felt as though my search was going to lead me to yet another dead end. However, I noticed something peculiar in all of them. They all mentioned one name and it stuck out readily:

Grogar, The Tyrant.

That wasn’t a name I was familiar with but the first two letters of it were familiar. Doing another comb through the stacks, I managed to find a book pertaining to him. I… was honestly unprepared for what I was about to see. The cover illustration resembled the shadow I saw in my dreams about Mr. Skull but I could see it in greater detail. He looked like a blue ram with horns and an ever menacing attitude to match. It depicted him using the very same bell I’ve read about, only for it to be taken from him by Gusty herself. Then, it all added up. Mr. Skull and Grogar are one and the same. Oh harmony, could this be real?

Grogar was behind everything! HIM! The ancient entity that nearly turned Equestria into a valley of death and decay has come back and he tried using an innocent soul as a puppet for assassination and he could still be alive! I thought he was just an old tale used to frighten foals into behaving better but he’s real. Fuck me running! That’s it, this case is closed as I’ve now seen everything. I’ve got to get everything together and send it off to Celestia as soon as I can. If Grogar is still out there, he could be coming for me first in order to keep the princesses unaware of him. I hope I’m not too late.

Epilogue

Dear Princess Celestia,

In this package, is everything that I, Rosetta, and everypony involved in this case, had gathered, including the entire case file from the institute. With what I found, I can confirm without a single shred of doubt that the entity responsible for everything was Grogar The Tyrant this whole time. It’s a big surprise that one who I originally thought to be from an old scary story used to frighten foals at night was responsible for what happened. But, I still can hardly believe any of it was real, even after going through the archives. I can now understand why you were reluctant to grant me access, let alone tell me because this sends a chill down my spine, every bit as disturbing.

Now, I firmly believe that the reason Grogar waited so long to act and used Apollo Glint in the way he did was so that he could catch you and Luna off guard for an assassination. It could possibly work to facilitate an easier route for his possible return with you both out of the way… and he failed. Now, I fear that he might be coming after me as a consequence and erase any trace and progress of the investigation. I can feel it in my bones.

I don’t claim to be a prophet or any mystic that can pierce the veil of the future but I feel that I have a duty to warn you. Grogar could very well still be alive and his return is imminent. When he does, Equestria will pay the price and the ground will be soaked with the blood of the innocent. Your highness, you must keep this information from the public and prepare for Grogar’s return. I can only pray that you, Luna, Twilight, and the elements can succeed in defeating him for good.

If you don’t hear anything else from me in the next two days, assume something has happened to me and be ready for anything. I wish not for Equestria to suffer any more horrors.

Sincerely,
-Dr. Farsight

“That’s all she wrote.” Farsight said as he rolled the scroll and sealed it with a piece of wax and ribbon. He placed it on a package containing weeks and months of research, the fruit of a collaborative investigation, and tied it before petting his courier hawk, Icarus.

“Now, do you remember how to get to Canterlot from here?” Icarus squawked and nodded, “Good. Now, take this package and make sure only Princess Celestia or Luna gets this. No matter what happens, you’ll be in Celestia’s good hooves.” Icarus hangs his head in slight sadness, “I don’t like this as much as you do. Hopefully, maybe Twilight will take you in and take good care of you. Now, go and give this to the princesses.”

Icarus clutched the package and not in his talons and flew off toward the city of Canterlot to deliver the parcel to Celestia. Farsight sighed as his pet soon left his sight, turning back to his desk. On it was various personal effects that ranged from quills and parchment, a bottle of royalty-grade Canterlot Aged Whiskey, and a sword he got as a birthday present years ago. He felt an air of fear about himself as he reached the end of his investigation and felt the consequences were not too far from him.

Pouring a small glass of whiskey, Farsight took a sip and felt the rush of the burning yet intoxicating liquid flow down his throat. Taking another sip, his ears picked up a slight shift in the ambient air as his instincts twitched to potential danger. Drinking the rest of his beverage, he shuddered from the rush of alcohol as he slowly reached for his sword, ready to attack whoever was behind him. Once his hooves touched the hilt, he turned around with a blink of an eye to stab at the intruder…

...only to be stopped by a magic field whose caster hid behind a familiar looking shadow.

From it emerged a blue, furry figure with two horns that curved in a spiral and had a white mane in a mohawk. He wore a red and gold collar and his eyes were yellow and red with malice. Right away, Farsight recognized who he was to his shock.

“Grogar!” Farsight said as the ram used his magic to pin him against the wall in a t-pose, driving spikes through his hooves. Farsight loudly grunted in pain as he felt the rocks pierce his flesh and made him bleed.

“I warned you that your inquisitive attitude would get you into trouble, little pony.” Grogar cackled as he got closer to Farsight, “You truly are too nosey for your own good.”

“So, you finally decided to show yourself, huh? I always saw you in my dreams, you bastard!” Farsight’s horn began to glow, “A shame that the princesses won’t be able to take the glory in ki-” Before Farsight was able to use his magic to grab his sword, his horn was enveloped by Grogar’s magic “What the-?”

“Now now, that is incredibly rude.” Grogar snarled, “I thought you ponies would have a better sense of manners by now!”

“You’re not the one to ta-AAAAARRRRRRGGGHHH AAAAAAAAAAHHHH!!!” With little effort expended, Grogar rips Farsight’s horn from his head and jams it into his right eye. Farsight screamed and writhed in pain as his own blood began to soak his face and his vocal cords wore out. No longer did he have complete vision and the remainder of it was tinted with red. “You sadistic fuck! Is this how you get your kicks?!”

“Partly that and also…” Grogar got into Farsight’s face, “you made the gravest of errors by angering me!”
“I already know what I did to earn that honor. I knew it was already a matter of time.”

“Indeed, little pony.” Grogar paced back and forth, “I’ll admit that I found your persistence amusing but when it threw a wrench in my plans, that is where I’ll take issue.”

“What plans?” Grogar grinned menacingly.

“Ever since my defeat at the hooves of that welp Gusty and her friends ages ago, I knew that I was too weak to strike. Thus, I bid my time, waiting for an opportunity and indeed it came. When that one pony named Balthasar gathered a group to pay tribute to me and I chose a descendant of his to be my puppet. You see, it was I that caused him to be put in the institution to begin with because I know I can sow fear and despair without much trouble. All of that was to lure the princesses, the only ones capable to stop me, out into the open so I could use Apollo to get rid of them. But, in the end, he failed and you’re responsible.”

“Face it, Grogar!” Farsight growled “You’ve lost! The princesses are aware of you and your plans and I saw to that!”

“You’d like to think that using Apollo was my only plan. However, I have another that I’ve already set in motion. I shall return Equestria to its rightful state during my reign.” Grogar’s horns began to glow, causing Farsight to convulse in pain, “Take comfort that you won’t be alive to see it happen. Also, you’ll be seeing your beloved Everglade. Be thankful for that.”

With one last angry grin of defiance, Farsight’s abdomen and chest cavity were cut open and his ribcage, exposing his internal organs. He screamed a bloodcurdling scream as he was disemboweled in a bloody display, arranging his intestines in the formation of Grogar’s logo. Every bit of the pain of his flesh being torn and manipulated, Farsight felt it all. His body and mind felt weaker as he bled out to Grogar’s delight. Farsight knew his end was nigh and there was nothing he could do.

As Grogar left through a portal, Farsight felt the last bits of his life leaving him as his vision turned to a complete white void. In it was his lost love, Everglade. He smiled as he met his embrace as the white void consumed him. Farsight could only hope the princesses would heed his warning. For what he belied was to come, all of Equestria needed to be prepared. Grogar's rise has begun.

Author's Note

Well, I hoped that through this story, you've enjoyed this as much as I enjoyed writing it. For better or worse, this was like a little experiment for me to keep a constant stream of updates to a story and I hope to keep that sort of rhythm for my other stories.

Happy Halloween!

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 1

I don’t even know where to begin. I’ve never entertained the idea of writing a personal journal before but hey, always a first time for something. My name is Farsight, Head Psychologist at St. Solaris Mental Institution, ten miles north of Manehattan. I’ve been working there for almost two decades now after I got my Ph.D. in Psychology. As a colt, I’ve always been fascinated with the way the mind behaves and what makes us tick and that’s why I chose this career path.

My job, apart from handling the paperwork and instructing the therapists on what to do, was handling patients on a case by case basis whenever my skills were required. It happens a fair bit from time to time but it’s a way to help break the ice when all I have to do is writeups and signing of forms. As I examine each case, I continue to be surprised. However, nothing I’ve encountered yet truly unsettled me.

Today, I carried my usual routine of filing reports and signing approvals for treatments. It was nothing really out of the ordinary but… it was all boring bullshit. Still, it had to have been done. It was shortly after I wrapped things up that I got the call to come to the lobby to help process a new arrival. At a glance, I saw nothing off about him but, when I looked into his eyes, it was… I couldn’t quite make it out but it was unnerving like something that gives you goosebumps.

The newest patient in our institution was a unicorn from Downtown Canterlot named Apollo Glint. According to his file that I got to read after he was situated, he was a dayshift manager at a food market so he looked to be doing relatively well for himself. Both parents were dead in a fire and he was the youngest of three and fairly brilliant. Yet, a month ago, for reasons unknown, he butchered his brother, his marefriend, and his workmates during a party one night. He was only stopped when his sister and a few guards managed to subdue him.

The odd thing was that... despite being slightly on the anti-social side, he was described as relatively normal. So, with something like what he did being out of character, we had to look for the ‘why’ of this situation. Why would he just snap all of a sudden and begin murdering friends and family out of the blue? I often ask myself that whenever I’m confronted with a case because that’s often the first step to treating those who come here. When I get to interview them is when the thick of the action starts.

I entered one of the many interview rooms we have in this place. Sitting in one chair was Apollo, looking like he’d been tossed around in a storm and was left in shock as a result. He undoubted was after what he did so I had to approach him cautiously. I started off with the usual greeting, telling him who I was and where he was, standard operating procedure. All I got was silence and not even the faintest sound of breathing. I know he wasn’t dead but the way he carried himself made it seem so. It would seem like that Magic Suppression Ring is making him morose.

I kept asking him questions, small talk to help break the ice, but he was still dead silent. Eventually, I asked Apollo about what happened and what caused him to murder all those ponies. Right away, he said “No! No please!” with a face of dread and shock, something I anticipated. One of the many tactics to get a patient is to confront them with a question pertaining to their trauma but he seemed especially shocked by it. If I were to guess, some influence might’ve been the cause. Still, it’s too early to draw that conclusion.

But, without even the slightest warning, he lunged at one of the orderlies and began slamming her against the wall, letting out a curse-filled scream of anger. It was about half a minute before we were able to separate and pin him to the wall. His face… I’ve never seen that much fear in any creature like that. At that point, he was in full-on panic mode and I had to resort to hitting him with the appropriate amount of sedative to knock him out. That did it for my chance to interview him today.

Odd, it truly was odd. It was like with a clap of hooves that he went berserk. But, it seemed like my straightforward approach was what might’ve set him off. His face screamed desperation and his eyes were abnormally bloodshot. Like, I’ve seen bloodshot eyes in many ponies who were sleep-deprived but… nevermind. I suppose can dwell on that at a later date.

As a result, I had the director assign a duo of guards to maintain constant surveillance. As a result, I‘m beginning to classify his behavior as indicative of Intermittent Explosive Disorder, Bipolarism, or, though unlikely and too early to assume, Schizophrenia. I’ve instructed the nurses to give him the proper medication and be allowed to interact with fellow patients at certain points in the day. It’s the least we could do to help him. Something tells me that this might be the most interesting case I’ve taken in a long time.

Author's Note

Originally, I intended to release this on the 1st of the month but various factors held it back a bit. With that out of the way, this is my first foray into horror. I may or may not succeed at this but it's my hope that you'll enjoy this.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 3

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 3

As per Dr. Farsight’s instructions, Patient Apollo Glint was allowed to roam free for today under the condition of being supervised throughout the duration. Reports indicate him as being rather cooperative and passive throughout his time. On a whim, he began reading the latest Daring Do book that came out last week. He appeared to enjoy it as he hummed some old tune as he read through the first five chapters.

In regards to the incident that occurred around that time, it happened with little to no warning. No signs beyond growing irritability were made apparent. Patients #23387-167 (Acheron) and #94571-077 (Cheddar) began to fight which grew progressively violent before ending with Cheddar stabbing Acheron in the neck with a scalpel. For further notice, Cheddar has been put in Restrictive Isolation and Acheron now requires an alternative method of communication due to the attack rendering him incapable of speech. It was also reported that the situation calmed down when Apollo was removed from the area.

Furthermore, Apollo has exhibited signs of Obsessive-Compulsive Writing and drawing. In an empty notebook provided by Dr. Farsight, he drew the exact same symbol on all pages, accompanied by the phrase “He demands blood!” Other psychologists in the facility are conducting research as to whom the phrase is referring to. We hope that further information comes from this.

On another note, in light f the aforementioned incident, we are instituting a new policy in regards to unattended medical equipment. Any and all medical equipment MUST be kept under a secure lock when not in use. Failure to comply with this will result in suspension or termination, depending on the ensuing incident. The new policy will be outlined in next week’s employee bulletin.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 6

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 6

After the incident involving Patients Apollo Glint and Prospero, the former is to have increased surveillance at all times and a guard at the ready to dissuade Mr. Glint of any disruptive behaviors. As for his behavior for today, he remained relatively passive with only a few minor incidents in which he attempted to assault other patients. Fortunately, nearby guards were able to pacify him through the usage of stun rods. Don’t relay this info to Dr. Farsight as it could spark a disagreement du to his wishes that such things be prohibited against Mr. Glint.

We’ve also got word that the princesses in Canterlot have completed the Magic Suppression Ring. With all the enchantments they have bestowed upon it, we anticipate this MSR to be at least four times more effective than the standard MSRs we have in stock from what they say. There’s currently no way to determine the side effects of it but we’ll know when it arrives.

Also, Dr. Scribe will be taking a break for the next week due to a family emergency. As such, she’ll be unavailable to handle any translation work. However, she left instructions for Dr. Farsight to decipher the most basic of Tambelonese. We anticipate the standard workflow for the past week to experience very little disruption.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 8

Case ID: #73104-921, page 8

There was an incident during the lunch period in the cafeteria today between Patient #59971-022 (Peanut Swirl) and #73104-921 (Apollo Glint). Just out of the blue, Mr. Swirl walked over to Mr. Glint’s table and started provoking him. He, at first, slammed his face into his lunch before throwing him to the ground. Mr. Swirl then began kicking and punching him as he laughed while Mr. Glint didn’t so much as raise his hooves in defense. For approximately one minute, the fighting went on before the nearby guards intervened.

Mr. Loudwhistle, one of our guards here, tackled Mr. Swirl and started beating him to pacify him. However, he was seen to have used an excessive amount of force, much more than allowed for such an action. After two minutes passed, he was separated from Mr. Swirl and brought to the main office for disciplinary action. Upon further review of footage from cameras and witness testimony, he was found to have acted with intent to do grievous bodily harm. As such, Mr. Loudwhistle’s position has been terminated and is no longer an employee at this institution.

Employees, when dealing with unruly patients, must exercise the appropriate amount of force. Any repetitions of the incident will be dealt with immediate termination in accordance with our zero-tolerance policy towards abuse.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 9

Case ID: #73104-921, page 9

For the whole day yesterday, the facility was put on lockdown following an altercation between a patient and a guard that ended in the latter’s death. For some reason, Patient #17739-818 (Typhoon Breeze) managed to acquire a scalpel from one of the psych wards and attacked one of the guards, Mr. Almond Dream.

From the autopsy of Almond’s corpse, he was first stabbed in the back of the neck about three times before he started slashing at this throat, leaving a bloody scene. The report indicated the fatal wound was a cut right through the jugular vein. After it was cut, Almond bled out and that was the cause of his death. Mr. Breeze has been moved to a maximum-security area as a result. Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) is suspected to have been involved.

The board of directors would like to remind everypony of the unattended medical equipment policy. Any incident pertaining to any medical instrument left unsued and out in the open would be investigated and the appropriate disciplinary measures are to be taken. Since this incident has resulted in a fatality, whoever was responsible for leaving medical tools unoccupied will be terminated from their position. Workplace safety and that of the patients is our top priority.

Work smart. Work safe.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 10

Case ID: #73104-921, page 10

Today, Patient #73104-921 (Apollo Glint) has been interred in the infirmary for about three days and on suicide watch. At around 12:35 PM this afternoon, the orderlies were alerted to the sounds of banging that came from his room. After gaining entry, they found Mr. Glint banging his head against the wall while screaming for a “Mr. Skull” to leave him alone. It was apparent that it was a suicide attempt and it took the orderlies five minutes to pacify him to prevent him from hurting himself. Even as he was tackled to the floor as he was administered a sedative, he kept banging his head against the floor.

From what the doctors informed us, he suffered some concussions and a few minor skull fractures with some internal bleeding that was fixed. Currently, he is unconscious but in a stable condition. Dr. Farsight has been alerted about this development and will deliver a response once he returns next week from a personal matter regarding Mr. Almond Dream. Mr. Glint’s vitals are to be checked around the clock and be subjected to routine brain scans to detect any abnormalities. Any potential brain damage can and will hamper our investigation.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 11

I just heard of the incident a few days ago regarding Apollo Glint and his attempt at suicide. From what I understood, he bashed his head as hard as he could against any hard surfaces but the orderlies were able to pacify him without further incidents. From what I’ve heard, he kept screaming about Mr. Skull and speaking some unknown language which I know to be Tambelonese. For the last few days, he was out like a light and I doubt he’ll want to do an interview tonight, which is fine. All that matters is Apollo’s mental faculties and his memories are intact.

This brings something to mind that I’ve been establishing in regards to Apollo called a “Psychoanalytical Baseline”. Like how a piece of machinery has a performance baseline that determines its optimal operational capacity, I can make the same parallels in regards to the mind. But, it’s a tad more difficult due to the somewhat unpredictable nature of the brain and various other factors that go into it. If I play my cards right and put my work to it, I can earn my self a spot in the study books with my method. Just thinking about all that makes giddy and jumpy with excitement.

But on a more serious note, I sincerely hope that Apollo’s memories are intact and that this didn’t throw a wrench in my investigation. I’m still trying to develop a baseline and anything that might interfere will make me have to start over. I really don’t want to go back to square one. I’m making a lot of progress and I would like to know more about the effects that Mr. Skull has on his mind and if he has any form of sentience. I know we have chaotic entities like Discord and others like the Tantabus but this feels different.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 14

Okay, this has gone from bad to worse as now I’m short a translator. I don’t know how to put this but Dr. Rosetta Scribe, for some reason, killed herself. I didn’t see any visual clues and certainly, nothing to the effect of anything indicating depression or I would’ve known. This just doesn’t make any sense. She was well-liked by the staff here, cooperative with her information gathering efforts. So, why would she just up and throw herself from a building in Canterlot? I have a couple of guesses as to why that’s the case but they all have disturbing implications.

One theory is that she might’ve dug deep into whoever Mr. Skull was found out who he really is and might’ve exerted control over her to commit suicide. That one does seem more probable as Mr. Skull was able to enter my dreams and give me one of the worst nightmares I’ve ever seen, like he was trying to send a message. If so, this would mark the first time I’ve known Mr. Skull to directly taking life or coercing whoever to do so. This is disturbing but the next idea is what gets at me the most.

The second theory is that she might’ve, again, figured out the real identity of Mr. Skull as she did mention doing her own investigation on the side. My guess was that she finished it but knew she would be targeted by him as I’ve mentioned to her what’d been happening here. After that, she took her own life to prevent her research from falling into the wrong hooves. To my knowledge, she did say she’d leave notes behind in the event she could no longer carry out her job in any capacity. When I go to her funeral, I’ll ask for her notes. She left enough for me to understand Tambelonese to an extent.

That brings me to why we need experts in the field of ancient magic and why I NEED access to the royal archives and fast. I’m starting to worry that this will get worse and I’ll be too late to stop what’ll happen. I’m not sure what but stuff like this can’t go ignored and for good reason. I hope that by the time the situation starts escalating, I’ll have access to the required information that I need.

Now, I need to get my suit to the dry cleaners because the funeral is tomorrow.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 15

It seems as though the board is starting to see a shred of reason for once after the untimely death of Dr. Rosetta Scribe. At least as far as the bigger picture is concerned, they’re putting more pressure on the ever ineffective bureaucracy to put us on the fast track for access to the royal archives. As much as I lambast them for being such short-sighted on this issue, I will applaud them for at least this once and hope this will be a change of pace here. I was getting tired of having to convince the board about what has been happening.

With the retirement of Director Shamrock, his replacement, Dr. Nebula, has a bigger grasp of the bigger picture. I’ve known her from my time while studying at the University of Canterlot. Even though she studied psychology, I have no doubts about her ability to lead and make split decisions when the situation calls for it. There were… times where she tried to flirt with me. As much as I appreciate her friendship and company, I’m not interested in her. I’m just not that type of stallion. But, we’re still on good terms as we’ve always been for years.

On the subject of the archives access, I got word from a representative of the crown and this made me a bit more hopeful. I needed a bit more information and I hope that the princesses will permit me to look through that section. From what Twilight told me, that place is like a complete repository of the world’s knowledge, intriguing. Now I know for sure that whatever I needed to look up, my answers lie withing those countless shelves of old tomes. This Mr. Skull has a real name and I will found out what it is, one way or another.

With that, I would like to thank the timely arrival of the late Dr. Scribe’s successor, Parchment Scribble. Apparently, Dr. Scribe was his mentor before and he had been taught all she knew. In regards to his knowledge of Tambelonese, I have to say that it’s on the same level as Scribe’s, even to the point of enthusiastic curiosity. On his first day, he was able to spend the whole day communicating with Apollo Glint. He diligently recorded from Apollo what appeared to be a poem. Here was what he was able to translate:

He trudged through lands ancient,
His lust for power ever ravenous.
Wherever he roamed with malintent,
Terror and despair followed in his wake.

Take heed for his in his power,
For his very name can make mortals cower.
Should he ever return,
A great tide of red will wash over the land.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 16

Today, I got to meet with Dr. Nebula regarding the case of Apollo Glint and how there’s some sort of outside influence, Mr. Skull. She seemed rather intrigued by what has been going on so for our first meeting, I gathered all the evidence and clues to present to her. From the interview transcripts to all the writings and translated Tambelonese. I also got her copies of the aforementioned documents for review. Also, any future documents and information will be forwarded to her as they come up. I gotta appreciate any boss who’ll work with me on this matter. I ought to get her something for her birthday next week to say thanks.

As of now, the clues and evidence we’ve gathered are translated Tambelonese, depictions of Mr. Skull (Apollo’s drawing), a possible symbol, yesterday’s poem, and the fact his reach stretches beyond just Apollo. Whoever or whatever he is, my guess is that he’s ancient and his power could possibly be immense at his height. One thing has got me wondering. Is he alive or dead? Either way, it’s a terrifying thought as he can cause great damage either way. Part of me is wondering the reason the archive request is taking so long is that the princesses know something that they’re afraid to make available to the public.

Since now we’re taking his magical signature into account, I took the liberty to install magic signature scanners throughout his room. At any time, when any form of magic is detected from him, the data would be sent to my terminal where I can analyze it. I know we already had the specialized MSR put on him a while back but as this case has told me, I can’t rely on the ring being able to completely stop his magic. As of now, the first data set gathered shows that his magic signature differs greatly from previous records when he was first processed here.

All of the data the team and I have collected so far, it all has to be connected. Like I’ve said before, Mr. Skull is some powerful entity from a long time ago, possibly going back thousands of years. Something tells me that his power can surpass even the princesses themselves and such a thing let loose… oh harmony. I’m now prepared to send the letters from days ago to the princesses if things get worse. I have a gut feeling it won’t be too far down the line.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 17

Okay, today could’ve gone a whole lot better than I hoped it would and I still sorta hurt all over. We had another incident today with my case subject, Apollo Glint, and another patient that arrived today from Trottingham, Steelwing. To start this off, I thought it would be a decent change of pace to observe Apollo’s daily routine myself for the sake of some hooves-on research. For the most part, the research went smoothly and Apollo was well behaved as he did his usual routine of drawing depictions and speaking Tambelonese. But, as I’ve grown to know, peace never lasts for very long.

As he got up to go use the bathroom, Apollo got into a verbal disagreement with Steelwing when he accidentally bumped into him. I hoped that the situation would resolve itself but the second the fight broke out, I knew it could only get worse from there. The savagery of the blows, that was much more than I’m used to seeing from him like he intended to kill Steelwing. Since I was on site, I felt that I could assist in separating both of them. However, that was where I made a big mistake, a gigantically stupid mistake.

The moment I put hooves on Apollo, he turned to me with a look on his face that spelled pure unbridled rage. He let go of Steelwingand proceeded to bash my head against the wall. After that, he kicked me between my hind legs and everywhere else after he forced me to the ground. That was when he started to strangle me all while screaming at me in Tambelonese before I managed to hit him with a sedative syringe. I walked away from that with some markings on my neck, bruises along my body, a slight concussion, lost a tooth, and a sore set of… nads. I can’t begin to tell you how much pain medication it took to dull all that away.

Since Apollo’s mind is subjected to being manipulated by Mr. Skull, I see this as an attempt to silence me before I can reach any break in the investigation. I know I already posited the idea of Mr. Skull being able to telepathically influencing others but this was the first direct attempt he took on my life. I have a feeling that this investigation might very well get me killed but I must press on and see this to the end. Going to work on translating what he said to me in Tambelonese with what little fluency I have in it.

But first, I hope this ice pack on my crotch numbs the pain away soon. Feels awkward.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 18

I… had that one dream again, not like the usual I’ve had with my father back then. I thought that with the memory suppression spell, I wouldn’t see it again but I saw it last night as clear as the day I first saw it. My love, Everglade, had committed suicide four years ago today. We’ve been married for ten years before he took his own life. Even then, I remembered every bit of his anguished screams before and right after he did the deed. I wished I could’ve helped him but I was too slow to act. Oh, Everglade, I’m so sorry.

I remembered coming home late from a shift that took longer than usual due to some mixup with a few files worth of paperwork. There, I saw Everglade, sitting at a table with a cup of tea in his hoof. The look on his face was one of losing hope in everything, including life itself. For a while, I did my best to comfort him whenever he had an episode, holding him tight and assuring that all was right in the world. It worked to great effect but it eventually became less effective. Yet, I always did my best to comfort him in any way.

He was crying, screaming about how his mother gave him all manner of misery growing up, even kicking him out. Routinely, he experienced nightmares about the abuse he suffered at her hooves. I calmly tried to bring him down from his turmoil but to no avail. When he went for one of the knives in the kitchen, I knew it was a short fuse but not how short it was. After giving one last laugh about how life was meaningless, he jammed the knife into his neck and cutting his throat wide open. I still remember the blood that soaked the floor, like it was a flood.

I held him in my arms, begging him not to die but… it was too fucking late. He died in my arms as I cradled his limp lifeless body. I lost the pony I swore to spend my life with, the stallion I loved. But, I heard a familiar laughing sound, one I’ve heard only once before. Mr. Skull was using this dream of mine to taunt me, demoralize me. How fucking dare he tries to taunt me with memories of a tragedy of mine! He’s gone to fucking far with this. When I return tomorrow, I will personally interrogate Mr. Skull. He’ll get more than just an earful from me, that son of a bitch!

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 20

I have to say that yesterday’s interview gave me a great deal of information that at least helped push things forward. Yeah, I may have had to sidestep a few ethics here and there but my hoof had been forced when Mr. Skull pulled that nightmare over my head like a blanket. How that’ll affect my ‘relationship’ with Apollo Glint remains to be seen. I just hope that he would forgive me for what I had to do. Hopefully, he’ll remember none of what happened. He’s, from what I understand, in a trance-like state that is like a coma but the doctors gave an estimation of a week at most before he awakens.

Also, I got word from Rosetta Scribe’s husband, Berry Turnover, that he compiled all of her notes and data she built over the course of her tenure at this facility. When they get here tomorrow, I will begin analyzing them with Parchment Scribble but I anticipate the amount of all that research to be substantial, to say the least. When I last was there, I got the chance to do a very brief preview of what she was able to acquire. From what I recall, there was one note that had only a single letter.

“G-”

If I can guess, that could be the first letter of Mr. Skull’s true name but I’m sure that the notes can solve that riddle. Now, if there was one thing I enjoyed doing in my youth, it was solving puzzles and riddles. For me, the mind is like one big puzzle where no two minds are the same. You’ll never know what you’ll get out of each dive into the brain. it ‘s what makes us truly unpredictable and it’s also a story with each experience. That’s also why they pay us the big bits for each case.

Don’t get me wrong; I do want to help out these patients with their problems as issues of the mind often go ignored. Such is the case of Apollo Glint. But even then, I would rake in a bit of a fat sack of bits in exchange for my work but I usually would like to donate a majority of the earnings to charities I support. I just find the idea of making money off of the mentally ill leaving a bad taste in my mouth. But, that’s just me though. It always made me incredibly uneasy.

I know that Apollo won’t be too keen on wanting to be interviewed any time soon. With that, I’ll leave him be and let him come to me if he so desires. I just hope that experience hasn’t put a strain on his fragile mind.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 21

I walked into work today and when I got to my office, I found a package waiting for me on my desk, sent by Berry Turnover. I knew right away those were the notes his wife, Rosetta, had been compiling for weeks. When I said that she’d been gathering tons of data, I wasn’t exaggerating in the slightest. All she worked on in her spare time, it’s incredible how much she gathered. This is it! This could be my big break until I gain access to the archives and it should bring me about a few steps from solving this. But, it’s all going to take some time to go through it all but it’ll be worth it.

On the matter of Apollo Glint, Canterlot saw it fit to bring over a pony that is designated as a ‘Medium’. These unicorns are able to peer into the minds of others to determine what is causing them mental distress. Since we know Apollo’s problem stems from a combination of mental instability and possession from an ancient entity, maybe this medium, Aurora Dream, can be instrumental to the case. I know some may think me as being angry about this but I welcome any and all help in solving this. Any help, big or small, will help me in the long run.

Aurora came in this early noon, just as I got done with my lunch break. I have to say that as far as neutral expressions go, hers made it seems as if she had no other emotions, focused like a razor. In my opinion, it was almost as unsettling as the nature of Mr. Skull. Still, it was something that I’ll have work with and I’ve seen things that were a bit above what she gives off. I have no doubts about her abilities.

When she was ready to peer into Apollo’s mind, I was present for the sake of documenting the event. With a deep breath, Aurora worked her magic for what looked to be a matter of five minutes before her eyes shot wide open. She gasped with a look of pure terror that I really haven’t seen before. After that, she left the room for some fresh air while muttering something that I couldn’t make out but one bit was as clear as the day: ‘Gr-’. Could be another clue to Mr. Skull’s identity as his real name also begins with the letter ‘G’.

From what Aurora told me, despite what I assume to be a horrifying experience, she would be a part of the team but that I should also expect her to depart at any time. She also warned me that Mr. Skull, as I come to know him as, is a grave threat and that I should consider sending him off to the princesses for further study if he becomes too dangerous. To be honest, I have been considering that but I want to see how far I can go with that here before I’m forced to do so.

Dr. Farsight's Journal - Log 25

Again, as with the last couple of days, I won’t be getting another interview with Apollo Glint today. I’m starting to believe that the previous one where I had that one on one with Mr. Skull was the last as it seems that he gained more control over Apollo, whether it be him willfully surrendering his mind to Mr. Skull’s will or his willpower slowly being eroded over time by his influence. Much of that is a mystery to me but a mystery that I nonetheless have to solve. It’s a mixture of being too intriguing and my genuine concern for Apollo’s safety and wellbeing.

As of late, I kept having reoccurrences of the dreams that had been plaguing me throughout my life. No matter what I did, even a high-powered memory suppression spell, none of that did anything to keep them at bay. All night, they continued to haunt me and I kept seeing Mr. Skull in all of them like a shadow. He always carried an air of malevolence in any dream of mine like he was doing so, just to intimidate me. If he thinks that he can get me to back off by using memories of my dead husband as leverage, Mr. Skull can rightfully fuck off.

I’ve been looking into more of this ‘bell’ artifact that Mr. Skull was said to have used millennia ago. From what I’ve read in Rosetta’s notes, the bell is said to be some form of a conduit of magic, is that it can not only take magic but also giver the wielder or whomever the wielder desires the magic stored within. Whoever Mr. Skull was, he could’ve been particularly powerful with that artifact which could be why Gusty managed to take it from him.

Gusty, that bell, I know they’re related to Mr. Skull but in what way? I guess that when I get access to the archives in a couple of days, I might be able to find out information about the bell and who it belonged to. Through that, I’ll find out who Mr. Skull really is and crack this case once and for all.

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 27

Case ID: #73104-921, Page 27 (Final)

While much about the nature of what was the cause of the late Patient #73104-921’s (Apollo Glint) behavior and cause of why he was sent to the facility, to begin with, Dr. Farsight was able to go to Canterlot Castle and access the archives there. We’ve had zero forms of contact with him all throughout that day but when he came back, he looked absolutely shocked from what we were able to discern. Even though the facility is still undergoing repairs and clean up, administrative staff still have access and what Dr. Farsight had to share was most troubling.

The entity that was referred to as ‘Mr. Skull’ turned out to be Grogar as hard it is to believe. He was an ancient ram that ruled over Equestria (then known as Tambelon) with an iron hoof and his power knew no equal with a bell-like artifact he wielded. After he was overthrown, he was thought to have been killed but he apparently managed to survive in some form. If he was powerful enough to manipulate Mr. Glint in the way he did, there’s no telling if he’s still at the same level of power he once had.

As of now, Dr. Farsight has declared this case to be closed and considered solved and any records and material to be copied and sent to Princess Celestia for her review.

(CASE CLOSED)

-Dr. Nebula Cloud
Chief Administrator, St. Solaris Mental Institution