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// Prologue: Start of Darkness 
// Story: Light and Dark 
// by MXCDarkHorse2020 
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Prologue:



Start of Darkness


Here in Equestria is a magical kingdom of ponies consisting of Pegasus, Earth ponies, and Unicorns filled with smiles and bright thoughts on every pony in town. A kingdom ruled by two alicorn sisters Princess Celestia and Princess Luna for over a thousand years. Princess Celestia is the tall white alicorn with a golden crown and necklace with a sparkling multicolored mane who raises the sun every morning.  Her sister Princess Luna is the shorter dark blue alicorn with a blue sparkling mane with a black crown and necklace who raises the moon every night. Here in Equestria light and dark balance out yin and yang where brightness usually shines over darkness.

However, today wasn’t one of those days were brightness usually shines. As the clouds were a very dark gray pouring heavy rain all over Equestria. Many ponies gathered at Canterlot wearing dark clothes looking very sad as they head their way to the castle for a memorial service. Inside the castle, many ponies have gathered to mourn the loss of a very beloved pony, Twilight Sparkle whose portrait was placed in front of the room. 

Twilight was killed in a train explosion shortly after Queen Chrysalis’s attempted invasion of Canterlot where the wedding took place as well. Twilight was the only pony who realized something was wrong when she saw Cadance (who was really a disguised Chrysalis at the time). She tried to warn every pony of her suspicions only to be dismissed and rebuffed by the Mane 5 passing it off as wedding stress. She even went as far as trying to expose her at the wedding rehearsal  only to be berated and disowned by her brother Shining Armor, with her  friends following suit as if she deserved it.

Just minutes later, she was teleported underground by the changeling queen where she reunites with the real Cadance. By working together, they were able to stop Queen Chrysalis and her changelings from taking over Canterlot while saving all of Equestria.  But by then, the damage has been done as Twilight angrily shouted at  her brother, friends, and mentor for how they treated her at the  rehearsal; telling them that they were in the wrong clearly. Even  reminding her friends of the lesson they dubbed as Lesson Zero: To always take a friend's worries seriously. 

She would then take the next train to Ponyville in order to get away from the very ponies who broke her heart.  Unfortunately she was caught in a magical explosion halfway into the trip. When word about the explosion got out the Mane 5 rushed out to the scene with hopes Twilight is OK only to find her lifeless body burn up in the wreckage.

It was a sight that left them devastated and horrified, bursting into tears of grief and remorse seeing at what has happened. As they couldn’t resist the urge not to cry the second they find out what happened left completely devastated of what was supposed to be a memorable occasion turned to tragedy.  As a result this tragedy, the wedding has been postponed until further notice where only time will tell if Cadance is ready to marry Shining Armor for what he did at the rehearsal.

In the royal throne room where the funeral is taking place Twilight’s friends sat in the front aisle of seats of the room on the right side of the room.  Her brother Shining Armor, her former foal sitter Cadance, her parents Night Light and Twilight Velvet, sat on the left side room. Both Princess Celestia and Princess Luna stood on top of the stairs in front of the coffin where Twilight’s lifeless body laid inside with a complete stoic and saddened look on their faces. No one was happy as every pony was very saddened by her loss as they felt what happened was all their fault.

Applejack didn’t wear her trademark farm hat and even she couldn’t resist letting loose a few tears as she urged every pony to comfort the fake Cadence instead of Twilight which paved way for Twilight being sent underground by Chrysalis herself. Pinkie Pie only sat depressed with her usual poofy mane and tail turned flat and straight tearing up as well. Fluttershy was silently weeping nonstop while comforting an equally saddened Spike who couldn’t stop crying over Twilight’s death as well. Rarity wearing her black funeral hat couldn’t hide her tears very well beneath her veil. Even Rainbow Dash couldn’t hold back her tears feeling guilty as every pony for the events that led to Twilight’s death.

Princess Celestia managed to keep her composure throughout the funeral but it is very evident from her tone how sad she is deep down over the loss of her most faithful student. Deep down she too is guilty for coldly abandoning Twilight when she needed comfort by instead telling her she has a lot to think about while shutting the doors on her.

Her sister Princess Luna and niece Princess Cadance were clearly disappointed with Celestia, Shining Armor, and the Mane 5’s actions that lead to Twilight’s death as they both gave them a good through talking to. 

While Shining Armor took the loss the hardest as instead of hearing her little sister out, he instead berated her for her accusations, disowned her, and banned her from the wedding all together. Even when he and the others tried to apologize to her, she was still too heartbroken to accept it when she storms out on them feeling completely consumed with anger and bitterness by their abandonment of her.

Once every pony was settled into their seats, Princess Celestia stepped forward to deliver her eulogy to her deceased faithful student. 

“We are gathered here today here to mourn the loss of beloved friend we all deeply cared for, Twilight Sparkle. “ She started as she directed every pony’s attention to her portrait. 

“Growing up, Twilight was a talented and gifted unicorn dedicated to learning all about magic, before I sent her to Ponyville to learn all about friendship. Although reluctant at first and while they have had their ups and downs, she has come to see friendship as a wonderful discovery.” She continued before she closed her eyes solemnly.

“Unfortunately that didn’t last as tragedy drastically changed everything, when the day of the wedding of her brother Shining Armor and her former foal sitter Princess Cadance came. Twilight was the only pony who suspected that something was wrong when the Cadance we saw was not acting like the pony we all know. But instead of listening to her and comforting her when she needed it the most, we walked out on her in a time of need and shortly afterwards we find that she had every right to be suspicious as the Cadance we all saw was really Queen Chrysalis, leader of the evil changelings in disguise who teleported her underground after we left her.” She gulped after briefly struggling the urge to cry as she sounds shaken up after saying that last part but quickly regained her composure. 

“Although she brought us back the real Cadance and helped save the day, the damage had already been done, as Twilight bitterly renounces us in retaliation and left home for Ponyville altogether. That would end up being the last time we ever saw her before the terrible accident happened on her train ride home. To me this is now my greatest failure and loss as I failed once again as a teacher for losing another student who I saw great potential in. And for that, I can only say to you now Twilight Sparkle is that I’m sorry for abandoning you and hope that you rest in peace.” She concluded as she secretly shed a single tear before backing up from the coffin.

With her eulogy concluded every pony lined up passing by Shining Armor, Cadance, Night Light, and Twilight Velvet to give their condolences for their loss before heading out. After every pony left all that stood in the room were the Princesses, the Mane 5, Spike, Shining Armor, Night Light, and Twilight Velvet who stayed to pay their final goodbyes to Twilight.

Applejack was the first to deliver hers as she stepped forward to her coffin. “Sorry Twi, we really should have listened to you. If only we hadn't walked out on you, none of those would have happened. We are going to really miss you sugar cube and rest in peace.”

Rarity was the next to deliver hers as she took her turn to step forward. “I am so sorry Twilight, darling.” She said while trying and failing not to cry. “Why didn’t I listen to you, instead of completely focusing on making the most fabulous and beautiful dress for the Princess? Why did I walk out on when you needed comfort the most? I’m so sorry Twilight.” She concluded as she burst into tears as turned away.

Pinkie stepped forward next to deliver her final farewells. “Goodbye Twilight. We are really going to miss you. I hope your party spirit lives on because my super-duper fantastic parties wouldn’t be the same without you. I’m sorry”. She said as she bailed uncontrollably with Rarity as she comforts her while crying as well. 

Fluttershy after gaining the courage steps forward to say her farewells to Twilight. “Oh Twilight, I’m so sorry. If only I showed more kindness than I did instead of abandoning you you’d still be around.” She spoke through stammering tears. “I’m so very sorry. Please forgive me Twilight.” She said as turning away as tears burst through her eyes as well.

Next Rainbow Dash flew up over Twilight’s coffin for his turn to say her final goodbyes.  “Well, I guess this is goodbye Twilight. All because my desire to impress the Wonderbolts yet I wasn’t loyal to stay by your side when you needed me the most. Some friend I am.” Rainbow Dash said as hung her head in shame and sorrow in guilt. 

Spike was next to step forward to say her goodbyes although he had a very hard time approaching Twilight’s coffin to look at her lifeless body. “Goodbye, Twilight.” Spike started with tears trembling in his eyes. “Why did I leave you alone like that? I should have stayed by your side but instead I abandoned you like you deserved yet. All because I thought I was going to get kicked out the wedding too. Some friend I am, I don’t deserve to call myself your #1 assistant after what I did. I’m sorry.  I’m so very sorry Twilight.” Spike said as he cried and buried his face into Fluttershy’s hooves who is still crying in grief.

While the girls and Spike are grieving Shining Armor and Cadance are with Night Light and Twilight Velvet who unhappily voice their thoughts for what happened at the wedding rehearsal that led to Twilight’s death. 

"I just don’t understand. Why? Why would you do that?" Night Light said sounding exasperated with deep disappointment to his first-born child.

"How could you?" Twilight Velvet asked in tears. "How could you say something so awful to your own sister?"

"Well, she was accusing her of being evil without any proof." Shining Armor could only reply,  even though he knew he had no excuse for what he said and did. "We didn't know she was a fake. We didn’t stop to think Twilight may have been on to something."

"Well, regardless" Night Light sternly said. "It doesn’t change what’s all said and done. Whether of how she mean she was or not, whether she was fake or not, what you said and did was the worst thing you have ever done. And worst of all, your actions have caused all of us to lose a beloved family member who we will never see again. "

"I'm sorry, dad," Shining Armor said with his eyes closed with regret. "Twilight had every right to be suspicious. I should have listened to her instead of yelling at her and kicking her out of the wedding like that. I put Cadance ahead of her when I shouldn't have. I was wrong to treat her like that. We were all wrong to do that to her." 

Twilight Velvet was tearing up, so she couldn’t even look at Shining Armor after what happened causing Shining Armor lowered his head in shame. Cadance who was watching the scene also had no words to say to Shining Armor on the spot and can only turn away as she walked toward’ s Twilight’s coffin. 

“Goodbye Twilight” she calmly said as she caressed Twilight’s lifeless body, “I’m so sorry this had to happen. You have and will always be the best pony a foal sitter could ask for and I hope you rest in peace Twilight.”

Next Shining Armor approaches to say his final farewell to Twilight. “Oh Twily, why didn’t I listen to you.” said Shining Armor with tears in his eyes. “You were just trying to protect me and instead I get mad you and kicked you out of my own wedding. If only I had caught to Chrysalis’s disguise none of those would have happened and you would still be around. I’m going to miss you L.S.B.F.F. and rest in peace.” He concluded as turning tearing up over his sister’s death.

With all of the goodbye speeches all said and done Princess Luna lights up her horn to close the coffin and to take the coffin to the cemetery to be buried at her final resting place. 

As Princess Luna flies away, Princess Celestia looked on with deep sorrow silently shedding another single tear of remorse seeing that not only did she lose a student who cuts ties with her, but saw the end of her life and the worst part about, it was all her fault as instead of comforting her when she needed it she instead coldly tells her she had a lot to think about driving the poor unicorn to tears.

The scene that changes to the cemetery where Princess Luna flies towards a deep hole intended for the coffin’s burial. Arriving at the burial, Luna carefully uses her magic to levitate the coffin into the hole to the very bottom before using the dirt dug to up for the hole to be filled back to place. Once her job was done, she looks down at Twilight’s gravestone where she breathes a heavy sigh as she had no pleasure of doing this job. Saying goodbye to the very pony who helped free her from her corruption as Nightmare Moon that caused her to be banished to the moon for a thousand years. 

“Goodbye Twilight. I can’t thank you enough for all you have done for me. If it weren’t for you I’d still be stuck on the moon being Nightmare Moon. Sweet dreams and I hope your spirit rests in peace.” She calmly said before turning away to fly herself out of the cemetery. Unbeknownst, to her a mysterious pony wearing a dark purple hood and mask similar to Mare-Do-Well was silently watching her leave evidently having watched the whole scene from afar. 

The mysterious figure was a cloaked pony. But it wasn't any cloaked pony. It was a pony dressed in a dark purple suit, with a matching cape, and dark indigo sports tape around his hooves. It wore another suit, which is a purple colored one, with a matching hat, over the light blue eyes, with pale cornflower blue pupils. It also unbeknownst to every pony at the funeral has secretly spied and witnessed the whole funeral having using teleportation magic to get in and out of the castle unnoticed. The mysterious figures eyes narrowed down contemplating on what the first move is in wake of Twilight’s death as it teleports away from the scene.