//------------------------------//
// Chapter 7 "A Gift From the Darkness" 
// Story: The End of a Nightmare. (A Grimdark Finale) 
// by TheMareinTheMoon 
//------------------------------//

Chapter 7
"A Gift From the Darkness"

The journey to Canterlot had proved to be a hard one. Though only lasting a day, their trek had been long and arduous. It had also been mostly quiet, with only the occasional conversation about the past breaking the silence. Applejack was sure to avoid mentioning Magic Kindergarten to Twilight again, she had come much too far to fall apart now.
As they finally began to reach Canterlot, Applejack spoke up once more.
"So what's the plan?" She asked, turning to her friend.
"Walk into the castle, approach Celestia, beg for forgiveness and hope she doesn't kill us both." She replied, not taking her eyes off of the road ahead of her.
"Right," Applejack replied, nervous, "Of course."
Twilight stopped, realizing what she had just said.
"AJ, what if we DO die here," Twilight said, lowering her head, "What if it all ends now, before we even reach Pinkie? Before we can even try to stop her. It'll be my fault."
"Now don't talk like that," AJ said, "We're going to be fine Twi, trust me."
"But that's just it..." Twilight replied, "What if we aren't? Trust won't get us out of a noose."
AJ brought Twilight's face up to hers.
"If we DO die today, I want you to know that you're the best friend I've ever had."
Applejack hugged her friend close, and for the about the next five minutes, they sat there, sharing what may be their last moments together.




As they approached the gates to Canterlot, they were suddenly stopped by the two armored guards protecting the entrance.
"State your name and business." One of them spoke.
"Um..." Twilight began, "I'm Twilight Sparkle, the princess's ex-student, and I wish to speak to her, it is of dire importance."
"The princess does not see visitors." Responded the second guard.
Twilight pleaded.
"Please sir, it is a matter of life and death! You have to let us in!"
"The princess does not see visitors," The guard repeated, "Now please, go from where you came."
Twilight shook her head in astonishment, how could they refuse her? There were lives at stake! They-
Twilight's thoughts were interrupted by the sound of Applejack's furious voice.
"Now," She began, slowly approaching the guards, "We tried to ask y'all nicely, but it's obvious that ain't workin'. So I'm gonna ask again, please step aside before I buck you aside!"
Applejack began scratching her hoof across the ground, ready to fight.
"You don't want to do that miss," The guards replied, placing the hooves on their swords, "Now we will ask YOU again, please leave. NOW!"
Applejack looked at Twilight and hesitantly stood down. Glaring at the guards with anger as she walked to her friend's side. 
"well what do we do now?" Applejack asked.
"It's ok Applejack, I planned for this." She replied.
Twilight reached into her saddlebag for a minute, until she finally brought out a small sack from within the bag.
"What the hay is that?" Applejack asked, eying the strange sack.
"Nightshade," Twilight replied, magically opening the sack to reveal its contents, "Zecora gave me some before we left, it puts ponies to sleep."
"That powdery stuff does all that?"
"I hope so."
Twilight gathered a hoof-full of Nightshade and held it behind her back as she slowly approached the two guards.
"How many times must we tell you? The princess does not s-"
Suddenly Twilight brought her hoof in front of her and blew the powdery substance in their direction.
"What the!? What is this...this..."
Suddenly the guards began to stagger and their heads grew heavy, until they collapsed on against the walls, asleep.
Twilight gazed back at Applejack's somewhat astonished face and called. "Well? Let's get going!"

The Canterlotian uppercrusts looked at the two ponies with disgust as they passed by. They had been through a lot, and it showed, they looked like a mess, and Applejack still smelled of alcohol. As they made their way to Canterlot Castle, they noticed two more guards standing at the entrance. The Nightshade took care of them quickly.




Inside the castle, Celestia was discussing political matters with her advisors, while her younger sister sat to the side. 
"You know, you didn't have to kill her." The dark mare spoke.
Celestia was caught by surprise by her sister's words.
"Excuse me?"
"She didn't deserve to die," She answered, "We could have helped her..."
"Did you not see what she did to her sister?" Celestia replied, looking away from her advisors.
"If you knew what she did than you would agree that she could not be helped."
Luna looked at her sister with anger.
'What has happened to you!?" She yelled, "I used to look up to you! I used to think you stood for what was right, but now look at you! You've killed one of the last remaining Elements!"
Celestia approached her sister, "Ponies change after 1000 years," She answered, ominously,"I thought you would know this by now."
"Well I wouldn't have had to if-"
Suddenly the doors to the throne room were swung open. The guards drew their swords and pointed them at the intruders. Celestia recognized them all too well.
"Twilight Sparkle." She spoke, watching her once faithful student.
"Princess Celestia" Twilight said, watching her once wise teacher.
There was a silence. The teacher and student locked eyes, each remembering the events of their past. The trials, the letters, the lessons, all to be destroyed by one missed note.
Twilight felt anger and sadness well up inside her, but she didn't dare show it. She was here for a reason.
"Princess I..." She looked to Applejack and turned back, "We, need your help."
The princess continued to stare at them. "Do you realize that I could have you killed for entering here unannounced?"
"FOR EQUESTRIA'S SAKE SISTER!" Luna screamed "LISTEN TO SOMEPONY FOR ONCE!"
"Luna, this does not pertain to you." Celestia answered, "Now please leave until we are finished here."
She glared at her sister with rage, and hesitantly left the room, followed by four guards.
"Now, why are you here?" Celestia asked, eying the two mares.
Twilight swallowed hard. She would have to choose her words carefully.
"Princess," She began, "I'm assuming you are aware of all of the disappearances that have been taking place over the last year.."
"Indeed I am." She responded, emotionless.
"Well princess, we need your help to stop the one responsible, we can't allow her to keep doing this-"
"There is no need," Celestia answered, "I have already taken care of the one responsible, she will not harm anypony ever again."
"What?" Applejack asked, confused.
"Rarity was executed yesterday morning, you're safe now."
Twilight brought a hoof to her face.
"Rarity was not the problem! She wasn't the murderer!" She screamed.
"Oh? Then who is it then Ms. Sparkle?" Celestia replied with a hint of sarcasm.
"Pinkie!" Twilight yelled, frustrated.
Celestia stifled a laugh.
"The pink mare who owns Sugarcube Corner? You think it was her? It's obvious that you're time in magic kindergarden did more to you than I thought." Celestia said.
Twilight lowered her head and looked the other way.
"Now hold on just a minute!" Applejack yelled, "Er...Yer' majesty, we've been through a lot to get here, and we KNOW we're right, Pinkie's snapped. Become somethin' else...You've gotta believe us!"
"Actually I don't," Celestia replied, "If I recall correctly, your drinking habits caused you to lose your farm, and...I already know what has happened to Twilight. Neither of you are in any way trustworthy anymore."
"Celestia..." Twilight spoke, slowly raising her head, "How can you do this? After all that we went through? You've changed."
Celestia scoffed. 
"I've changed? Need I remind you of yourself? You were once my most faithful student, but you became a monster. I changed as Equestria changed, what we need now is a leader, someone to keep everypony under control. To protect them from people like your friend Rarity."
"Celestia, I'm sorry." Twilight spoke. "I'm sorry for everything I've done, all of the pain I caused, I regret my decisions every day. But I want to make things right, I want to be your student again, I want things to be like they used to! I-"
"Twi, remember what we're here for..." Applejack whispered.
"I want you to help us." Twilight finished.
"I'm sorry Twilight, but I can't do that." Celestia replied coldly.
Twilight looked up at her former teacher with tears in her eyes. It was over.
"Gaurds, see these two out, they obviously have a lot of thinking to do." Celestia nodded to the gaurds surrounding her throne.
Twilight's face was still frozen with a teared expression.
How could it end here? After everything she'd done, after everything she'd sacrificed. Her head hung low in defeat, as she and her friend were escorted through the halls away from the throne room.
Twilight never looked back. And neither did her teacher.

"Well what do we do now?" Applejack whispered to her silent friend.
"Nothing." Twilight replied, still staring at the ground.
"Nothin'?" applejack gasped, "What do you mean nothin'?"
"That's it. That was our last chance, it's over."
"Twilight get a'hold of yerself!" Applejack replied, wary of the guards still leading behind them.
"This can't be the end! What about all that you told me about lettin' go of the past, and fightin' for the present? Not giving up or hiding from our fears? What happened to that!"
Twilight couldn't respond. 
As they were lead through the halls, they began to notice that they were not headed toward the exit. Twilight had been in this castle numerous times, as well as Applejack, yet somehow the halls were...unfamiliar.
"Hey!" Applejack spoke up, "Where are you takin' us? This ain't the exit!"
"Quiet!" Spoke replied one of the guards.
"You'll see soon enough." replied the other.
Twilight began to shake. Where could they be taking them? Celestia wouldn't kill them...would she?
The bright white corridors of the halls slowly seemed to transform to dark shades of blue, and shadows seemed to cascade over the areas that were once filled with light. The sun symbols that riddled the castle's furniture and artwork, were now replaced with the symbol of night, the moon. 
The guards led them through the shadowy corridors, and the farther they walked, the more the darkness seemed to engulf them. They finally stopped, at the foot of the large brass doors in front of them.
"This is where we depart." Spoke one of the guards.
Twilight knew where they were. These were Luna's quarters, but why would Celestia send them here?
"An' what the hay are we supposed to do here?" replied Applejack.
"Enter." Replied the guard, and they were gone.




Twilight and Applejack stood at the door, unmoving, not daring to look at each other for what felt like hours, until Twilight spoke.
"We should probably do as they said." She said, moving toward the door.
"And what? Die?" Applejack replied, still looking away.
"If that's what awaits us on the other side of this door, then yes."
"You know I can't do that Twi, I promised Applebloom..."
Twilight sighed.
"And I promised Spike..."
They stopped, and gazed at each other until they came to a silent agreement. They had no choice.They opened the doors together. 

Light shone from the room as they opened the doors. Moonlight. Even though it was midday, the dark alicorn's presence was enough to make it feel as though the sun was far from shining. The room itself wasn't very large. Compared to the huge throne room that belonged to Celestia, it was minuscule. However, the dark colors, and cascading moonlight flowed through the room, emanating with the dark mare's presence.

Luna looked them up and down, as if judging them.
"I see the guards did as I commanded." Said the Mare.
"Princess Luna?," Twilight spoke, "You brought us here?"
"Yes, Twilight." Luna replied.
"Why?" Asked Applejack.
Luna sighed as she approached the two mares.
"My sister has changed. You both know this by now i'm sure."
The two nodded.
"Ever since ponies started dissapearing here, she has become...demanding, even violent. Before yesterday, we hadn't used that noose in over 2000 years. I used to look up to my sister, even forgave her for banishing me to the moon,  but now, something's wrong. She's never been like this."
"It's my fault." Twilight said, lowering her head again, "I made her like this..."
"No. you didn't Twilight." Luna replied. "This started when the ponies started dissapearing, and that's why I brought you two here."
Twilight and Applejack looked at her, puzzled.
"I believe you. About everything, I've seen what the pink one has done, even gathered evidence, but my sister won't hear it. She's convinced I'm delusional after all my time on the moon."
"Wait so...Yer' gonna help us?" Applejack asked.
"As much as I can." Luna replied.
"But what about when Celestia finds out?" Twilight asked.
"Hopefully, she won't" Said Luna, "But If she does, I will take full responsibility. You and the rest of the elements helped me when I needed it most, now it's time for me to return the favor."
"Thank you."Twilight replied, blinking back tears of joy. "Thank you so much."

"Now first of all, you're going to need this." Luna spoke, levitating a book from her private library.
The book floated into Twilight's hooves, and she couldn't believe what she was holding. She had heard of this book before in old legends, read about it herself, although she always thought it to be a myth. And now here it rested in her hooves. The book of death.
The Necronomicon.