Dark clouds covered the sky, so dark one could barely see. Were it not for the flashing light of innumerous thunderbolts striking down in their deafening roars, it would have been impossible to make out where she was.
Ruins of what once was a castle, rocks and bricks scattered across the ground - for an uninitiated it might have been mysterious but Tempest knew exactly where she was. And it filled her with fear.
Squinting her eyes she moved in slow, careful steps. Her legs trembled upon realising that without doubt the creature in front of her was the very same four-legged mixture of red and purple she always saw when looking in the mirror.
But her mirror-image ahead was different. Determined eyes and confident composture graced out of her. The dark uniform displaying the icon of the Storm King and his Reign of Terror suited her all too well.
Looking down towards her with eyes of superiority she began strutting around her, not once breaking posture.
"My, my. Look at you. Legs trembling just because someone stronger stands in front of you? Your eyes squinting every other second because of some measly thunders? And your whole pride- what happened to you?"
Tempest's ears fell back as her head winced to her shoulders.
Her shadow abruptly halted, sighed and put her hoof below Tempests chin.
"It's alright, you may have lost your path but you can always rely on me - your true self - to guide you back."
"Sh.. shut it." Shivers ran down Tempest's spine in dread of what wrath her Shadow would unleash on her - she diverted her eyes to some pale rocks on the side of the road. Soaked by the rain, enduring the storm without a sign of fear. They didn't really warm her, but at least they weren't as cold as the heart of who's ahead.
Shadow raised her eyebrows "Oh, did you say something? You know, you must SPEAK. UP. when giving orders!"
Tempest fell silent. Even if she had words to say - her throat felt so heavy and her lungs so exhausted - she barely managed to stay standing with her knees trembling in reverb of the thunderous roars.
Shadow chuckled sourly: "Can't imagine you once had hundreds of armies at your command, the authority to reign over thousands of creatures and most importantly," she moved closer up until there was barely an inch between their faces and saw right into her dreading gaze, "a name."
She punched a hoof into Tempest's shoulder and pushed her back. Tempest's hindlegs gave in as she slipped.
She didn't feeling the wet mud she landed on, neither did she feel the pouring rain covering her coat. The sole emotion keeping her anchored in the moment was steadily pushed through her veins. Each rush of blood, every beating of her heard only spread the regret rooted deep within her chest.
"The power you talk about was all built on harm - on making others suffer!" A piece of courage flashed through her eyes: "You have no idea how different the world ca-"
"I have no idea?" Shadow ridiculed her, "The entire world is built on harm and suffering and you know it. Harm and suffering confronted us ever since we were a foal, we've seen the truth since the day mom abandoned our dad."
"But you were meant to rise above it, Tempest. You were destined to stand atop - proudly - as you can finally choose for yourself which creature has to suffer and which family to spare."
With quickening winds and deep growls the platform supporting her hooves started falling apart. Becoming the center of a hurricane Shadow glew in dark violet sparks. Atop her head magic manifested and within a quick glow her horn regrew. Simultaneously the same lightning encased her body and enlargened her, growing majestic wings and elevating her to rise and control the storm.
Her voice echoed through the winds, reflecting from the scattered isles of landmasses rushing around like a storm of meteors: "Face me! Rediscover your potential! I am not just your past, Tempest. Nor am I your destiny. I am you - entirely."
With her footing rapidly breaking apart Tempest clung to the last few meters of land below her. A rift cut its way through the entire platform as she spotted the rocks fall off one after another. Her legs trembled. Eyes spread wide open in dread and horror.
"That's not true." she gulped, "This power is not right, it can't be. Twil-"
Shadow interrupted her: "Twilight? Oh shut up. Princess Twilight Sparkle. She and her cheery shmeery 'Magic of Friendship'? Where has that gotten you, Fizzlepop? Tell me! If friendship really is the way, you're all alone - So where. Are. They."
Falling into a void of nothingness Tempest gave up. She saw places torn out of her memory flash by, the first month of school back home, a minute of watching her distant friends play ball without her, a fleeting moment of warmth:
"Well, I hope you'll stay. More friends are definitely merrier."
Numbness spread through her limbs as Tempest pushed her head up. Through sobbing eyes, scattered debris and the neverending thunderstorm she barely made out the demon surging towards her.
Despite the havoc all around, Tempest heard Shadow as if she whispered right into her right ear.
"Where."
Flashing closer her words were calm and strict.
"Are."
A split second before impact.
"They."