Transcription of Witness Interview: Twilight Sparkle
Date: May 7th
Time: 8:22 a.m.
Interviewer: Princess Celestia

There was no further writing from Twilight throughout the night.

Princess Celestia (PC): Twilight, are you there? It’s a new day for us. We’re ready to begin when you are.

There was no reply for ten minutes.

PC: Twilight, I’m here whenever you’re ready.

It was some time before a reply finally came.

Twilight Sparkle (TS): They came

I
I had to fight

push back
resist
revolt
repel

revise

PC: Are you alright, Twilight? Is there danger for us here?

TS: no

passed
routed
weakened

They did not expect

wanted prey
scurrying
withering

found HOPE
LIGHT

They will come back stronger

They will come back braver

They will come back with
Her

PC: Is there any help that we can offer? Anything at all that I could do?

TS: no Princess

it has to be Me

it has to

cannot lose more
cannot threaten
cannot obstruct

PC: Very well, Twilight. If we can do anything beyond collecting the ponies you send back, please let us know. Ponies are already combing the town this morning. They are ready whenever you are.

TS: soon
trails hard
to track

winding
wandering
wasting away

the strongest
HOPE
are far

PC: And Her, Twilight? Is it really your friend, Fluttershy?

TS: was
is
will be

but not as well

if I cannot
recover
She cannot

if I can
She
still may not

broken
shattered
cracked
beyond
mending

they are coming
again

may be less
longer
lost

PC: However many you can bring back is enough, Twilight. Please be safe.

There was no further reply from Twilight for hours. I took the time to discuss things with her brother, Shining Armor. I had still not told him the truth of why his sister was considered a suspect, worthy of note and detention. In my experience, painful, personal truths are better spoken by those who committed them. If Twilight will not say it by the end, it will be my burden to undertake, but until then I would rather she speak for herself.

TS: Princess

PC: Yes, Twilight?

TS: it is changing
morphing
resisting

harder to find
harder to lead
harder to HOPE

draining
daunting
deliberate

She must be
obscuring it

PC: Are They hunting the survivors as well?

TS: impossible to say
impossible to
stop

like finding
a pebble
in an unfathomable ocean

PC: Would it be a danger to those in the town? To you?

TS: I can still hide
places
They have not
They do not
go

LIGHT
HOPE

They will try
to bridge the gap
when safe

if you are not
there
at night
in dark
in shadow

They will not come

I took stock of Twilight’s words, and decided to alert Vines and Clover. Shining Armor left me for some time to talk to them.

PC: I hope that you are right, Twilight. I will still make sure the guards are careful, and we may stop our patrols early today.

TS: I will be
as well

I promise
Princess

winding ways
twisting trails

another path
opens
rises

I will talk again soon

PC: I will wait, Twilight.

When Shining Armor returned, he informed me that Vines and Clover had decided to end efforts an hour before sundown. I relayed the information to Twilight and waited.

PC: Twilight, the guards will be pulled back from Ponyville early today. They have three or four hours left at the most. Please keep it in mind, and let me know when you are finished and safe.

I received no reply immediately, biding my time by asking Shining Armor about the number of survivors recovered. So far, the number was thirty five. Such a small number of the ponies that lived here, made their lives here, felt safe here. Everyone Twilight helps return is, as I have told her, a miracle, but I shiver with dread every time I think about if Luna or I could have done anything to prevent this.

These dreams, nightmares, visions that ponies have mentioned, Luna never saw them. These creatures, my ponies, may have taken so many in the past. Could we have ever known? Could we have seen signs? Could I, alone all those years?

It is a worrying spiral I have to pull my thoughts away from. The past is just that. I must focus on the now and the future. Whatever we learn here, we will be sure to note. We will prepare for the future, if at all possible. With any luck, there will be no need, but what little optimism I can muster shrinks with every passing moment.

It was hours later when Twilight finally responded.

TS: I could not reply
Princess

focused
frenzied
frantic

I had to keep
moving

working

saving

PC: It’s alright, Twilight. There isn’t much time left in the guards’ shifts for now.

TS: I know

I’ve done what I can
for now

I will
find a place to
hide
for the nights

PC: I will be here again, if you at all want to talk. So is your brother.

TS: may I
can I
talk to him

PC: Of course, Twilight. I would not try to keep you from him.

I called Shining Armor in, and asked him not to look through the journal as he waited for Twilight’s words.

Shining Armor (SA): Twily?

TS: yes
Shining Armor
brother

I
I am sorry
I cannot be there

SA: It’s alright, Twily. I’m just glad you’re safe. Princess Celestia and the investigators have told me a little, that you’re close. Close to coming home, helping other ponies get home. I’m so proud of you.

TS: I know
I know you
mom
dad

you were
are
so worried

concerned

afraid

SA: I know what you’re capable of, Twilight. I know that if anypony can get out of this and help fix things, it’s you.

TS: fix

yes
fix

I

do not know

if I can
will
come back

if I do not

please tell mom and dad

I miss them
I love them
so much

SA: I know you’ll come home, Twily. I believe in you.

TS: thank you

do they know
yet

SA: No, just me, but they’re worried sick. They always are, ever since you moved to Ponyville. Ever since you became Celestia’s student, really.

TS: I
HOPE
they will not

worry
much longer

I am
still Me

I will
be Me

I am Me
I am Me
I am Me

SA: I know, Twily.

TS: I need
to go again

to speak
to Celestia
the Princess

once more

SA: Okay. I love you, Twily. Stay safe.

PC: Yes, Twilight?

TS: I mean it

I will try

to come back

I will tell him
all
then

I miss you

I miss them

so
much

PC: I miss you too, Twilight. Stay safe. I’ll stay awake as long as I can, if you need to talk at all.

TS: need
rest

always more
rest

energy
will
HOPE
LIGHT

warmth

Princess

it’s so cold here

PC: Rest well, Twilight. Do not push yourself on my account.

TS: just want
need
something
somepony
else

besides
whispers

besides
thoughts

besides
suffering
pain
anguish
screams

I am Me
I am Me
I am Me

The lines continued for some time. As I had discussed with Doctor Blue Sky, I left Twilight to her devices with her mantra. Eventually, they stopped, halfway through a line. Nothing else came for the rest of the night.

Next Chapter: Case Report: Survivors Recovered - May 7th Estimated time remaining: 56 Minutes