The Web of Deceit

Chapter 3

Twilight's hooves squished in the mud as she stopped in front of the door. She couldn't believe her luck! "If somepony is left, then maybe they know what's going on." she said to herself. "Or someone just left a light on and I really am the last one left." Twilight said, bowing her head. She had to find out. Summoning her courage, she straightened up, reached out a hoof, and opened the door.

Stepping into the living room,  it was nearly pitch black. A few streaks of light trickled down the nearby staircase and casted ominous shadows onto the floor. She took a gulped and began to tiptoe through the room, but immediately whacked her knee into a coffee table. "Horse apples!" Twilight cringed. "Who in Equestria puts a coffee table right in front of the door?!" She whispered. Rubbing her leg, she dodged the remaining furniture until she was directly below the staircase.

Twilight climbed the stairs swiftly and stood in front of the white nondescript door. Pressing her ear against the cold wood, she could hear the sound of beeping and the dull scrape of metal on wood. "What could that noise be?" she thought. She reached out a hoof, and twisted the knob slowly. Suddenly, the door was wrenched out of her grasp. She screamed. The wold began to spin out of control around her.

"Hello. Twilight Sparkle."

Thunk.

"Ugh. What happened?"

Twilight blinked open her eyes and recoiled. Standing right above her head was the dark figure. She screamed and flailed her hooves frantically, trying to get away.  "Do not be afraid Twilight." the figure said, stepping into the light.

"Princess Luna!" Twilight said, relieved.

"Do not try to move too quickly. You took a nasty spill down those stairs. Here, let me help." she said, reaching out a hoof. Twilight took it, lifting herself back onto her feet.

"Thanks, you have no idea how comforting it is to finally find somepony!" Twilight said.

"Actually that is the reason why I am here, Twilight. Under normal circumstances, I would be back at Canterlot. But this is not Equestria." Luna said as Twilight's smile vanished.

"What do you mean? I've been all over town today. We're in Lyra and Bon Bon's house right now!"

"Follow me upstairs."

Twilight followed along behind; her mind absent. She slowly digested what the Princess had said. "I can only imagine what you must think. But I assure you, I speak the truth." she said, stepping through the door. When Twilight reached the top of the stairs, her eyes went wide. Inside the dimly lit room were several large metal boxes, which were hooked to small screens that scrolled images across them. To the left was a portable chalkboard where complicated algorithms were scrawled. To the right were thick black cables that ran from a central control panel and attached to a large blue telephone booth. Everything buzzed and chirped with excitement.

"But how?" Twilight said, "That technology has to be hundreds of years ahead of its time! What are they doing here?"

"Listen to me carefully Twilight Sparkle. This technology comes from the present. Right now in the real Equestria, you are sitting in a cryostasis chamber deep below Canterlot. You have been that way for exactly one thousand years. The place you are in now is actually a dream. This is all simulated to seamlessly interact with the conscious mind in creating a new reality."

Twilight stared back at her, backtracking the events. "Wait, when did I get put in there? I don't remember anything like that happening." she said.

"After you defeated Nightmare Moon, my sister explained the situation, and you agreed to be willingly placed inside. However, for your own protection we used a memory spell. If you are so willing, I can unlock the memory. It may answer some of your lingering questions."

Twilight thought for a moment and nodded.

"Spike, take a note please. I, Princess Celestia, hereby decree that the unicorn Twilight Sparkle shall take on a new mission for Equestria. She must continue to study the magic of friendship. She must report to me her findings from her new home in Ponyville."

"Oh, thank you Princess Celestia! I'll study harder than ever before!"

"Before we get too far into the festivities, may I have a word in private with you?"

"Absolutely. I'll see you guys at the party!" Twilight said, pushing her way out of the group hug.

Princess Celestia led Twilight back to the library and closed the door behind them.

"Twilight, what I am about to tell you is for your ears only. Under any circumstances, do not relay this to anypony else. Understand?"

Twilight nodded slowly.

"Good." she said, pulling a dusty book from the shelf. "Do you recall this book?" Twilight brushed the thick layer of dust from the cover. "No. It doesn't say anything on the front." said Twilight, bewildered. Princess Celestia nodded, "That's because this book is strictly forbidden in a wing of the castle that is heavily guarded. It contains Equestria's most well kept secrets from hundreds of thousands of years even before me." she paused, "However, it also contains prophesies." Twilight looked at her teacher. "So what does this have to do with me?"

Princess Celestia levitated the book upwards and opened to a page.

Etched in charcoal was a drawing of a unicorn. Squinting, Twilight examined it closer. "Wait a second. That's my cutie mark!" she said, taken aback. "But how? If this book is hundreds of thousands of years old, how am I in it?"

"The world works in strange ways, my student. I've translated it over and over but the result is the same. Exactly one thousand years from now, there will be a terrible war between us and the Changeling Army." Princess Celestia closed the book and poofed another one into existence. "This one is from my private collection. It explains everything we currently know about the changelings. However, if you agree to my proposal, there will be no need to read about them."

"What do you mean?"

"Back in Canterlot, my top scientists and I have been working on a new technology that will, for lack of a better term, preserve you for one thousand years. From there we can place you in an alternate reality where this conversation never happened and simulate possible scenarios to allow you to gain experience on defeating them and hopefully prevent a war in the first place." she said, pausing for a moment. "I realize that you may be apprehensive as to believing in myths and legends. However, we believe there is sufficient evidence to warrant concern."

"I believe you, Princess. I'll do whatever you ask of me." Twilight looked up sadly. "But what about my friends?"

"I'll explain the circumstances of the situation to them. Also, with our technology it will be like they never left."

Twilight looked longingly out the door, listening to the faint noises of the party. A tear rolled slowly down her cheek.

"Can I at least say goodbye?"

"Take all the time you need."