Amulet

The Amulet, as it turned out, was an excellent source of information about itself. Twilight had her misgivings, but it hadn’t lied to her yet. It answered any question she asked about how its inner workings, clearing up quite a few misconceptions while simultaneously making most of her notes completely useless.

It wasn’t a collection of different, intertwined enchanted objects, it wasn’t an attempt at a spell repository gone wrong, and the Amulet was very insistent about not being cursed.

I do not control my user’s minds. I do not force them to do anything they do not wish to. They are able to remove me at any time they wish. I am no more responsible for their actions than you are.

“Every one of your recorded bearers went insane.” Twilight countered.

And staring into the sun will blind you. Is Celestia evil?

“Celestia doesn’t make ponies stare into the sun.”

And I do not make my users cast spells. They do so out of their own volition.

“You still let them use the spells. You helped Trixie use them.”

If I cannot prevent their use, I can at least guide it. Would you rather Trixie had been given access to every spell contained here with no idea what they did? She is an entertainer, not a mage experienced in deciphering magical frameworks.

“She tried to conquer Ponyville.”

I am required to help my users. I cannot question their motives. Trixie’s ambitions are hers, not mine.

“Well, what about Blue Sky? You convinced her the Guard was hunting her down.”

The Amulet hung silent in Twilight’s magical grip.

“Well?”

I do not know who you are referring to.

“Blue Sky? Your last user? The pony you’ve had me dreaming about for the past month?”

I cannot interfere with dreams.

“You can’t? Wait, how do you remember Trixie and not Blue?”

I remember Trixie because you remember Trixie. I can only know what my users know, and must work with that information. I presume Blue Sky was already under the assumption that she was being hunted, and I, with no other points of view, believed her. As for your dreams, I can offer no explanation beyond what Luna has already told you.

It was always a bit disconcerting when the Amulet reference things it hadn’t been present for. Twilight didn’t like the thought of it poking through her memories.

I am compelled to remind you that I am incapable of mind control in any form. I believe it was implemented as a failsafe when I was first created.

“Not what we’re talking about. Do you actually remember what you did while Trixie had you?”

No, but I am capable of making educated guesses as to the reasoning behind my behaviour at the time.

“Then how can I be sure you didn’t make her try to take over Ponyville?”

I am incapable of mind control.

“That’s not what I mean! You could have convinced her to do it without controlling her mind, couldn’t you?”

Theoretically, yes. But what reason would I have to do so?

“So you’re capable of manipulating ponies.”

So is every other sentient being on Equus.

“How do I know you won’t try to manipulate me?”

Even if I tried, what do you believe I could convince you to do? In Trixie’s case, I would have preyed on her pre-existing paranoia and ambition to control her. You do not have these weaknesses.

“There are other ways to manipulate ponies.”

Could you see yourself attempting to destroy Equestria? Kill the Princesses? What reason could I give you to convince you? What reason would I have to try to make you?

Twilight stayed silent. No, she couldn’t imagine herself doing those things. The very ideas were repulsive.

Even if you cannot trust me, how could I make you do something you don’t want to? I cannot control you. I cannot even lie to you.

Twilight released the Amulet, letting it clatter onto her desk. It’s voice went silent, unable to communicate without her magic holding it. She used to have to touch it, didn’t she?

The room was cast in the darkening colours of sunset, tinging the still-messy study in deep red. Twilight stood up. She had been here all day. Her stomach growled, reminding her that she hadn’t eaten yet. She left her study, leaving the door open behind her as she headed to her kitchen.

As she passed a long mirror decorating one side of the hallway, Twilight considered what the Amulet had said. She didn’t believe it couldn’t lie. But it was right when it said it was incapable of mind control. At least, Twilight hadn’t found any spells like that inside it yet.

Out of the corner of her eye, she saw a tall figure walking next to her. She spun, turning to face the intruder, only to be met with her own reflection. Her mane was tangled and messy, and her eyes were dark with exhaustion.

You have not been taking care of yourself.

Twilight jumped, jostling the items in her saddlebags. Why had she taken her saddlebags? Her magic darted into them, drawing out the Amulet. Right. She had taken it with her. When had she taken it with her?

It would be easier if you just wore it.

“You said you couldn’t control me!”

I cannot. You took me with you when you left your study.

She had, hadn’t she? Twilight tried to remember why she took the Amulet with her, but came up blank. It had been like muscle memory.

This is concerning. Perhaps there is another party interfering? It could offer an explanation for your dreams.

“I’m not taking advice from you.” Twilight looked at her disheveled, tired reflection. The Amulet had been right about her not taking care of herself. She was a mess.

There was somepony standing behind her. Twilight bucked at the shadowy, tall figure, feeling her hindlegs hit chill air where they should have impacted her attacker.

Twilight, stop. You are clearly sleep deprived.

“Shut up! I’m not listening to you!” Twilight’s heart pounded in her chest. She was breathing too fast, she was thinking too fast, and the figure was standing next to her, glowering at her with baleful red eyes.

A flash of violet light accompanied the sound of shattering glass as Twilight threw a blast of magic into the mirror.

“What are you doing? What is this?” Twilight’s shouts echoed down the empty hallway.

I am not doing anything. Please, Twilight, calm yourself.

It was still watching her. Whatever it was, she could feel it staring at her.

“Twilight?” Spike stood in the hallway, rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

Twilight very nearly incinerated him, only aborting the spell once her panicked mind recognized the small dragon.

“Twilight, what’s going on?” Spike took in the situation through bleary eyes, noting the broken mirror and crimson amulet held in a very panicked Twilight’s telekinetic grasp, “Are you okay?”

Twilight focused on Spike, drawing her out of the terrified fugue she’d been slipping into. She took a few calming breaths, settling her spinning head and speeding heart a bit. She ignored the shadow standing behind Spike.

“Yes, I’m okay, I was just... well, um…” Twilight glanced at the shards of broken mirror scattered around her hooves, “I, um…”

There wasn’t a good explanation for this. What could she say? She’d accidentally taken the Amulet with her and started literally jumping at shadows?

Any attempt at explanation will only make him more worried. You’re fine now, that’s all that matters.

What should she do then? She couldn’t just gallop off without an explanation.

You could.

“Twilight, when was the last time you slept?”

No. She couldn’t just run, that was only prolonging the inevitable.

Then admit the truth.

That wouldn’t work either. Her friends were already concerned about her, news of this would just make it worse.

“Twilight?”

You are not a skilled liar. It must be one or the other.

She couldn’t explain right now. She was too panicked, too tired, and the shadow behind Spike wasn’t there anymore.

Twilight ran.

“Are the depictions located in a particular region, or are they scattered across Equestria?” Luna questioned.

They had relocated to Starlight’s hotel room, which had obviously not been built for ponies of Luna’s stature. Or Starlight’s, for that matter.

“They actually seem to have spread outward from multiple different locations at around the same time. I’ve been trying to link them together but I keep running into problems connecting them.”

She was trying not to feel giddy that Luna had taken an interest in her research. Twilight might be in danger, after all. But still, having a childhood idol take personal interest in your project was a bit overwhelming.

“Interesting.” Luna flipped through photos of the mural that had been snapped before they left, examining each carefully, “This mural resembles some works I was gifted a few hundred years before the Nightmare.”

“Actually, I think I have a map with all the locations marked on it somewhere around here.” Starlight rummaged through her bags, which lay discarded at the foot of the tiny desk they were using as a table.

“That could be quite use-” Luna was cut off as the map unfolded, quickly filling the undersized room to the brim with paper. There were a few moments of confused flailing before the pair surfaced, and then a few more while they cleared enough space to properly examine the maps contents.

“It’s a large map…” Starlight said sheepishly after the map had been brought under control. Luna raised her eyebrows as she took in the information spread out before her. Explosions of red dots covered a detailed map of Equestria, each marking a site of interest. They were scattered across the country, ranging from the peaks of the Canterlot mountains to the edges of the Badlands.

Raising a hoof, Luna traced a path from the furthest cluster, sitting at the very southern edge of Equestria, to a cluster sitting atop Canterlot city.

“That’s what I thought, too, but there’s now way the Amulet traveled in such a direct path. It only ever goes backwards once, here,” Starlight poked at another cluster near the southern edge, “If it were being traded back and forth I’d expect to see a much more erratic path.”

“Could a single pony have not made that journey? A pegasus could have visited all of these places.”

“The dates don’t match. A few of these clusters have nearly a hundred years difference in origin.”

“So a single pony could not have made the journey in their lifetime, yet the path does not indicate any trade,” Luna poked at the Canterlot cluster idly, “Perplexing indeed.”

“Yeah. I’ve been trying to visit some of these sites to see if anything there will help, but I haven’t had any luck.”

“Perhaps it was not a pony who made the journey?”

“I don’t know what else could have. Discord was probably around, but this really doesn’t seem like something he’d do.”

“And my sister and I had not yet arrived in Equestria proper. A dragon perhaps?”

“That.. could work!” Starlight pulled a few notes from her bags, rifling through them with her magic, “The Amulet would be an impressive prize for any horde, and the Canterlot mountains used to be a common site for dragon lairs before the City was established. Now I just need to find whichever dragon took the Amulet and trace it from there!”

Starlight refolded the map with the swift efficiency of her magic, packing it into her saddlebags along with the rest of her supplies.

“I assume we are leaving immediately, then?” Luna’s interjection caused Starlights magic to falter for a moment and let a few scrolls drop to the floor.

“I, ah, yes! Yes, we’ll leave immediately! I mean, if you want to, your highness, I wouldn't want-”

“Surely you didn’t expect me to abandon such an interesting project, Starlight?” Luna chuckled lightly.

“No, of course not, I just-”

“Then let us make haste to Canterlot! There is archeology to be done!”