With a snap, Celestia emerged in her private study. Her normally regal countenance drenched in a cold sweat. Pupils shook erratically as she desperately fought to control her breathing. A deep sense of dread she had not felt since Luna’s banishment.
Agonizing moments passed as Celestia willed herself to calm. Her mind finally clearing of the lingering shreds of panic, she began to ponder.
‘That mare… Why did it stir such dread to see her. It’s been a long time since I’ve fled from daycourt like that. Twilight is probably worrying, hopefully she can handle the rest of court alone.’
Movement out of the corner of her eye drew Celestia’s attention to the entrance to her study. Startled to her hooves Celestia beheld the visage of that strange mare that was responsible for her flight. The mare had a peach cream coat, her auburn mane laid limply splitting around her horn. Upon her flank a film wheel with light projecting through it could be discerned. Hazel eyes stared blankly back, her expression the definition of neutral.
Fighting against the rising bile in her throat, Celestia forced the maternal expression she favored with her subjects.
“What are you doing here my little pony?” Celestia asked as calmly as she could manage.
“You already know the answer to that, despite your best attempts.” A smirk.
“Pardon me…?” The feeling of dread deepened with the mare’s voice.
“It really has been a while though, you were more successful than most.” The mare continued ignoring Celestia’s waning facade. “I must commend you Celestia, I truly underestimated your determination back then.”
“I am certain I have never met you.” Celestia bluffed. “You seem to have me at a disadvantage Ms…?”
“The names Ꝇ̴̢̎°̴͔͛¿̴̬̈́͜Ә̴̜̝͛͠”
Celestia winced as a piercing static scorched her hearing. Pain lingered as she shook her head to clear it of lingering effects of what she was certain was a perception altering enchantment. Recovering she glanced up at the amused visage of her unwanted visitor.
“Even still you impress me Celestia.” Her rictus grin a mockery of one of her subjects.
“What are you…” Celestia’s voice had taken on an edge.
“I am what you tried to bury all that time ago. But we have had our fun with that. I am not one to retread ground, so I'll speak plainly.” The mare’s grin widened beyond what should have been physiologically possible. “I am a mental construct that lives in the minds of those that know of me.”
“You expect me to believe such nonsense? We have clearly never met before today!” Celestia lied.
“Oh but we have, Celestia. That pitiful failsafe of yours is proof of that”
Celestia had no retort to that, and warily watched the ‘thing’ before her.
“Let me tell you a tale Celestia, of two sisters who fought, and the one that was left behind. In her sorrow the lonely sister thought to bring back her lost sibling by summoning her consciousness back into an empty vessel.” The mare grinned at Celestia’s dumbstruck face.
“So desperate was she, that she cast a spell out towards the moon, blindly praying to reunite with her sister.” A chuckle. “It was all so pitiable that I couldn’t help but follow it back.”
“THAT’S A LIE” Celestia’s voice shook the room as tears began to form in the corner of her eyes. Torn, buried, obliterated memories began to reform within her mind, as an ancient enchantment began to unravel.
“You really were so desperate at that time, I hardly even had to act to fool you. It was a simple thing to start growing my influence amongst your subjects.” The ‘thing’ that looked like a mare scoffed.
“But you don’t…”
“Look like your beloved sister? Even you weren’t so stupid as to try to bring her back as she was. No, you decided a nondescript appearance would allow you to slowly ease the idea to your still traumatized subjects. Of course you were bound to eventually see another that looked like I once did.”
“Why…?” Bloodstained atrocities flowed back, faces wrought in terror and disbelief, betrayal.
“You know why you had to kill them. Once you figured out my true nature, it was inevitable that those who knew of me had to be silenced.” The ‘thing’ sighed to itself. “I underestimated your resolve at that time. I really didn’t think you had it in you to do it.” Another smirk. “It was entertaining to watch though.”
“W-what have I done…” Celestia whispered to herself.
“You did make some crucial errors however.” It lectured smugly. “You thought to use your natural healing to offset physically ripping out your memories. Unfortunately you misunderstood how memories work. You may tear apart a film reel and stitch it back together, but the reel will still have that damage, proof of those lost moments' existence.”
“Fear doesn’t forget.”
*CRACk*
Celestia glared at her reflection in shattered remains of her mirror as the last remnants of her failsafe faded. She finally remembered her mistake all those long years ago, and the cost they paid for her foolishness. This time would be different however, she was the only infected to her knowledge. She could excise her memories once more, build up better safeguards… Remove anything that could uncover ‘it’ again.
*Knock knock*
But first damage control.
Carefully crafting her maternal facade one more, she calmly opened her studies door. She was greeted by the worried expression of her faithful student.
“Twilight. Please come in.” She calmly stepped aside.
Cautiously her student entered, stepping over shards of glass.
“Celestia, is everything okay? It’s not like you to leave daycourt so suddenly.” She queried while dutifully ignoring the smashed mirror.
“Don’t worry my faithful student, everything will be just fine.” Celestia reassured.
“It’s just… I had heard you talking to yourself.” Twilight had the good dignity to blush as she admitted to her eavesdropping.
Celestia’s blood ran cold as time stood still for the inevitable question to follow.
“Umm… Who’s Lila?”
