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// Prologue: Recap 
// Story: Shattered Darkness 
// by Dusk Raven 
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(This is a short recap for those who haven't read the previous story, Sombra's Crucible, Twilight's Corruption.)

Previously, on My Little Pony...

By a twist of fate, Twilight took a mere moment longer to retrieve the Crystal Heart. As a result, Spike was too late, Sombra seized the heart, and captured Twilight's family and sent her friends into hiding. Twilight herself was captured and brainwashed by Sombra into becoming his pupil and lieutenant.

In time, however, Twilight's friends and family were able to break her out of her brainwashing. With time running out for the Crystal Empire, Twilight turned to a desperate plan - to distract Sombra in a mental battle while her friends dealt with retrieving and restoring the Crystal Heart.

Though Twilight was successful in her attempt - only narrowly escaping the nightmare realm with Luna's aid - Sombra had said something that, for whatever reason, would not leave her mind...