So many close calls, so many potential hesitations, so many things that Twilight and Spike could have done differently, and they'd have failed. It doesn't matter what they did wrong or didn't do right, only that a split-second is all the difference Sombra needed. Now, Twilight is completely at Sombra's mercy, subject to whatever mind games he has planned for her...

Recent viewing of The Crystal Empire is helpful but hopefully not necessary. Special thanks to Mickeymonster for drawing the image that inspired this story.

A thousand years ago, Princess Celestia banished her sister to the moon, that much we know. What wasn’t known, and what Celestia kept secret was that before her banishment, Luna had given birth to a foal. Now a thousand years later, as Nightmare returns to Equestria to bring about Eternal Night.

Twilight Sparkle, protege of Princess Celestia, struggles against the tyranny of this ancient foe. But how will she be able to save herself and her friends when the truth of this ancient legend crashes down upon her? Twilight will have to confront herself...and her heritage.

Polaris501

One thousand years ago, Discord bore a child…until it was taken from him. The Royal Sisters rescued the infant from its kidnappers and raised it from afar. A millennium later, the child now known as Screwball tries to piece together her past and find her future. On the way, she encounters Dark Frost, son of King Sombra, and Leah, daughter of Lord Tirek. What they’ve yet to realize is that Leah and Dark Frost’s dads were responsible for Screwball’s abduction!