//------------------------------// // Chapter 2 // Story: A Dark Twilight // by Ugly-Duckling123 //------------------------------// After Twilight has walked off, she went to go see her friend Zecora who lived in the Everfree Forest, to ask for help with the voices in her head, and the way she had been treating her friends lately. "Ah Twilight again we meet, but something tells me this is not a treat." Zecora said in her usual rhyming voice, opening her door to let Twilight in, and motioning her to sit down. Why are you always rhyming Stripes? an annoyed voice asked inside Twilight's head. Shaking her head to get the voice to stop Twilight answered Zecora's statement. "No Zecora, it's not. You see..." Twilight couldn't work out how to explain the state she's in. "You are hearing voices in your head, and are having trouble sleeping in bed," Zecora finished for her. "Ho... How did you know?" Twilight asked surprised that Zecora knew the reason why she came over. "I can see that your aura," Zecora began "Is now dark, and has been affected by King Sombra." Twilight got up in shock, "But... But we defeated him. How... How could he of got to me?" Zecora was about to answer when Twilight stopped her. "No, no just stop," she cried "You're lying, Sombra has not affected me, I'm fine." "Twilight, if you do not stop this curse, It will only get worse," Zecora tried to say. "Enough of the rhymes already," Twilight screamed "Who are you, Walter de la Mare?" Suddenly Twilight froze thinking about what she had just done. "I'm... I'm sorry," she said tears in her eyes as she ran from the Zebra's home and back to the library. The next day, Twilight didn't say much as she, Spike and their friends got on the train to take them to the Crystal Empire. "Oh this will be just wonderful," Rarity said her eyes sparkling with high hopes. Next to Canterlot, the Crystal Empire was one of Rarity's favorite places in Equestia, because of all the crystals, and the Crystal ponies themselves. She reached into her saddle bag and bought out her baby shower present - a hoof made baby blanket with Shining Armour's and Cadence's Cutie-Marks on it with the Crystal Palace in the middle. "You don't think its too much do you?" she asked no one in mind. "Heck no Rarity," Applejack said looking at it in awe at how much work Rarity but into it. "Yeah," Rainbow agreed "I'm sure the little spunk will love it." "It's lovely Rarity," Fluttershy said smiling. Pinkie was too busy planning out the Baby Shower Party to notice what was going on, and Twilight just sighed and looked out of the window. Sad really, isn't it Twilight? someone asked, but looking around Twilight saw every-pony was as they were. Blabbing about and gawking at the presents they would be giving the new parents for the baby. "Are you ok Twilight?" Spike asked carefully. As of lately whenever some-pony asked that Twilight would start shouting. "I'm fine Spike," Twilight answered returning to looking out the window. You know what we should do, we should... 'Get out of my head, what or who ever you are,' Twilight thought shutting the voice up. But Twilight, the voice said I thought you were fine with me here. Isn't that what you keep telling your friends? Before Twilight could answer or react, the train's warning whistle blew telling it's passengers to start getting ready to leave. We'll talk later my dear... the voice said before going quiet. On their way to the Crystal Palace, the Crystal Ponies who greeted them were sparkling brighter than ever, and when they got there they saw the Heart was spinning like mad. The Crystal Heart, was a magical artifact the first king of the Empire, Rubeus, gave his wife Rose Quartz, as a wedding gift. As well as protect the Empire from danger, the Heart's magic was to spread hope and love over all of Equestia, and it's magic made the Crystal Ponies coats sparkle and shine like the stars in the night sky. Making them look more like walking diamonds. Last time Twilight was here, she had to find the Heart to destroy King Sombra. Knowing that the Heart would destroy him, Sombra used his Dark Magic to hide it, so no one would ever find it again, putting the hopes of the Ponies down, thinking they'd never be happy again. 'What's every-pony so excited about?' Twilight asked herself 'It's just a baby. It hasn't even been born yet. Ha well, wait till it does get here, then we'll see how happy they are.' she thought smirking. "Why did I just think that?" Twilight asked herself. "That was me right?" No one or rather nothing answered her. "Hey Twilight, you coming or what?" Rainbow called to her friend from the top of the steps. Noticing how far from the others she had got Twilight ran up the steps. And together they all went into the Palace. Inside Twilight and her friends were immediately met by Celestia, Luna, Cadence and Shining Armour. "Twili," Shining Armour called out pleased to see his sister and her friends. "It's so good to see you again. Hope you got the news." he said grinning. "Yeah, we got it." Twilight said in not as high hopes as was expected of her. "Are you alright Twilight?" Celestia asked her student worried something was wrong. 'Like you care. You send me and my friends on dangerous missions to save Equestia while you just sit on you flank eating cake all day...' "Twilight?" Cadence asked worried now too for her new sister. "I'm fine," Twilight said "Just a... a little tired. I think I'll go to bed early." she said walking up the crystal staircase to find the guest rooms herself. "Goodnight." After Twilight was gone, every-pony returned to talking how excited and proud they were for the young couple. Every-pony but Princess Luna. Luna being the Princess of the night could see darkness and horror to help her keep her people safe at night and their dreams happy. And there was a lot of darkness around Twilight. Taking Celestia to one side, Luna asked a very important question. "Sister, will it be alright, if I do some dream-walking into your student's dreams tonight?" "Of course Luna," Celestia answered, "But why would you need to, and why are you asking permission?" "There is a form of darkness around Twilight Sparkle. I don't know what, but most secrets are kept in dreams." Luna answered the first question. "And I'm asking permission well, because she's your student, and because of the darkness, I'm not sure how she would react if she caught me." "I see," Celestia said, nodding and looking up the stairs now too. "I hope you find what it is Luna." she said turning away. "I hope I find him too Sister," Luna said under her breath, turning back now herself, preparing for that night.