Wherever Twilight was, it certainly wasn’t ponyville.She was floating among a starry sky, her eyes shut as she drifted along.
She was sleeping and her dreams were full of memories, though a notable one crossed her mind. That fateful night at the old castle ruins, that sense of unity she had with her friends. They had all felt the elements of harmony that night and Twilight could feel their power once again.
In an instant a necklace appeared around her neck, the symbol of the element of magic on the end. Twilight briefly opened her eyes and she was suddenly engulfed in a bright light and disappeared.
Our ‘guests’ have arrived.
Ooh they’re here! It took a while but we managed to get all the pieces in place. Let’s see how they all fair in this glorious game hehehehe~
In a flash of light Twilight appeared above a large city. She was coated in a purple aura as she fell towards the city center,her descent slowing as she floated down among the fluffy clouds.
Twilight slowly opened her eyes and yawned as the clouds whisked past her.
“Spike?” She murmured before her eyes widened and she glanced around quickly.
“Spike!? Girls!?”
The last thing she remembered was being pulled into the sky before losing consciousness. Now all she could see was the bleak rooftops,the grey sky and… the ground?
The aura surrounding Twilight disappeared and she landed right on the pavement. She grumbled and got to her hooves ,dusted herself off and looked around at her surroundings, it was then that she noticed the necklace she was wearing.
She couldn’t remember putting this on before ,had she always had such a thing? She levitated the necklace closer to inspect the Element of Magic emblem and glanced around again.
Everything was a shade of grey in the quiet city. There was nobody around and no distinct colours on the buildings, the street and even the fountain she’d landed next to. She was completely alone.
It was an unsettling silence,she couldn’t hear the wind or any birds chirping. Twilight spread her wings and flew into the sky for a better look.
There has to be somepony around here. Everypony, I hope you’re ok.
She was surprisingly alert due to this uncomfortable atmosphere and determined to get out of this unfamiliar city. Her friends were still out there; she just knew it.
Just then a purple light in the sky caught her eye. It was hard to miss due to the bizarre coloured environment and it was ‘moving’ even.Twilight flew to the rooftops for a better view as the ‘shooting star’ continued over the horizon and stopped at a large tower in the distance.
It looked otherworldly and mechanical ,something out of place in contrast to the modern city.It was as if it was stripped from one of Spike’s comic books for the ‘Power Ponies’.
Twilight pondered whether she’d been sucked into a comic just like in the past.It would explain the strange necklace she had in her possession. Though no matching outfit to go with it.
The purple star settled at the base of the tower and seeing as it was her only lead for now that would have to be her destination. After glancing at her necklace one more time Twilight began her flight to the mysterious tower.
The leisurely sky stroll gave Twilight more time to survey the city as she spotted several long, winding, sloped roads, a plaza and even tramway tracks. However the closer she got to the tower the more out of place it seemed.
The buildings near the base had odd-looking shapes and designs. Some of them were upside down and dome shaped. Could anyone really live here?
The tower itself was very tall and elegant looking. Its peak hidden among the clouds, higher than any structure in Ponyville or even Canterlot.
Twilight touched down at the tower’s base still staring up in awe,she eventually turned her attention to the large door in front of her and the floating ‘star’.
“A card?” She blinked and her horn glowed for a moment as she considered levitating it towards herself but hesitated. Instead she leaned in closer for a better look. It was a purple card and had a white border. The symbol of her cutie mark was on it.
Suspicious as it was, she felt as if it was calling to her, just waiting for her to retrieve it. Twilight frowned for a moment and reached out to the card. Her necklace began glowing just as it touched her hoof and her ears perked up at a sudden noise. She could hear whistling.
“Who’s there?” She jumped slightly and glanced around quickly looking for the source .
Her necklace was no longer glowing as she held the card with her magic now. Twilight was preoccupied with the sound and sudden scenery change.
As the whistling continued, now drawing closer. The grey city began to fill with colour starting with the tower. Like a bucket of paint had dropped from the sky. The once grey and lifeless tower now brimming with a blinding blue. The odd buildings filled with colour as well, as did the pavement, the sky.
“I knew I’d run into you again.” Said a voice.
The whistling stopped as a pony stepped out from a gap between the buildings, his navy blue eyes watching her closely. He had an aqua green coat ,a white mane and was wearing a white neck bandana and a blue fedora. The stallion placed a hoof to his hat and closed his eyes for a moment.
“Again?” Twilight asked puzzled at the unfamiliar pony “Have we met before?”. She noticed he had no cutie mark even but she kept her eyes focused on him.
“No, but you got the drop on me a while ago. Things will be different this time now that I know your tricks.” He opened his eyes again and Twilight could see there was an odd looking badge shaped like a circular cyan grid on his hat. Though now it had started glowing a faint green glow.
Twilight’s eyes widened at the prospect of this stranger attacking her and she quickly prepared a protective spell.
The attacker's ‘spell’ never came however as they were both interrupted by a sudden change in weather. The sky darkened as several large maroon coloured ripples appeared in the sky above them.
“Finally! You show yourself!” A voice cried and it was drowned out by the sounds of screeching bats.
Twilight eeped as a storm of the flying ruby coloured mammals obscured her vision and covered the sky. She couldn’t see the other pony but she was occupied with the odd looking bats. Their wings were replaced with tattoo-like patterns as they flew about.
In a brief flash of purple, a lavender unicorn mare appeared in front of her.She had a darker shade than herself. A black mane with red highlights… but the mane style was just like Twilight’s.
The pony looked just like her but she was levitating a long sword too!
“ME!?” Twilight gasped and took a step back.
Her doppleganger swung the sword in the air. In an instant several bats converged on Twilight’s position.
In a flash they transformed into red chains and before Twilight knew it they had wrapped around her hooves and wings, completely binding her movements. Her magic failed and the card she was levitating fell to the ground and vanished.
“For now… but once I have you I can reclaim what I’ve lost.” The other Twilight grinned showing a set of fangs and pointed the sword directly at her.