Twilight fell through what seemed like an eternity of darkness and shadows.  The air around her became thick with malice as she continued her decent into nothingness.  Every fiber of her being wanted to scream, but the words became caught in her mouth, choking her as she fell and fell.  Finally, the clouds of darkness parted and she found herself on a balcony overlooking what looked like a courthouse, but more old fashioned.  A gavel sounded across the room as ponies started to appear around her.  To her left, in the seat beside her, sat a handsome unicorn with a blue coat and a brown mane and whiskers.  His body cloaked in an old fashioned coat with a pocket-watch in the front coat pocket.  

"Umm, excuse me."  Twilight tried to get the stallion's attention.

"Clover?  When did you get here, girl?"  He turned and smiled, patting Twilight on the head.  "I thought for sure you were still with the little ones."  He looked up and down her body.  "Why are you naked?"

Twilight looked confused.  "Umm, who is Clover?"  The stallion rubbed his eyes, realizing his mistake.

"Oh, forgive me, you look just like my daughter.  Terribly sorry, are you one of the king's wizards as well?"  He extended his hoof.  "Star Swirl, at your service."  Twilight's eyes widened in awe.

"Star Swirl the Bearded?"  Twilight covered her mouth with her hoof.  "Oh my gosh!" she exclaimed in a Rainbow Dash fashion.

"Haha, is that what they're calling me, now?  I really need to shave this thing."  He chuckled.

Twilight smiled as the jury took its place on the stand. A large, pure white alicorn stallion walked up to the center of the balcony that she and Star Swirl were on.  He was enormous compared to the other ponies, wearing a type of ceremonial armor with the symbol for Equestria on it, the two alicorns circling the sun and moon.

"Who is that?"  Twilight whispered to Star Swirl.

"New to Equestria, I take it.  That there is King White Mane.  The first alicorn ruler to set hoof on this land."  The alicorn looked over at them for a moment, his eyes flashing red and cracking a slight smile when he saw Twilight.

You've seen me, now.  The voice echoes in Twilight's head, even stronger than before.  Twilight shook her head, trying to ignore it.

"Don't worry, he can be a bit intimidating at first, but he's a good stallion."  Star Swirl smiled.  "I think you and me, we're gonna be..."  He trailed off as the room began to disappear, the furniture, the rail, the seats, all began to melt into the darkness.  All that was left were Twilight and the king, King Grey Mane.

"So here we are."  White Mane smiled and looked over at her, his armor falling off as his body became spectral and old.  "Finally his descendent is before me, as is my escape."

Twilight lowered her head as her horn flared, blasting a spell into the ghostly figure, all in vain as the energy simply passed through him.

"What are you?!"  Twilight kept firing as the stallion walked toward her.  He placed his hoof on her head, silencing her horn.

"I am a spectre, trapped in the fabric between life and death, unable to live or die.  All this courtesy of that cursed Star Swirl!"  He slammed his hoof down onto the ground, or lack thereof.

"Well what is it that you want with me?"  Twilight asked, backing away.  The stallion simply smiled and nodded.

"I thought my Windegoes made it clear, I want you."  He chuckled.  "You have his blood."

"Whose blood?"  Twilight asked.

"Star Swirl's."  He looked down at her.  "You are his predecesor, his legacy.  You hold all of his power, and you are the only thing that can set me free."

"Clear!"  A loud thud sounded all around them.

"Dammit!  They're bringing you back."  He sighed.  "No matter, next time you fall asleep, you're mine, Sparkle."  The stallion faded into the darkness.

"Clear!"

"Wait!"  Twilight yelled into the darkness, now cracking with rays of light.

"Clear!"  A huge jolt of electricity surged through Twilight's body as she convulsed and awoke in shock.  A crowd of ponies were gathered outside the door as the Doctors put away the equipment.  "Thank Celestia, you were dead for a good ten minutes."  The doctor panted.  "You can let them in now."

The orderly opened the door, and a surge of ponies came stampeding into the room.  

"Twily!  Thank Celestia you're ok!"  Shining Armor was the first inside, throwing his forelegs around her in a hug.  Cadence followed behind him, hugging her as well.

"B.B.B.F.F?"  Twilight asked.  "Cadence?"

Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy trotted in, each one expressing their concerns for Twilight.

"Girls, what happened with the Windegoes?"  Twilight asked, in barely a whisper.

"Gone."  Rarity answered.

"We bashed 'em all up like pinatas!  Pow!"  Pinkie threw a punch, knocking herself over in the process.

"We're just lucky Doctor Whooves and Derpy were around, or else it might have been a lot harder."  Fluttershy added.

Twilight smiled, laying her head back.  "Thank Celestia everypony is ok."  Twilight finally realized something important.  "Applejack!  Rainbow!  Where are they?"  The doctor walked back in, followed by Applejack in a wheelchair being pushed by Rainbow Dash.

"No worries, Twi!"  Applejack smiled.  "Just a few bruised ribs and a busted leg, I've suffered worse on the farm.  I'd worry more about yourself, Twi."  Applejack said, concerned.

Rainbow Dash darted over to the bed.  "Yeah, you cracked your skull and one of your ribs stabbed your heart.  It took everything that had to fix you up, egghead."

"Uh guys, little help here."  Applejack exclaimed, realizing Rainbow Dash was the only one keeping her chair in place.  Shining Armor grabbed it before it could roll out the door.

Twilight lifted the covers of her gown and saw the stitching across her heart.  "Oh wow, I really got hurt, didn't I?"  She looked down, studying her chest.

"Hey, Twilight."  Rainbow muttered.  "Can we talk alone, please?"  Pinkie must have heard them, because she started herding everyone out with the exception of Shining Armor and Rainbow Dash.

"You heard the mare, fillies need their alone time!"  Pinkie exclaimed.

Rainbow sat down on her haunches and looked up at Twilight, tears in her eyes.

"Look, I wanted to say I'm sorry for the overprotectiveness and trying to fight you, and..."  Twilight stopped her.

"Rainbow, it's ok, it just..."  She searched for the right words.  "It seems out of character, I mean you practically tried to carry me out of Canterlot earlier."  She chuckled.

"It's just, you've been like a sister to me, Twilight.  I don't have any siblings, and I haven't seen my parents in Celestia knows how long.  You girls are the only family I really have, ya know."  She said.  "I love you like a sister, Twi."

Twilight got out of her bed and hobbled over to Rainbow's side and hugged her.

"You know, I've thought the same thing about you."  She smiled.  "You're like my sister, Rainbow."  Twilight stared into her eyes.

"I mean, if it wasn't for you I'd probably still be this slacker weather pony with no friends in Ponyville.  I wouldn't have won the Best Young Flyer competition, and I wouldn't be reading."  Rainbow hugged Twilight even tighter.  "You've really changed me, Twilight."  She smiled.

"I think you've changed me too, sometimes."  

"How so?"

"Well..."  Twilight started.  "I'm braver now."

Rainbow smiled.  "Me too."