☼ [visual][locked to in-game characters]

[solequus]

[Hello, ponies. Celestia is in her now-open sky bedroom, laying on her bed. Now that she's back to normal and there is no beehive hair to distract everyone, its pretty obvious that there are injuries on the princess, as well as weird burns on her, that she is healing up with a soft glow of her horn.]

My ponies. I told you after the battle, I would explain everything. That time is right now. I...had hoped it wouldn't come to this, but you deserve to know...

[There was a pause before she continued.]

You likely remember, with Discord's spell, that I had been turned into a young filly. I had no cutie mark, and during those times, having no cutie mark was a death sentence. Luna had received hers, after her first dreamwalk, and soon after became the first alicorn in living memory. So, when those things happened, my greatest desire was to be noticed and acknowledged. I had a great deal of anger in me. But then, I earned my mark, from having an oracular vision. Then, I raised the sun for the first time, becoming an alicorn as well. So I at last caught the attention of someone who had seemed interested in me. He took me aside and taught me, showed me his experiments and magics.

[The very softest of smiles came on her face, remembering.]

That was Star Swirl. He'd showered his intellectual attentions on my sister, and then, he did so with me. He was the first teacher of magic I had, and he showed me a secret discipline he had not even shown my sister...the mirrors.

Ever since he had been a young stallion, before even the founding of Equestria, Star Swirl had been harnessing the ambient magics of the world to create portals to other realms. He'd believed that by creating these portals, he would be able to learn more knowledge, and increase the potential magic that could be harnessed. By the time he'd taken me into his confidence, he had created hundreds - if not thousands - of mirrors. He hid these all in his laboratory beneath the palace, as my father wouldn't have approved.

[The smile became sheepish, almost guilty.]

But I did, because...I was young, and he'd taken interest in me. And so I wanted to learn everything I could to keep pleasing him, so he'd continue to pay attention to me. So he would. Even when Discord came and overthrew my parents, he'd supported me, revealed to me the existence of the Elements of Harmony. They came to Luna and I at our hour of need and helped us overthrow Discord, restore our lands. And we became the rulers of Equestria. Soon after that...Megan appeared in our world.

[She closed her eyes at this.]

She was a kind person, a good person. I became friends with her almost instantly. But she wanted to go back home, had accidentally come to our world with her new magic, so naturally, I thought that we could look for her world through the mirrors. Each night, when Luna took charge of the moon, we'd go. We looked through so many, we lost count.

Each time, though, it had been to no avail. We didn't find her world. Even so, she loved the worlds we'd found, and made me promise that when she left, I'd continue to visit those worlds, and make sure they were all right. Especially as Star Swirl was getting older, and older, and we'd eventually find her home and she'd have to go back and fulfill her commitments there, and to Ponyland. So I would be the only one of our traveling trio left to do it! Of course I promised her...

[That smile slowly turned sad, guiltier.]

...not just because she was my friend, but also, I wanted everybody I met to like me. I didn't want to be that neglected, cutie markless little filly I'd been growing up. I didn't want to go back to those days where I didn't know when my father would summon me, and tell me I was going to see the Pale Pony. Back then, those were my motivations. I wanted to be the best ruler for Equestria, that no one would ever forget.

So I listened to that voice in my head that told me, that I should outshine everypony and show them just what I could do. But when I did that, when I charged forth and decided to become that glorious creature that no one would ever want to - need to - abandon, I became the neglector. I didn't notice those around me start to fall apart. Megan hid it well from me, as did Luna, at first. Star Swirl...

[The very sky above almost seemed to darken as she faltered, just slightly. It wasn't by her magic, which she stopped using, for that moment.]

...As he got older he became more eccentric. More reclusive. He aided in building Canterlot, but he also created the Library. After I told him to cease in further creating the basement, right under my nose he continued. He began to do more extreme magic, more extreme experiments, obsessed with wanting to know as much about magic as possible. He left what he'd deemed 'lesser' spells unfinished in his quests. He created the Basement, first. And then...

[Her eyes misted over just slightly as they opened again, and the sky seemed ever darker, the air ever colder. She shuddered.]

...on the night I ended up banishing Nightmare Moon - just as I'd thought, the worst had happened - he showed me something so horrible that it finished driving him mad. A spell so terrible that what little bit of my mentor had been left was gone. He had decided, the only way to learn all he wanted, was to become immortal, just like he assumed I had been. And to become immortal...to add years to his life...

............He spoke what I can only call the Deplorable Word. And smashed almost all of the mirrors in his possession, in his attempt to complete his wish. I had no choice but to stop him. He tried to attack me, even tried to stop time to try and contain me...but I stopped him first. I had to. But then, there were only two mirrors left in all of the world, once all was said and done. And it was then that Megan also changed, right in front of me. Now she could never go home, and so she cursed me as she went lifeless, the creature coming out from her. I didn't want to hurt her. I didn't want to hurt anyone again. I sent her to the only place I could think of in my panic.

That was when I noticed the forest. The magic from the mirrors were changing the entire area, right in front of my eyes, and it consumed Star Swirl and his laboratory - as well as what was left of my and my sister's castle. I barely escaped the center of the forest with my life.

[She took a deep breath. That dark and cold passed, and the sky was just as brought as it could have been above her.]

I...almost didn't want to. It was my fault, what had happened, that much I'm certain of to this day. If I hadn't been so focused on myself...on my own needs and concerns...my sister would not have lost those years. Star Swirl might have had a peaceful end. And Megan...Megan would be back with her family, back home, where she had belonged.

But...I also knew. I couldn't hide what had happened to Luna - my sister's downfall had been visible to all. But...if everything else had happened, if Star Swirl's madness, was revealed, everything would go back to the way it had been. And perhaps...Equestria itself would fall apart. Much of the foundations had been made possible as a result of his magic research, as opposed to the older, more arcane magic of my father's generations. I couldn't...allow that. So I had to keep going, sealed off what I could...what hadn't been taken by the changing Everfree Forest. And...I never spoke of it again.

Until now.

[Another long pause.]

That's the truth. That's it. And...the reason I went into the mirror...I couldn't forget my promise to Megan. There were only two mirrors left by the time of Twilight Sparkle's coronation, and when I found that there was a very grave threat, I went in. I had to. I couldn't break my promise to a friend like that, not after all that had happened, and had happened because of me.

But I didn't expect Tezcatlipoca to find the mirror to this world. I had not even been aware that her actions had summoned it to her alongside the portal to her Equestria, because we had all been trapped in the black hole by that time. I used what magic I had access to in my human form to save the Element bearers from being crushed and burnt...and I sent them with a note to my sister, here. Explaining everything.

I did not expect to come back at all. Much less to come back and learn where my corrupted alternate self had gone. And I knew that once she was returned to her universe, she would try to come back here. So...

I'm not sure how long the magic from the mirror it will affect the land. But in due time, it will be drawn to the Everfree Forest, to where the bulk of the essence of all the mirrors resides. It will wear off, eventually, once it is finally drawn to beyond our old castle.

[Her head was very, very low by this time, though she may not have noticed it.]

Regardless...I have let you down. I have let everypony - everybody - down. This...this was my fault. I can understand if I can't be forgiven. But...that was the secret I had kept. That was what I did not tell you.

[There is another, long pause.]

That....that is all.

[Her hoof heavily, shakily went back to the scroll, turning it off.]

Comments

[angry_jerk]

[Dan drums his fingers (Yaaaay fingers) angrily before he eventually responds.]

Horrifyingly cliche tale of woe and past mistakes aside, how does this affect me?

[A pause.]

And your sister?

[Visual]

[cape_and_wizard_hat]

[Trixie doesn't know what to say. She's always bowed down to The Princesses and idolized Star Swirl. But with all of this said... should she even continue? To hear that Star Swirl went crazy and Celestia to say that she was selfish really shake up Trixie's perspective.

But... Trixie's also been through some really rough times. They've both made mistakes. Really bad ones. Trixie knows others forgive her, but she still hasn't forgivn herself for her time with The Alicorn Amulet. What's worse is that Trixie doesn't really know how to help others so she CAN forgive herself.

And Celestia could feel the same way Trixie feels.

...Trixie decides that yes, nothing should change about the way she feels about Celestia. She's still a benevolent ruler of Equestria, and Trixie should continue to respect that. She finally opens her scroll. She stares at Celestia for a couple seconds.

Then she bows down to her.]

[Visual]

[robotfightclub]

[That sure was a long story.]

All I got out of this is magic is horrible.

Maybe everyone should, I don't know, stop using it.



[...After everyone goes home, of course.]

[Visual]

[solequus]

Magic can be terrible, in the wrong hands. Just...as it can do great things. As it can be with all abilities, Arcee.

[Visual. threadjack]

[noxequus]

Magic is no more terrible than any other unexplored science.

Consider the fellow who was formerly a dragon that claims to have been from your world.

[Visual]

[theytookmypants]

...Princess...

[He holds himself up a little taller.]

That's a lot to take in...first off, I'm sorry you've been holding that in for all these years, that's rough. Thank you for comin' clean with us though.

[Something about that tale really has him a little unsettled. Mostly the part about the forest...]

So, if that forest is the origin of all of this...would it be possible there are still remnants of his lab there at all?

[Visual]

[solequus]

It...may be possible, but the magic doesn't allow for even an alicorn to pass into the most dense parts of the forest.

[crapfully]

[Strong Bad's still rubbing his temple from all that.]

Ugh. Do yourself a favor and hang on to your dignity, princess. Being your subject is embarrassing enough as it is.

I know you're supposed to be some kind of super pony space goddess ruling over us all, but you don't have so much power that you brainwashed them into losing their heads. I mean, unless you did. In which case this place is even creepier than I suspected.

And...uh, there'll probably be some major evil going down with all that magic in the forest, right?

[solequus]

No, not evil. Not necessarily. Just the chaotic magics released from the mirrors.

[bluesuit_handy]

And that's why we recognized some of the things found in the archives. I understand now why you didn't tell us -- why it won't help us to get home. That means, though, that our worlds -- maybe all of them -- were ones originally linked here by Star Swirl's mirrors. Whatever links he managed to forge must have left remnants of pathways the Pale Pony is using now. We should mount another expedition into the basement to find any evidence we can of the remaining links.

[He pauses, expression downcast. He's not without sympathy. He knows the impulse to help, even when it's the impulse to help at the expense of what might be more important, and especially the desire for love and attention in return. Still, he has more questions, and platitudes can come later.]

Where did you send Megan? And what about Echo?

[solequus]

Its possible. And could explain the ease with which the Pale Pony has been bringing you all here.

[She looked thoughtful, before saddening a bit.]

Megan...what Megan became, I sent her to the basement. Echo...I...have heard of that name before...I'm not entirely...

[Her eyes widened, clearly surprised.]

Oh...! No, I remember her now...you mean, you saw her as well? In the basement?

[twotonehoofbeast]

So, what else have you been hiding from us?

[solequus]

This is all.

[marearcana]

[It takes her a few minutes to absorb this and compose a reply.]

Honestly... after everything that's happened, and what you've said, I understand why you did that. And you've done a great job keeping it hidden.

But as we both know by now, covering up a problem like this doesn't miraculously cause it to stop being a problem.

However, now that we know what happened, we can begin to really solve it.

[solequus]

I can only hope so, my faithful student. I'm not sure...if what is happening as anything - or everything - to do with what is happening now. My own vision on that has been clouded since the beginning.

[linefacingforever]

We all grow, Princess. We make mistakes and we learn from them.

The fact that you can acknowledge this is enough; you have nothing to be ashamed of.

[badassfreakingoverlord]

...Should I be doing a couple of exploratory digs in the basement right now?

[solequus]

I'm not entirely sure you'll be able to get in there. My sister has informed me that the way to the basement has been sealed off by the magic from the mirror.

[twotailmechanic]

[Although hearing that the change back to normal was only temporary, and why it can't get them home was disappointing, he wasn't upset with the princess. Instead, he felt rather sorry for her.]

It's okay Princess Celestia. We all screw up sometimes.

It does explain how the Pale Pony grabs people from other worlds and why our things show up in the basement.

[magicalrealist]

(Now that Twilight has heard the whole story, her words spoken before hurt her even more.)

Princess...about what I said before...

[solequus]

You shouldn't apologize, Twilight Sparkle. You...had every right to say those things.

[weaponizedgems]

[Rarity listens, and can even sympathize with a few key parts. However, she can also see that Celestia was being to... well.]

Princess, I commend you for being honest with us. However.

[She pauses. Anger at the Princesses... idealistic foolishness surprisingly angered her on some level. So, she draws in a deep breath, holds it for a moment then slowly lets it out.]

I have several choice words for you. I suggest, you find time in your busy schedule and take the time to grace my Boutique. My words are not meant for scrolls.

[solequus]

...All right.

A[t this, Celestia quietly looked down.]

As soon as I can, I will come, Rarity.

[foolish_seal]

I'll be honest; I don't think anyone in your position would have been able to handle the situation any better.

Still, you admit a mistake. That's hard, especially for something like this. All anyone can ask at this point is that we all learn from it.

[passing_thru_rider]

Mmmn. I see. [Well, THAT would explain why Gaim's world was spilling into here.]

Drew in by promises and left utterly unchecked. I've only been here for a few days, but in my travels I've seen that the hastiest of actions tend to be the worst thing to do.

But, it looks like we have another mess on our hands with you breaking that other mirror, Princess. And I guess it's another one we'll have to clean up, too.

[solequus]

[A sigh.]

You needn't worry about this mess, at least in terms of the magics producing it, for the moment. It will sort itself out in due time, at least. Though I wonder what effect it will have on the Everfree...

[trustme]

I think Princess, that we have more in common than I was originally aware of.

[He gives her an encouraging smile. He understands.]

This explains the note I found in the library before written by Starswirl. He noted to himself to keep some of the other world technology he had gotten his hoofs on secret from you and Luna. The nearby items were nothing dangerous, but if he was sneaking around, the note makes more sense.

I do have a question that nopony else seems to have asked yet. When you were young, was the Pale Pony merely a legend used to scare foals? Or was there evidence of her having a very real presence like the Pale Pony figure that has been around recently? For a long time I've been wondering if the Pale Pony today is really the Pale Pony of legend or if she is merely someone powerful who has taken on the title.

[solequus]

When I was young? The Pale Pony had been a legend even in my time. Its possible somepony could have taken that mantle up, but on the other hand. legends sometimes have a basis in reality, as well.

[Text... sort of]

[noxequus]

[Luna's reply doesn't come over the scrolls, but in a simple written letter, delivered by traditional dragonfire.]

Sister,

In your admission you feel more like my true sister than she ever did. Truly, we appear as two sides of the same coin. Where I had Sombra, you had Star Swirl. Both of them went mad with their own power, and we used the magics they taught us to attempt to help... and put a great deal more in danger than we could have ever hoped to remedy.

I hope you forgive my anger prior; I know you would feel the same indignant rage at first if you had caught me still practicing the magic of the shadows and endangering the lives of others while I did so. I had kept quiet about your methods of divination and even the unsealing of the Archives because I thought it was a proper method to help, but I realize now that it is merely exasperating the problem, that the solution must lie elsewhere.

There is a reason why, in my Equestria, the magics of time and space are banned alongside dark magic. Perhaps it is time to stop walking the path of a mad stallion, lest you find yourself in a land you cannot return from.

Remember that even in our anger, we are always here for you, dearest sister.

- Luna, de otra tierra

[sekai_level]

.......

[A silent Pierrot looks down at nothing in particular for a moment, thoughtful... before raising his head to stare off into a corner, never directly facing the view of the scroll.]

Your Highness...

[A deep breath.]

...Memories are fine things, are they not? They shape who we are, the decisions we make, the things we gravite towards or fall away from. They can be the source of new bonds and relationships made... or the tattered, well-cared for remains of bonds no longer available.

Though I am young, I have made a lot of memories. I have traveled the continents and cities of my home, and have endeavored to make many people happy... and yet I still find myself yearning for those I have left behind. In my travels, I have left many good people behind. I...

[The clown falters and loses momentum, then gathers himself for one more shot at... whatever this is.]

...The more I traveled, the more people I met, the deeper my appreciation for those bonds became. Those precious moments in the past became the guiding light of my trials, leading me forward and onward when I wanted to do anything but.

However those same memories can be as much chain and shackle as comfort and warmth, especially when ended so unbearably. And the more important those memories were to me, the tighter the chains bound me... and it was only when I exchanged my memories for the courage granted by new companions that I was freed.

I hear your student, Twilight Sparkle-- [Pause, and good-natured chuckle] ...any of your Twilight Sparkles, has been studying friendship and sending you reports of what she's learned. I haven't had the opportunity to read any, but I'm sure at least one of her lessons must have been this:

Any burden worth carrying can be shared with friends... And no shackle of the heart could bear the strain of two souls struggling to be free.

[Visual]

[diveintothemellow]

[For a long time, Knuckles just stares at the scroll. He's not exactly been here for very long, so there's not exactly much he can say to do. All of it... it's overwhelming, almost beyond what he can really understand. Sure, it's magic, not technology, but at the same time, this woman is...

It's strange, but a part of him doesn't want to just fade into the background with this. Even his short time here, he's heard a lot about what a ruler Celestia is, and that sort of weight is more than even he's felt with being a Guardian.

Finally, knowing something to say, he turns the scroll back on and speaks.]

What do you plan on doing, now that you've said this?

[Visual]

[solequus]

What I can. Its all I can so.

[A pause.]

Ah...I believe we've not met before.

[misplacedxsheath]

In other words, this was all the result of an idealistic leader who believed herself capable of influencing matters on a multiversal scale and was willing to accept risk to others for the sake of that belief.

*The glare he's giving you right now could peel paint, Celestia. But he takes a deep breath to calm himself down before continuing.*

You're fortunate the results were as light as they were. Such ambition can bring entire worlds to ruin if allowed to run unchecked. I'll spare you the details, but I know all too well that good intentions can pave the road to destruction the instant one begins to believe their judgement infallible.

Keep this in mind the next time a situation arises wherein you must weight the potential for good against the inherent risks. While it's often true that sometimes difficult decisions must be made and sacrifices must be made for the greater good, acting without first planning for the worst case scenario is nothing short of foolish. While acting without regard for the potential dangers out of lack of realization is better than willingly dismissing any disastrous results as acceptable losses, both lead to the same result.

I won't say that you're deserving of contempt for what you've done, it's clear that your actions were out of ignorance of the possible result and I have hope that had you known what could happen, you would have acted differently. However, I will say this: as a leader, you can't afford to be so optimistic. As morbid as it sounds, you should always consider every way a decision could have a negative impact in the future. You'll inevitably fail to consider some potential implications, but they'll commonly be the least likely to result.

In that vein, given that you stated there were two mirrors still in existence and I hope you're not so foolish as to make the same mistake twice, I assume you've ensured that the other one won't result in similar events should a threat on the other side learn of its existence?

[solequus]

There were two. Now, there's only one.

[She nodded quietly.]

Yes. I've made sure of that.

[Sunset Shimmer wouldn't be a problem...]

[superstylishsquid]

*There's no judgement coming from him. He'd be a first class hypocrite if he got mad at her for letting herself be influenced by the pressure to be someone worthy of respect. Instead, he almost seems sympathetic.*

I hope you've learned better than to try too hard to be what you thought everyone wanted you to be. It's not good for you to worry so much about your reputation.

[Visual]

[one_shall_rise]

[When Optimus' face appears on the scroll, he does not say anything for a while. Instead, his eyes say all that need be said. The tired, almost distant look in those blue eyes shows that he knows the pain she feels at her mistakes better than most, and that he does not judge her for them. After a few moments of heavy silence, he nods.]

I understand.

[toosmarttodie]

[Squint.]

...I knew it.

So yes yes Star Twirl delved into things he didn't understand and as a consequence of his research unleashed something terrible.

Buuuuut we ARE talking about a trans-dimensional bridge here. I know I've been in...bad footing with this place, but if you gave me just a little peek into that mirror, I think I'd have something to work with.

Cause I mean, if my ancestors could find a way into the Dead Universe, I sure as scrap can find a way out of here!