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// Part 6: Demise (Ch. 3) 
// Story: Amazing Alicorns 
// by Cardinal Dan Productions 
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Twilight shook her head and held a hoof up to stop the excited Alicorn. “Whoa, slow down for a second. I’m not going anywhere with you until you explain a little more. For starters, who are you really, and what do you want from me?”

Dulcet heaved a sigh and lowered her gaze. “Princess Sparkle, there isn’t much time. It isn’t safe to be out in the open like this. She will find allies to rally to her and spies to serve her...”

Twilight couldnt believe what she was hearing. Not a single one of her questions had been answered, and more had been added to the list. “Dulcet, please... What are you talking about? Who is after you?”

She shook her head. “It’s not who’s after me, Twilight. It’s who is coming for you that concerns me.”

Above, Spike and Zecora had emerged from the hut and were peering into the crater. “T-T-Twilight? Are you alright?”

The zebra stared at the Alicorn and frowned. “So, It has begun... Soon, the world will be undone.”

Dulcet gestured towards Zecora. “See? This one knows what’s at stake. If we do not find allies to help us defeat her, my... uh... sister will send the universe as we know it onto the path to oblivion.”

Twilight looked thoughtful. “You’re serious, aren’t you?”

The Alicorn eyed the silver flower in Twilight’s mane, tucked behind her ear, and frowned. Then she flipped her mane out of her face and exhausted a long sigh. “Yes, Twilight, I am. Now, please come with me.”

Twilight took a step closer to Dulcet and looked up at Spike and Zecora. “Wh-What about my friends?”

Dulcet waved a dismissive hoof. “They won’t be in harms way. It’s you she wants...”

She was in reaching distance of this new Alicorn, now. “You still haven't told me who’s after me.”

Dulcet didn’t say a word as she shifted the wings on her back and readied her horn. To Twilight, it looked like she was ignoring her on purpose and avoiding the question. This frustrated her. “Stand close, I need to move us to a safer location.”

Twilight did as she was told and took her place by Dulcet’s side. The mysterious Alicorn let out a meek gasp at her touch, but didn’t say anything. Then, her horn began to shine. “Hold still...”

In a blinding flash of light, they had vanished from the clearing. Twilight didn’t dare open her eyes until it was over, but when she did, they were standing in a dark place, surrounded by tall, menacing trees. They were still in the Everfree Forest but deep in the dark woods, a place untouched by ponies for thousands of years.

Twilight felt a little dizzy after the rushed jump and let out a cough. “What... What was the point of that? Why did you take me here?”

Dulcet rolled her eyes and flared her nostrils at her. “I’ve told you many times, Princess Sparkle... For. Your. Safety. So far, you don’t sound very grateful.”

Twilight narrowed her gaze at the princess, who was increasingly aggravating her. “Well, Princess Dulcet, maybe I would be grateful if I knew what was actually going on!”

Dulcet snarled and began to storm away. “Ah! You arrogant pony princess! Maybe, I should just leave you for her to find... The world is already coming to an end, so what does it matter?”

Twilight looked flustered, stammering as she walked after her. “What do you think you’re doing? You can’t just teleport me somewhere and leave me! I don’t know where I am!”

Dulcet was already heading into the thick brush. “Goodbye, Princess Twilight, and good riddance!”

Then, she vanished.

Twilight peered through the trees and vines, but the white Alicorn was gone. She spun in circles, taking in her surroundings, but the forest around her looked alien. She couldn’t even see the treetops that blotted out the sun. Twilight was in a place no pony should ever be, lost and alone. “Dulcet! Dulcet, come back!”

No pony came, though.

Twilight began to whimper. She never meant to drive the princess away, she only wanted answers. Teleporting home wasn’t an option either. A unicorn had to know where he or she was in order to get where they needed to go, and Twilight was hopelessly lost in the deepest, darkest depths of the Everfree Forest. “Dulcet... I... I’m sorry...”

She fell on her rear and began to sniffle. Her ears twitched, and she heard some rustling leaves behind her. Twilight turned on the the ground and looked up, only to see nothing but a dark forest looking back. Then, she stood and approached the tree. “Dulcet?”

The air suddenly felt colder, and a shiver ran down her spine.

“Hello, Twilight Sparkle...”

The voice came from behind her, and she turned back around to find a tall, black mare standing over her. Her coat was darker than the blackest night, and her steel grey mane gave off a cold and uninviting impression. The expression on her face, however, was one of delight.

Twilight recognized her immediately. “Demise...” She couldn’t believe it. Even though the princess of time was actually standing right before her, she couldn’t believe it. “It... It’s you... It’s really you...”

Demise beamed at her. “Of course it is, my love... Nothing in the universe can keep me from you.”

Twilight flinched as a black hoof touched her cheek, but she quickly fell into her caresses. “Oh, Demise...”

Then, the dark mare began to nuzzle her affectionately. “You still have my gift... I knew you care for me still...”

Twilight nodded, trembling as Demise’s lips brushed against her cheek. “Of course... I never wanted to... to disappoint you...”

When the princess’ lips made contact with her neck, Twilight let out a quiet ‘yelp’ and pushed her away, stunning both her and Demise. “I... I’m sorry...”

Demise raised an eyebrow at her. “Did my actions cause you discomfort, Twilight?”

Twilight turned as red as a tomato and took a few steps back. “No, of course not! Well... Maybe a little... I mean, I don’t think we should do this here. I’m hopelessly lost, and I’d really just like to go home...”

Demise cracked a smile. “Say no more, my love. I will take you home.”

Twilight noticed a change in her tone, and it was now that she saw how different the princess of time looked compared to the last time she saw her. As the Black Alicorn approached her, Twilight took small steps in reverse. “Demise, how did you get here anyway? I thought you were trapped on the island?”

A scowl came over the princess. “That cursed spit of land will never hold me again, Twilight. I am free now to chose whatever path I wish. Now, I want to be with the mare I love so deeply...”

Twilight felt a sense of dread and unease with every step Demise took towards her. “You’ve changed...”

Demise, stopped, and the already cold air dropped drastically to the point where Twilight could see her breath. “I see she got to you first. How disappointing...”

Twilight nearly tripped over a root as she stumbled back. “Demise, I still care for you, I really do! I just want to go home... Please, don’t...”

A blinding light fired through the forest, crashing right in front of Twilight. When the purple princess opened her eyes, Dulcet was standing in between her and the black Alicorn. “Twilight, get behind me.”

Demise sneered at her. “Even you cannot stay away from her! Is this how the world ends, with a battle for Twilight’s heart?”

Dulcet lowered her horn and took a defensive stance over Twilight. “I do not care for that... only that she is safe from you...”


***Up Next: Dulcet (Ch. 2)***