++Astropathic Choir Intercept ZX951, Kyne's Fury 3.612.873.M39++

++Message to Inquisitor Tas Rovini++

++ Transcript Appended++

Thought for the Day: The wise man learns from the deaths of others.

My Lord,

I have completed the preliminary interrogation of xeno specimen #2891. Hereafter referred to as "Twilight Sparkle", the creature's self-designation. Transcript, amended by my notes, and preliminary conclusion to follow.

++Interrogation the First++

Setting: Cell 59XBA. Cell is kept at maximum lumination at all times. Light levels enough to cause pain and irritation in unaided human eyes. Xenos does not show discomfort. Cell is bare save for a wall-mounted cot and a set consisting of a pair of metallic chairs and matching table. Xenos is resting on cot.

Kylara: *enters cell*

Twilight Sparkle: *opens eyes, looks up at new arrival* Oh, hello! *hops off bed* It's great to see you again. Thank you so much for saving me, Ms… Uh… *ears and head lower, appears embarrassed*

K: *warm tone* Kylara. You may call me Kylara. [I am initially attempting to extract information via persuasion, as harsher methods risk destroying the mind of our only specimen.]

TS: *perks up* Ms. Kylara. That's a nice name! *walks to meet her, offers right front hoof* [The xeno once again employs humanlike gestures. Genuine cultural artifacts or telepathically-aided attempts at intentional mimicry?]

K: *takes hoof in hand, shakes* Thank you.

TS: Umm, if it's not too rude, can I ask why you're wearing those funny things over your eyes?

K: Because I need them. It's so bright in here. Perhaps if we turned it down a-

TS: *interrupts, expression one of panic* NO! Don't do that! They'll get me if it's dark! They'll get me! *places front hooves on K's abdomen, looks up tearfully* Don't let them get me! Promise you won't let them get me! *curls up in ball, wings shielding face*

K: *reassuring tone* Twilight, there's no one in here but you and I. You're safe.

TS: *remains on ground, shaking wildly* Gone. All gone. Darkness. Screaming. *Opens eyes, flies directly into K's face* DON'T LET THEM GET ME! [Apparently the wings are not as vestigial as I previously believed.]

K: Twilight…

TS: *curls up around K's legs, holds close*

K: Ms. Sparkle…

TS: *sobbing, incoherent mumbled whispers*

K: *sighs, hesitatingly pats TS's head*

TS: *holds tight to K for 43.7 seconds* My fault… My fault… *repeated* [This is why I fear using harsher methods to start. A subject this unstable may not retain enough mental coherence to speak after torture.]

K: *cups TS's chin, makes eye contact* Twilight, listen to me. We're alone. We're safe. Look around. *gestures across room* There's no darkness in here. You'll be fine.

TS: *looks around room, makes eye contact* You promise?

K: *nods* I promise.

TS: *sniffs, wipes away tears* Did you… Did you need something?

K: I just wanted to ask you a few questions.

TS: *sniffs* Alright. I'll tell you anything.

K: Shall we sit down?

TS: *nods* Alright.

*Both K and TS sit down on chairs. TS demonstrates no difficultly or unfamiliarity with doing so.* [This creature demonstrates uncanny knowledge of human behaviors. Was its culture really so similar to ours, or is it truly that good a telepath?]

K: Now Twilight, let's start with something easy.

TS: *shaking slightly* O-Okay.

K: What is your name?

TS: *more confident* Twilight Sparkle.

K: Where are you from?

TS: Equestria. Specifically, Canterlot. [The creature apparently sought refuge in its place of birth.]

K: What species are you?

TS: I'm a pony. More specifically, I'm an alicorn. [There's that name again. I swear I recognize it from somewhere.]

K: There is more than one kind of pony?

TS: *teary* There… there were… *looks down*

K: *grabs TS's chin, forces eye contact* Stay with me. Can you tell me more about these subspecies?

TS: *sniffs, nods* There were four kinds. Earth ponies, pegasi, unicorns, and alicorns.

K: And were you the only sentients on your planet?

TS: *shakes head* No, there were many others. Gryphons, donkeys, horses, d-d-dragons… *teary* [Interesting, if true. Dragons appear to hold a particular emotional attachment for the xeno.]

K: *shakes TS's head* Keep calm. Tell me more about your pony subspecies.

TS: *wipes tears with hoof* O-Okay. Earth ponies… didn't have any wings or horns. They were the strongest of us, good with the earth. That's how their magic expressed itself. Pegasi had wings and controlled all the weather. That was their magic. Unicorns had horns, and unlike the others could consciously perform magic. Most only used it for telekinesis though. Alicorns… like me… have both wings and a horn. They can do the most magic. They were the royalty. [Astounding. If this creature is to be believed, its entire species was at least latently psychic. If this is so, such disaster as befell their world is only to be expected.]

K: So you were royalty?

TS: Y-Yes.

K: What was your title?

TS: Princess. [A human title. Another similarity.]

K: And were you the ruler?

TS: *shakes head* No. [Still more humanlike gestures.]

K: Then who was?

TS: Princess… Princess Celestia. And Princess… Luna. *hangs head, begins to sob* No, no please! Don't take them! No! No! NO! *falls off chair, shivers on ground* Don't… Don't leave me… *crying*

K: Twilight, you need to-

TS: *interrupting* They took them! They took them! *horrified screaming*

K: *places hand on TS* Twilight, it's-

TS: *interrupting* They took them! They'll take me! They'll take me! *hides behind K, cowers* They'll take me! Don't let them take me! *sobs*

K: *sighs* Twilight, you can't-

TS: *incoherent screaming*

K: *angry tone* Stop this at once!

TS: *rolling on ground, incoherent screaming*

K: *waits impatiently for 4.72 minutes, taps foot*

TS: *incoherent screaming, sobbing*

K: *massages temples* Fine, have it your way then. *moves to exit, looks back*

TS: *continues screaming*

K: *exits cell*

++Interrogation Ends++

++Preliminary Thoughts++

My Lord, though the meeting was unproductive in many ways, I did learn several things about our xeno prisoner. When it is lucid, it appears perfectly willing to cooperate and even grateful for being removed from this "Canterlot". It seems a bit curious as well, judging from its response to my protective goggles. Despite this helpful attitude, the xeno experiences what appear to be traumatic flashbacks and consequent mental breakdowns with alarming ease. I question what use it may be if this proves a continuing phenomenon.

If it is as psychic as it indicates, these breakdowns may be a reaction to the psychic imprints left on its world by whatever event consumed it species, and thus may lessen or even fade away as we travel further from its home system. If this does not prove to be the case, I intend to allow Porthis to attempt to simply tear what information he can straight from its damaged mind. I will not allow my time to be wasted on such a wretched creature indefinitely. Unless that is your will, of course, Lord Rovini.

Despite the creature's severe mental instability, it did tell me several things of value about its species. First and foremost is the fact that, if it is to be believed, the entire race was psychic and apparently at least somewhat regular in the use of such power (as inferred from the pegasi controlling "all the weather"). This apparently unregulated use of the Warp would handily explain why what appears to have previously been a pleasant world became rotationally locked and why its satellite insists on defying the laws of physics so. Still, it does not explain other phenomena, such as the lack of recent bodies or natural-looking state of the land. Daemonic incursions are not known for leaving a light footprint.

Another valuable clue is that this "Equestria" appears to have been caste-based. I can only speculate on the specifics for now, but the fact that the species was ruled entirely by one subspecies with the most psychic power indicates a certain degree of worshipful reverence of witches. This is hardly a phenomena unknown to the Holy Inquisition. The subject's prior swearing by Celestia, now identified as the society's ruler and an alicorn, in a manner similar to a human swearing by the Emperor, suggests even deific levels of reverence for witchery. The idea is reinforced by the apparently particularly extreme horror with which the xeno appears to regard their being "taken". If indeed the case, this would explain a great many things. Perhaps this Celestia or Luna is responsible for how the moon hangs in a static position above Equis III? If the naming conventions of the species were consistent with our own, it seems most likely that Luna would be responsible for such a state, bearing as she apparently did an identical name to the satellite of Holy Terra.

The oddity here is the use of identical titles for the society's apparent diarchs and a lesser royal individual. I have yet to concoct a feasible explanation, save perhaps that the title in their language conveys absolute superiority, and was meant primarily for the consumption of lesser castes rather than the alicorns themselves. Perhaps the diarches bore different titles among whatever alicorn social groups existed? In that case, I, as a non-alicorn and thus lesser being, would not be entitled to hear their real titles. I shall investigate this line of reasoning in further interrogation sessions, if possible.

Finally, there remains the most pressing question: are this xeno's multiple humanlike behaviors – speaking Low Gothic, shaking hands, using chairs, calling someone princess – truly artifacts of its culture? Or is it possible that it is somehow using telepathy to glean those behaviors from our minds and mimicking them in some sort of attempt to cultivate familiarity? Either explanation is troubling. In case of the latter, I have ordered its cell be guarded by servitors rather than men. If it is the former, then we must consider the possibility of human contact in the species' distant past. I will send more when I have it.

Your servant,

Interrogator Kylara

++Message Ends++