Chapter Two
Taking a moment to focus in on the shape, my opera singing ended abruptly. There was no doubt in my mind at all, it was Princess Luna. As sure as the Sun rises every morning. On a...side note, I find that strange considering Celestia isn't ever around to raise it anymore–or so I've been assuming with a grain of confidence these past dozen months.
The Princess was flying straight over town hall towards the Everfree Forest at top speed, which for an alicorn, was quite fast indeed. No Royal Guards were accompanying her, she wasn't carrying anything with her that I could see, and it appeared as if she had been coming from somewhere here in Ponyville.
After another quick second of careful scanning, I was just able to make out her moon cutie mark that irrefutably denoted her as the Princess of the Night. With this realization that I indeed was not alone in the world, as you could imagine, I went completely bonkers with mixed emotions.
"Princess Luna! Hey, hey PRINCESS LUNA!" I tore the fedora off my head and waved it at her like a whistling constable in Trottingham would twirl their truncheon while patrolling the streets at dusk in the movies.
"HEY, PLEASE WAIT!"
Galloping as fast as I could down the street, I fruitlessly attempted to follow her flight path, It was a desperate bid to catch her attention. "DON'T GO, I'M RIGHT HERE...PLEASE!"
That's when an evil piece of automobile debris laying on the street pavement caused me to trip over my own legs, sending me sprawling into a murky puddle.
I pulled myself up and shook my poor mane dry of the muddy water. Sitting on my haunches, I watched as the speeding alicorn vanished over the horizon, past Ponyville city limits. Frustrated like a foal whose' cutie mark refused to appear, I held up a hoof longingly at the sky, gasping to catch my breath. "Please..." I whispered. "Dammit, come back you stupid royal... I'm right here, turn around!"
In the interests of posterity, I would never–ever insult the Princesses under any normal circumstances. But ever since last year, what in Tartarus is normal anymore?
"I'm...right...here."
In the midst of my melancholic episode, a small piece of parchment billowed towards me, moving almost with all the serene grace of a butterfly. Of course though, it was merely parchment. But that's all beside the point. What was on it, rekindled my spirit just enough for me to get back up onto my hooves as I held the document in my forehoof.
Stamped on it was the official royal seal of authority, and beneath it, was the message, scrawled in a form of calligraphy far too graceful to belong to anypony but a princess.
I have seen you, Doctor.
You are not alone. While I regret that I cannot currently make direct contact with you for personal reasons all my own, you should expect to see more of me in the near future. A dire fate may have befallen our world's inhabitants, and I intend to divine what.
We have much to discuss, Doctor Hooves. In due time.
Until next we meet,
-L
"She's seen me. Oh Celestia bless it, she saw me!" Never had I felt so happy at such a simple string of words in years! Blast it, I almost felt like kissing the paper, I was so ecstatic. It took twelve grueling months, twelve! But at least for my sanity's sake, I know now for sure that I'm not secretly trapped alone in some bloody limbo that resembles my home country down to every last blade of Celestia-forsaken grass.
Wiping a tear of mirth from my eye I trotted over to the town hall entrance.
The oddest thing, possibly more odd even than the Disappearances themselves–In spite of everything that has transpired, I strangely find Town Hall and the area around it to be rather, well, kind of comforting.
Approaching the front door, I noticed a disturbance from the norm. Everyday just as part of an idiosyncracy of mine, I would always make it my point to secure the doors with a solid titanium padlock.
The padlock and chain were laying on the floor of the stoop, the locking mechanism picked almost effortlessly, likely done so by magic. I would know, the lock was designed to only be opened via a key–a key whose only copy I possessed and so stingily safeguarded.
"Well I'll be... Most have been Luna then. If not her, than maybe it could have been the ponyquins...NO, no!" I chuckled to myself, rubbing at my dark mane then retrieving my fedora. "That would be insane."
Perhaps I should have become a court jester instead of a scientist.
In the heart of the building's main room, I was greeted by the quiet purring of Prometheus as it performed its mechanical motions like it always did. Ever since...things had been set in motion, the Prometheus Engine had ceased any sort of spontaneous malfunctions such thatcaused the catastrophe that likely depopulated our civilization.
I was content in my assumption that whatever...or whomever...caused the Engine to go haywire that night was now long gone, and wouldn't rear its ugly head again. That's all have to go on these days it seems, assumptions I mean.
All industrial and ArcTech systems not controlled and maintained by me would shut down or malfunction within about two months of neglect? Assumption, if a rather explosive one. Half of the Ponyville Industrial Park had been taken out of commission after I forgot to put the dynamo reactor core in the VioletScale LLC Gem Smelting Facility on emergency standby last fall. The CEO Spike would have killed me on the spot, had I been an engineer working there.
The explosion had rained amethysts across town that entire day. Ha, ha Oops...
Princess Celestia has vanished? Assumption. Because she's gone, the Sun still rising implies that our planet's star can actually move without the aid of an alicorn? Big assumption. Odd weather is the result of the Prometheus Engine? Assumption. Ponyquins are in fact not alive, and I merely interact with them and give them personas as part of a running gag and not for any other reason but whimsical humour?
Very safe assumption regarding the Ponyquins. No, wait, scratch that! That is a bloody proven fact.
Setting my musings aside, I approach the familiar form of my old work station. All the other banks of computers and controls were coated in thin layers of dust. The damn wood spiders always start to settle in as soon as you leave something unattended for more than a week. Crafty elusive, dastardly things, those arachnids.
My computer awoke in my presence, casting me in a pale aura of blue amidst the dimness of the room. Hitting the light switch on the pillar next to the desk, I caused the gloom to dissipate in an instant, putting my fears of the dark at rest. I hung my fedora on the coatrack next to the wooden desk and took a seat.
It was time for me to begin the second major task of my daily agenda: combing through the ever-expansive banks of research notes and random data Dr. Sparkle had compiled over the course of our work on the Prometheus Project. All of this was my effort to figure out what happened that night.
By Celestia, was that mare ever so obsessed with recording every little thing that occurred on a daily basis! Everything from transcripts of conversations between colleagues, day to day reports and diary entries, findings, and even things like what she had eaten for breakfast, lunch, and dinner all could be found in her audio logs. Even though we had been co-directors of the whole project, there were many noteworthy things she kept from the rest of us.
Almost every time I would inquire her about all the excessive secrecy, Twilight always said that it was a matter of national security, and only Celestia and highest members of her court and Parliament were allowed discourse.
Whenever I would press on, she would rebuff me then return to working at her computer terminal, muttering and refusing to talk to anyone. On really bad days when I would try to pry further still, she usually stopped me in my tracks with threats of dismissal from the project, which would likely have disgraced my career in the eyes of my countrymen, given my important role as co-director. Such was my misfortune at not being a higher ranking government scientist, and not having Celestia herself as a mentor like Twilight had.
However, I mustn't let my few petty negative memories of her ruin the image of Twilight.
The Twilight Sparkle we all knew and loved was far, far more caring, kind, and accommodating of a pony then that.
It's just that the vitalness of our project was so great, that we had to be prepared to sacrifice anything to ensure its success, if we wanted to retain our modern way of life and keep Equestria intact. With all this in mind, I dove into the digital labyrinth that was the records of Doctor Sparkle.
Estimating that I had covered approximately only forty-five percent of it all, I scrolled up to the most recent group of documents I could access at the moment. Finding a pair of daily audio logs dated to approximately two weeks before the Disappearances labeled: 'Political situation worsening 7-1-10' and 'Odd occurrences 7-2-10' respectively, I opened up the first.
Twilight's voice cut into the dominant noise of the engine in the room, making it seem for a fleeting moment as if everything had returned to normal...almost.
This is the personal audio log of Doctor Twilight Sparkle, dated the first of July, year ten of the Diarchy.
(Sigh) More bad news from Celestia today. It would seem Equestria's political situation has worsened, and by extent, the urgency of the project. They've finally done it. The Zebra Caesar has ordered a full out military invasion of the Gryphon kingdoms for access to their carefully kept schematics for atomic fusion power. As a result, our supply of new coal and oil is being cut off; Roam needs them to fuel the Caesar's legions. (Cough)
Equestria's royal geologists estimate that the amount of coal in our emergency reserves will only last another two years at the most, and our oil fields of course went dry almost three years earlier. Celestia fears that we may end up seeing the full scale deployment of megaspells if either side gets too desperate. On our end, the Princesses are trying relentlessly to play the role of neutral negotiators, but we have our own arsenal of balefire bombs–the largest in the world, at our disposal, as well as one of the most technologically advanced armies, just in case.
(Thud) It's times like these that remind me why I decided not to accept the role as a Princess. Lets hope the Prometheus Engine settles all of this once and for all, before we end up turning our beautiful world into a desolate wasteland from our squabbles over land, prestige and resources.
Narrowing my eyes and flattening my ears at the memory of how tense things had actually been then, I played the second and last audio log.
Audio log of Doctor Twilight Sparkle, dated the second of July, year ten of the Diarchy.
(Clears throat) Weird incident while making my way back home to my loft at the Golden Oak Library last night. I was stopped by two earth pony mares and a pegasus stallion, all belonging to one of those crackpot anti-technology Luddite groups. They chewed me out with a couple of ignorant one-liners about how we are corrupting the earth, poisoning the air, and that industrial technology and arcane technology are the source of all evil in the world today. They met my attempts to pass by and ignore them with a derogatory slur against unicorns, the bastards! Had Rainbow Dash or Applejack been around, it almost certainly would have come down to blows.
(Sigh) That's not the worst of it though. This morning's activation of the Engine triggered a mass disappearance of everyone's potted plants throughout the town. We also received follow-up reports from Cloudsdale of rogue storm systems popping up outside of Pegasi control, like how the systems do over the Everfree. Fortunately the plants eventually reappeared into existence around lunchtime (daisies with light jam on pumpernickel bread), which make sense.
Star Swirl's Law of Equivalent Matter dictates that which is made of physical particles simply cannot be 'destroyed' or created from nothing–only transported back forth between point 'A' and 'B', or have its physical, chemical, or atomic makeup altered in someway.
In regards to the Prometheus Engine itself, I had theorized that the amount of energy the engine channeled could be cause for a few small scale trans-dimensional anomalies such as this. But it's nothing that would hinder the Engine's continued use as an infinite source of renewable energy, of that I am certain. And fortunately for all of us here, Neighkola Tesla promises me that he and his corporation will continue to provide all the necessary equipment for the maintenance of the Engine.
I shall make the necessary calibrations to the ArcTech Systems with my magic, record the health status of the teleported plants, log them and then join Rarity for a session at the Spa this evening. I think this mare has earned it, wouldn't you say?
Upon hearing Twilight's description of the Law of Equivalent Matter, I felt like slamming my head into the desk. How in harmony's name could I have been so stupid these past several months?! I'm a scientist, and completely forgot to even consider that Law in all my time trying to discover what had gone wrong.
Again, should have just been a court jester!
That was it all along! Prometheus had been producing and channeling so much energy...that it must have torn a hole in reality itself. Then that would have to mean two definitive things, as well as one uncertainty.
One, nopony was killed then when they were hit by the Engine's discharge. Two, they were either teleported or transfigured into some other exotic state of being. Based on my current observations over the past year, I have yet to encounter actual talking plants, puddles, clouds, objects, or yes–even ponyquins, so I contend that in all likelihood, it was the former rather than the latter fate that had befallen everyone I know.
And now the uncertianty: where were the citizens of Equestria teleported to, and what has happened to them since?
It seems as if today, around exactly a year since all of this started, I finally discover that not only am I not alone, but I may have just found the partial answer to what happened to them. Vexation turned to a sort of semi-genuine joy within my mind in an instant.
"Eureka! Eureka, eureka, eureka I say!" I shouted to nobody in particular. As if in response, the Prometheus Engine coughed up a cloud of steam from one of its pipes overhead.
Sometimes I swear, that machine has a personality of its own. On one side, it's the superhero for solving our energy crisis. On the other hoof, it's a supervillainfor teleporting the vast majority of us to only Luna knows where. (Reminder to self, find out what she knows when she tries to contact you!)
Finally wearing my moment of triumph thin, I mentally crossed off the second of my three tasks, then exited the main room. I went up a flight of stairs, past the second story balcony, past the third floor and finally, out onto the rooftop belfry tower flanked by the roof-mounted Tesla coils.
Normally this position would have been manned by a firepony or two, but now it instead serves as my sort of impromptu broadcasting tower.
I have yet to actually receive a response, but sometimes it helps to just sit up here everyday at noon when its nice and sunny. To look out and be able to appreciate the beauty of Ponyville and the region as it spreads out before you with Canterlot and the snow capped mountains looming in the distance, it's just something else!
The storm I barely evaded had past by to the East now, breaking up as it went. Something tells me that it was from this very spot that Princess Luna was able to spot me as she traveled back and forth from parts unknown.
Picking up the microphone and holding it to my muzzle, I decided upon the usual broadcast message.
Clearing my throat, I spoke in a confident but urgent tone of voice. "If anypony hear me... I am broadcasting this message to you on international frequencies. If you are out there, I beg you..." I raised my voice, increasing the urgency. "Please respond. My name is Time Turner Hooves, and I am an Equestrian scientist who was partly in charge of the formerly state-secret program, dubbed the Prometheus Project. If you are within the central Equestrian region, look for me in Ponyville. I can be found at noon, on top of the Ponyville Town Hall, when the Sun is the highest in sky."
I briefly paused, holding the mic to my chest and the receiver close to my right ear. My efforts were met with nothing but monotonous static. I swore and put the microphone back to my face.
"I have discovered the likely cause of the Disappearances, but I need someone to collaborate with to ensure we can finally solve this in full and get everypony back into our world. I'm now going to leave a beacon and play this broadcast on a loop indefinitely. Now hear this: If you are a citizen of Equestria, then as a royal scientist serving the throne I declare that it is your duty to your nation and all ponykind to report to me at once. This is Doctor Time Turner Hooves, signing off."
Removing the headset and microphone from my head, I took one last gander at Ponyville under the warmth and light of the summer afternoon. With my responsibilities met early for the day, I decided upon spending the afternoon wandering the town park and admiring nature, and spending time perusing and 'shopping' around the various business in town.
I was unable to hear what was being transmitted from the radio atop Town Hall in my absence. A raspy feminine and rather arrogant voice, echoing and distorted as if coming from another dimension, emitted from the receiver.
"Ti... Turner? I ca...barely...r you, ya damn egghead! H..llo? W...'re all..."
And then the message ceased abruptly.
