The Conversion Bureau: Regrets
Looking back
Princess Celestia sighed for what was probably the hundredth time for the evening. The stressful events of the past few weeks had taken a lot out her, but she knew that she could rest now that it was finally over with. It had all started when the Changelings and their queen, Chrysalis, had returned and attempted to take their revenge for their defeat during the royal wedding incident. The conflict itself was short enough, lasing just over a week, but the chaos it caused was enough to once again break the seal of Celestia’s oldest and most hated foe, Discord. And unlike Chrysalis, Discord learned from his past mistakes and had wasted no time in stealing all of the elements of harmony on top of making sure to separate their bearers on different spots on the continent. However, thanks to an ingenious plan devised by her ever faithful student, Twilight Sparkle, Discord had been removed from Equestria forever.
Their victory though, had came at a very high price.
Not for Equestria mind you, but for that other world, the one called Earth. You see, Twilight’s plan to permanently defeat Discord was to seal him in the void between worlds, where he would no longer be able to harm another being ever again. But in the process, a bridge to another world had been created. It had formed over what the humans had called “South Africa” and the connection began spreading. The catch was, nothing from their world could survive contact with the expanding barrier, meaning that every living thing was going to be wiped out. Celestia had tried to find a way to stop the barrier’s advance, or even just slow it down to buy some time. But nothing worked, the barrier was going to engulf their world, and there was nothing she could do to save the humans. Well…almost nothing.
If she was unable to save the humans as they were, then maybe a more drastic approach was needed. If nothing from their world could cross the barrier, then she would simply have to change them to something from hers. There was a way to change them, a potion to be exact. She could turn the humans into ponies, griffons, or anything from her world. Yes, Celestia realized that she would be taking away everything the humans ever were, but at least they wouldn’t all be killed and would survive, just in another form. She didn’t like the idea, but she wasn’t just going to sit idly by and let an entire species be erased from existence, not when she was partially responsible for their world’s demise. After all, if she had been more diligent in keeping Discord locked away, then the humans wouldn’t have been in this mess in the first place.
As she had expcted, the human leaders hadn’t taken her proposal too well. But Celestia hadn’t been the least bit surprised by their reaction. After all, how would she feel if she was forced to give up her own body for one not of her choosing? But even without their approval, Celestia had put her plan into action. She hated having to use underhooved tactics, but she was determined to save as many souls as she could. But there was another issue to consider, how to preserve the human’s history? Yes, their species was more violent then her own, but so were the Dragons and Griffons, and who was she to judge them? Humanity’s colorful history and all of their achievements needed to be preserved, but this raised another problem. How would the changed human population react to having their past dangled in front of them? Having everything you ever were in right in front of you, but never being able to grasp it again. Celestia could never be so cruel, but she couldn’t let all of this history and knowledge be lost. Unless…
She could alter their memories, not just the changed humans, but every Equestian citizen. If she and Luna combined their powers, it could be done, but to do something so underhoofed, it was just so wrong. But it had to be done. While she loved her little ponies, she knew that they would ask too many questions about the flood of new arrivals, which would only make the changed humans more uncomfortable then they already were.
It was for the best. It had been an ugly, wrong and abhorrent thing to do, but it had to be done. She would keep humanity’s collected knowledge to herself (and Luna) and would work behind the scenes to integrate it into Equestrian society. That way, the humans, the real humans, would have a legacy, even if they would never know it.
So that’s what she had done. The barrier had finished engulfing the Earth late last night, and the last humans had been converted to ponies the day before. So now Celestia had an even bigger nation, and more loyal subjects to adore her. But the guilt about what she had done was going to eat at her forever. But, there was nothing she could do about it now.
As the princess looked at the horizon from her personal balcony, a knock on her door broke her from her thoughts. As she turned around, she looked her visitor over. It was a young, light red earth pony. She recognized him, he was one of the new castle staff that had been hired recently, he was a converted human.
“Excuse me your highness, but I brought you dinner to you.”
“Thank you, just leave it on the table.” Celestia answered, without taking her eyes off the colt, which seemed to unnerve the poor thing a bit.
“Is…everything okay, your majesty?”
“Yes, everything is quite alright. I’m just a bit tired.” Celestia lied.
“Okay, I’ll, uh. Be back later to collect the plate. Good-bye your highness.” The colt gave a bow and turned to leave the room, never seeing the single tear that went down Celestia’s cheek...