Standing with his fellow librarians, Dusk waited as Fluttershy comforted a large gathering of animals that stood before her. It had taken a good while to convince her that the animals were essential for what they needed and they had to make three separate Pinkie Promises that no harm would come to any of them.
Even then, his honourable sibling wasn't completely comfortable with the idea. Which was why they'd brought along a little extra reassurance who stood beside her. It hadn't taken much to talk him into it, just to say to Applejack they wouldn't keep him from his work for too long and he didn't exactly need a lot of convincing for that.
"Don't be scared, little friends. Twilight is wonderful with magic." She rounded on his marefriend with a deadly glare. "Anything happens to them, Twilight, so help me..."
"It's okay, Flutters," Ray comforted, almost tentatively placing a foreleg around her. "It's a levitation spell, not a combustion spell she's doing on them and she's not exactly going to drop them. You aren't, are you?"
"Of course not," she replied quickly.
"See?" He pulled her into a one-legged hug, his features flushed. "It's all fine. You know how good she is with magic."
She blushed too. "Of course she's good with magic. Twilight's great with magic. I guess I just don't want my little friends to be scared. Oh, oh, look how scared they are!"
Ray took a look at them. "I'm no animal carer, but they look more excited than scared to me."
"They're just trying to put on brave faces!" she squealed. "Oh, the poor things!"
"I promise, Fluttershy. Nothing bad will happen to them," Twilight vowed.
"I know!" she said in a high-pitched tone.
"We'll be careful, little sister," assured Dusk. "Trust us."
"I-I do… just…" She trailed off, trembling slightly.
"Let's get started then." Twilight looked to her coltfriend. "Ready, Dusk?"
"As I will ever be, Twilight."
She nodded and their horns began to glow in unison. The gathering of critters was surrounded by Twilight's purple aura-
"Stop, stop! They can't take it!"
They glanced briefly at Fluttershy, let Ray comfortingly hug her again and carried on. One by one, Twilight levitated the animals into the air while they cheered and whooped with joy. Once they were all soaring like birds, she diverted their paths so they flew together in a figure of eight pattern in the sky.
This was where Dusk came in. Tapping into his own magic, he manipulated the shadow they cast on the ground and made it snake into the air in-between the gaps of the figure-of-eight in a similar display in the opposite direction. The darkness brightened into a trail of light which in turn transformed into separate patterns of colour. Specifically the jewels of the Elements of Harmony, dancing in the sky.
"That looks amazing, you guys!" praised Spike.
Fluttershy merely chewed her hooves nervously while Ray tried to gently pull them away. Instead, she just started chewing his too.
To finish, they brought them all together in the centre, the animals as a mob and the colours as an orb. Dusk made the orb burst and shower multi-coloured light everywhere which shifted back into shadow and returned to the animals while Twilight lowered them gently back to the ground.
The two unicorns smiled in silent praise for each other while the animals gathered around them and cheered jubilantly, hopping up and down.
"That's all for now, little ones," she said to them. "Maybe we can practice again later, if Fluttershy says it's alright."
They gathered around their carer now, who was a quivering wreck on the floor. Ray gave them an unsure look, as if to say 'I tried'. Dusk replied by mouthing 'keep an eye on her', to which he nodded and tried to move her from her spot on the ground.
"Your magic has really improved since we came to Ponyville, Twilight," praised Spike.
"I'm not the only one." She nuzzled Dusk. "I'd say we've both improved and not just in our magic."
"I find that hard to argue," said Dusk, kissing her cheek.
"Okay, don't start that again when I'm around," Spike said quickly. "Your display looks great. Princess Celestia's going to love it, Luna too if she can come along."
"Thanks, Spike. We have to be at our best when she arrives with the delegates from Saddle Arabia. I can't believe she's trusting us with the entertainment."
"Why wouldn't she?" he said with a smile. "With your level of skill and talent, it would be nothing but a criminal offence not to trust you with it."
She blushed. "Dusk, stop it…"
"No, because I mean it and that's my line." He gave her a nuzzle of his own. "Never doubt your own talents. You never let me doubt mine. There would be no other choice for the position."
"That may be true," she returned with a flutter of her lashes, "but I'd be nothing without my lovely assistant."
"Oh really?" He paused. "You're not going to make me wear some kind of sparkly leotard, are you?"
"Hm, it's tempting…" She let her gaze travel over him while he blushed furiously. "No, it's okay, you're fine as you are." She leaned in to whisper. "Let's wait until we're alone before we try that."
Spike groaned again but they ignored him as Dusk smirked at her.
"Naughty. And hopefully Luna should be able to come," added Dusk. "It's at night the arrival is scheduled and she did say she'd do her best to drop by."
She was about to respond to that when something cyan blue barrelled into her and tackled her to the floor.
"Twilight! Dusk! Come quick! It's an emergency!" Rainbow Dash begged.
"Rainbow? What is it? What's wrong?" Twilight asked, bewildered.
"No time to explain!" she said quickly. "You two need to come with me right now! Come on!"
Without another word, she sped off. They all exchanged looks of confusion with each other and took off after her. The sound of hooves behind them told them that Fluttershy and Ray were also following suit.
Dusk pondered what might be happening. Was there something wrong in the town? Had some rare magical creature stumbled through town and was causing havoc or was it another bunny stampede? No, that wouldn't have panicked Rainbow in such a way. Whatever it was, it needed their skills to deal with it.
That didn't exactly fill him with confidence.
A large crowd of ponies had gathered outside the town hall when they arrived. They stood aside to let them through, just in time to see Rarity be engulfed by a blast of red magic. When the smoke cleared, she was wearing a very colour clashing, very tacky dress.
She gasped, horrified. "You beast! This shade of brown should only be used for accents!"
Applejack hurried to catch her on her back as she fainted and carried her off, Pinkie following behind.
"Come on, Applejack. We've got to get her in a nice, soothing pink, stat!"
The three of them galloped into the middle of the crowd. "What's going on here?"
"Well, well, well." A figure in a black hooded robe walked up. "If it isn't... Twilight Sparkle and her little stallion too."
She threw back her hood and the whole crowd gasped as she revealed her features. Dusk felt his eyes widen too. Aqua blue fur, platinum mane, purple eyes shining with arrogance and a confident sneer set across her face. Just like when he'd seen her almost a year ago.
"Trixie!" Twilight gasped.
"What's she doing here?" Spike glared.
"You call that great and powerful?" Rainbow scoffed from the sky.
Trixie's reply was to fire off another beam of red at Rainbow, her eyes and horn shimmering. It hit her and the result was that her left wing grew to an enormous size. The unbalance caused by this made her wobble precariously in the air.
"Oh! She's Rainbow Wobble, now!" quipped Snips.
His friend Snails chortled while Rainbow flapped and yelped in the air. She almost flew right into them and they had to duck to avoid her.
"Good spell, oh Great and Powerful Trixie!" Snails praised.
"You two! Quiet!"
She blasted them with another spell. This one joined their horns together at the tips and the two of them ran around in a panic, interchanging between who was doing the running and who waved their hooves helplessly in the air.
"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" ordered Twilight.
"Don't make us use ours," added Dusk.
Trixie cackled. "Oh, you won't. He won't let you."
She gestured with her head to a nearby rooftop. Somepony stood atop it. Even from here, Dusk could tell that the pony in question was huge. At Trixie's gesture, he leaped from the roof and landed with a loud crash on the ground between Trixie and Dusk and Twilight. The dust that gathered in the wake of this started to clear…
Dusk felt his body freeze.
It was impossible… it couldn't be him… this had to be a nightmare. But here he was. Rising like a demon from the pits of Tartarus, he practically towered over them. The leer here gave wasn't of confidence, but pure, dispassionate loathing.
"Why hello, brother," growled Doom. "Long time, no see."
A dead silence set over the crowd. A few of them stepped away, fear settling in their hearts. It seemed that they hadn't forgotten what he had done.
"Doom…" Dusk breathed. "You… how can you… what are you…"
He rumbled in his chest. "Too stunned for words? Don't worry, soon you won't be speaking ever again."
"He is quite an impressive specimen, isn't he?" Trixie stood next to him. "Unlike you. I honestly would never have guessed you were in any way related."
"Believe me, the feeling is mutual, Great and Powerful Trixie," he purred.
She shivered. "Ooh, that does sound good coming from you. Though for you, it's just Trixie."
"Very well then, Trixie."
She shivered again. "That sounds even better."
"Wait a second…" Twilight frowned notably. "Are you two… you're not… are you?"
Trixie cackled. "Jealous, Twilight Sparkle? I honestly wouldn't blame you."
To say that Twilight looked disgusted would have been the understatement of the century.
Dusk finally found his voice. "I… I have to confess, I didn't even think you were capable of such… gestures."
"Yet another surprise for you then," remarked Doom. "Believe me, I have plenty more."
"We don't want to know them!" Twilight yelled. "Why are you here?"
"Both of us have some unfinished business," answered Trixie. "Doomy has his new lease on life and my magic's gotten better since I was here last. And I'm going to prove it! Me and you, a magic duel. Winner stays, loser leaves Ponyville forever!"
"And you and I, Dusk, shall truly see which of us is the better," said Doom, rippling his powerful muscles. "Though I don't think such a contest would last for very long and when it is over, you shall suffer the same penalties as your precious Twilight. If there's anything left of you."
Dusk felt his legs turn to jelly and suddenly had a great deal of trouble standing.
Twilight remained defiant. "Forget it! We'd never make a deal like that!"
"Hm. Your choice," Trixie shrugged.
She levitated Spike as he cried out. Using her magic, she stretched and compressed his limbs so he was shaped like a ball and dribbled him like a basketball. Doom laughed cruelly at the sight and Trixie smirked at the stallion's reaction.
"Trixie, put him down!" She complied by throwing him into a basket she conjured. "Why are you doing this?"
"Why? Because you humiliated me!" She conjured a screen and her memories played out before them. "After you showed me up with that Ursa Minor and at the Canterlot Magic Contest, you and your little lovercolt both, I became a laughing stock! Everywhere I went I was laughed at and ostracized. I even had to take a job on a rock farm just to earn a living! A rock farm!"
"Hey! You're lucky a rock farm would take the likes of you!" Pinkie shouted.
Trixie's comeback was to use a magical arrow to yank off Pinkie's mouth and drop it into a mini-trash can. That earned another laugh from Doom.
"It makes me miss my old powers," he chuckled.
"Then, I found out I wasn't alone in my feelings." She gazed alluringly at Doom. "It was the day I happened across him on my travels."
Doom took up the story. "Did you really think that your little piece of magic was enough to get rid of me, Sparkle? You may have ejected me from my dear brother's head, but I was still held together, bound by my will and a little of the chaos magic that originally created me. I didn't have form, but I was still alive. I knew I couldn't act against you in the state I was in, so I fled in the hope I might find some way to return. And I did."
"I stabilized him," continued Trixie, "and kept him inside something that would keep his form from fading. I learned so many things from him and discovered we shared quite a bit in common. Namely, you two. Both of us had reason to hate you and both of us wanted nothing more than a little payback for what you've done to us both."
"And using her newfound powers, she gave me my own body," finished Doom. "No more shared living space, no more burying me in your head and no more mind spells kicking me out of it. Now, it's just you and me."
Dusk vaguely acknowledged some raised murmurings from the gathered townsfolk at his words. They didn't actually know about the connection he and Doom had shared. The aftereffects of his previous attack and the efforts of the girls had helped to keep it quiet. Now though…
He would have to deal with the repercussions later. There were more immediate dangers to focus on.
"Now we want revenge!" declared Trixie, her eyes flashing red. "And I'll just keep casting spells 'til you agree. And who knows? I may let Doom off the leash and let him have some fun of his own. He's been aching to see what he can do."
She proceeded to turn the library upside down, pulling it out of its roots and shaking it so the books fell out of the window. While Owlowicisous desperately tried to catch them, Doom strode forward towards a random observer in the crowd, flexing his muscles again and grinning wickedly.
"Well? What do you say?" Trixie asked.
They looked around. Pinkie was sobbing for the cupcakes she could no longer eat. Rarity was in shock from the tacky clothes. Snips and Snails struggled with their stuck horns. Rainbow flew erratically in the air. Spike was once again used like a basketball.
They gave each other fearful looks, Dusk most of all. They didn't have any choice. They had to do something.
"Alright, Trixie. Let's duel!" agreed Twilight.
"Excellent." Trixie's horn flashed and the spells she cast were lifted from the others. Except for returning Pinkie's mouth.
Doom stopped in his advance. "Just as I was starting to enjoy myself."
"Not to fear, Doomy," Trixie cooed. "You can have all the fun you want after this is over."
"Don't worry, Trixie." He grinned at Dusk. "I'm sure I will enjoy myself immensely regardless."
Dusk gulped, still feeling his legs shake.
"I have no doubt," she winked. "If we lose, Doom and I won't set hoof in Ponyville again."
"Not that that will happen," put in Doom,
"Indeed. So if and when you lose, you're the one banished from this one-horse town!"
The others all gasped. Dusk and Twilight tried to give brave looks to each other before separating to fight their separate combatants.
Dusk stood opposite Doom, who looked eager to get started. He had fought Doom twice before, but he'd always had help and it was never a physical brawl. This time, he was a full-blown, full-bodied pony. How was he going to stand up to this?
He had to try though. Though every fibre of his being was screaming at him to flee.
"Let's go!" Doom roared.
Before Dusk could act, Doom charged right at him and rammed him with his shoulder. The force of what felt like a train hitting him sent Dusk careering backwards and crashing to the ground. He tried to push himself up but felt two vices grab his head and left him up.
"Did that hurt, Dusk?" Doom's head slammed into his. "How about that?!" He drew his hoof back while Dusk staggered from the blow. "And this?!"
It slammed into Dusk full force and almost sent him sprawling. He only just managed to use his hooves to stop himself falling, though his head was ringing from the blows struck. He thought he could hear some ponies calling out to him, but it was rather hard to register much else that was happening around him.
What he did register was Doom's hoof streaking toward his head again. Recovering enough of his wits, he managed to duck under it and scrambled away backwards. He engulfed his hooves in orange magic and swung them at Doom. He raised his forelegs and deflected them. Even with the magic covering them, it was like punching a brick wall.
On the third punch he threw, Doom not only blocked it but looped his foreleg around Dusk's and yanked Dusk towards him, holding him in place. Dusk tried to struggle away at the same time ducking beneath Doom's deadly swipes at his head. One went for his neck and before he knew, Doom was hoisting him off the ground.
"Ha!" He tightened his grip. "I knew this would be over quickly, but even I hoped you might put up a better fight than this!"
Dusk didn't say anything, mainly because his air supply was being cut off. Instead, he managed to cast a light flare and Doom's grip loosened enough for him to wriggle free. If he couldn't match him physically, his magic was his only chance.
Just as Doom snarled, Dusk made his shadow rise as tendrils and wrap around his legs. Though held in place, Doom didn't seem fazed. If anything, he looked more amused.
"So, you've been learning some new skills," he remarked. "But you forget who unlocked them for you to begin with!"
Like they were wrenched from his magical control, Dusk could no longer move Doom's shadow. His wickedly sharp horn glowed and the tendrils shot towards Dusk faster than he could react. Each one that struck him was so cold it burned.
Staggered again, Dusk didn't have time to move when Doom charged, swinging his hind leg out towards him. It slammed into his jaw and sent Dusk into the sky. Doom caught him in his hoof when he came back down and held him there while he head-butted him once again. He hit the ground just as hard.
Pain seared through every limb in Dusk's body. He could barely move. He tasted something salty in his mouth. Through the ringing in his ears, he could faintly hear Twilight screaming his name and Trixie cackling away while they duelled. Through his blurred eyes, he could make out the forms of his friends watching on.
Then, like a shadow blotting out the sun, Doom loomed over his form. His eyes focused just enough to see the triumphant sneer on his face.
"I'd say this outcome is fairly conclusive," he growled. Dusk felt his limbs be bound with magic. "Now, for the finish."
His hoof slammed into the side of Dusk's face. Another smack was sent to the other side. Then again. And again. And again. And again. Even though he was right in front of him, Doom became increasingly more blurred, like he was moving further away.
Dusk didn't even have the strength to cry out. He just wanted it to end…
After a sudden bright flash and the sound of a hoof colliding with something, it did. Doom had vanished along with it. At first, he thought that it was all over. That Doom had… beaten him permanently.
Then, he felt a gentle but firm grip pull him back up and support him against something supportive, yet warm and comforting. Using what little strength he had left to lift his head, he could make out a bright green face, a silver head of messy hair and yellow eyes filled with empathy.
"It's okay, buddy," Ray said, "I gotcha." He called out in a louder voice. "You've made your point, Doom! You want any more of Dusk, you're gonna have to go through me!"
Dusk managed a weak smile. He looked at Doom, who looked like he was recovering from something and looked livid.
"If I must…" He roared and started to charge.
Dusk wanted to tell Ray to run, but the stallion stood his ground. He felt his muscles tense and saw his horn start to glow.
But then Doom stopped. He lingered, his jade eyes studying them both. Ray still stood ready to act, but Dusk's darker side remained where he was. Was he trying to trick them? Make them lower their guard and strike when they weren't ready for it?
He snorted. "I've done what I have to." With that, he turned and walked away, standing next to Trixie again.
"That was lucky." Ray heaved Dusk again. "Heavier than you look, bud. Don't suppose there's any point in asking how you're feeling?"
Dusk tried to respond but it came out as a cough instead. Something red trickled from his mouth. It tasted like copper.
"DUSK!" Twilight streaked to his side and helped Ray support him. "Oh, my Dusk… no…"
He felt the warmth of a healing spell sooth his body, though Twilight sounded exhausted too and couldn't put much energy into it. Even with that, his limbs felt numb and his voice was raspy when he did speak.
"I'm sorry…" He coughed again. "I failed… I'm sorry…"
"Oh, Dusk…" She took him from Ray completely and cradled him in her forelegs. "My Dusk, it's okay… I'm here, it's okay…"
"Well, Twilight? Give up?" asked Trixie.
"I think that goes without saying," chuckled Doom.
"I couldn't do it either," she whispered, her voice breaking. "She was doing age spells… high level spells like it was nothing. Only… only high level unicorns can do that. I… I don't understand how she… how she could…"
"Isn't it obvious? Trixie is the highest level unicorn!" she laughed. "And now it's time for you to leave Ponyville! FOREVER!"
"We can't go!" insisted Twilight. "Dusk needs medical attention!"
"That's his problem, not ours," growled Doom. "You know the agreement. Now leave or I will escort you both personally out."
A wall of ponies put themselves between the villains.
"That's enough, ya varmints!" Applejack commanded.
"You proved your point, but you can't possibly expect Twilight and Dusk to leave Ponyville!" put in Rarity.
"You fools!" Trixie's aura surrounded them. "They're already gone!"
Of their own accord, they soared through the sky as if kicked by an invisible boot and out to the edge of town. The impact earned a few more minor injuries for Dusk, though Twilight used her own body to cushion his fall.
Through his blurred eyes, he could make out some large, transparent dome surrounding the whole of the town. Twilight glanced between the dome and him, before quickly bending down to him.
"I'm just going to tell the others not to worry," she said quickly. "I'll be back as soon as I can, then we'll get you some help."
He watched her gallop to the wall of the dome, where he could make out the others gathered on the other side. She pressed a hoof to the glass, no doubt telling them not to worry and that they would try and find a solution to this.
Just as the last of his strength faded away and Twilight rushed back to him, Dusk's last thought was if they could…
Though she was worn out from the duel, Twilight managed to find the energy to gallop up to Dusk and catch him as he collapsed. She held him in her hooves, his breathing ragged and a tiny trickle of blood seeping from the corner of his mouth.
Though she was no doctor, Twilight had read enough medical journals to know what was wrong with Dusk. Multiple lacerations, second degree burns lashed across his face, numerous bruises, some possible broken bones and some minor internal bleeding. She'd healed a little of the damage, but she didn't have the magical energy, not the expertise to treat the rest.
He needed medical attention and fast and she needed some help if she was going to take on Trixie again. And she knew just where to go.
Hefting him onto her back, she galloped as fast as she could into the Everfree Forest, willing with every fibre in her being that she wouldn't be too late. Just to make sure, she teleported some of the distance until the hut of the zebra shaman was in sight.
She didn't knock or wait to be received, she just barged right in. This wasn't the time for niceties. Zecora was in the middle of drinking some of her herbal tea and looked up in shock.
"Twilight Sparkle? What is this sudden entry you make?" She gasped at the sight of Dusk. "Sweet Celestia, how did Dusk get into such a state?"
"I'll explain later but right now, we need you, Zecora. Please," she begged.
She was already gathering some ingredients. "You need not ask twice. Lay him down, I shall treat him in a trice."
Twilight could do nothing, but watch as Zecora carried out her work. She smeared various pastes on his wounds, pinched his nose to make him intake a number of brews and potions. She set up some ingredients for aroma therapy and began a long chant in her native language.
She wished there was something, anything she could do to help. She hated seeing the one she loved like this, with her unable to do a thing to help him. She was relieved when Zecora called her over for a sliver of her magic to heal Dusk, using the link between their necklaces. Twilight couldn't have complied quicker, though the effort made her feel even more drained of strength.
Zecora didn't miss this and turned to her as she stood back. "That is all we can do. Now we must wait, to see if he'll pull through."
"I hope he will," she murmured weakly. "Thank you, Zecora… you didn't have to…"
"Do not be silly, it was my pleasure, young filly," she insisted. "Now come. Recover your strength and rest. Tell me your story, try your best."
Sipping some tea that Zecora said would help get her strength back, Twilight told her all that had happened for them to end up here. The zebra remained silent, merely listening to her story and appearing quite sorrowful at the end.
"Your tale of woe upsets me so." She sipped her tea. "No wonder you're dour. It's an abuse of power!"
"I don't know what to do, Zecora. I feel like I've abandoned my friends. But I can't take her on horn-to-horn and Dusk won't be in any state to take on Doom again anytime soon." She gazed at him. "I almost wish he didn't have to… but we're the only ones who could take them both on."
She sipped her tea again. "If you train with me, so good you'll be. I'll show you the way to make sure she won't stay."
"You'll train me in magic? But she was doing age spells, weather spells, you name it!" She waved her hoof around and accidently knocked over her tea.
Zecora picked it up. "When it comes to magic, it would be tragic if somepony licked me, especially Trixie." She waved a hoof over the lid and when it went away, the tea was back.
There really was a lot more to the shaman that Twilight had yet to discover.
"You really think I can beat her?" she asked. Zecora nodded and hummed in affirmation. "Okay, when do we start?"
In her eagerness, she accidentally knocked the tea over again. Zecora gave her a disapproving look, which she countered with a sheepish smile.
"As soon as you are fit, we shall get right down to it," she answered.
"Great! But wait…" She paused. "What about Dusk? How's… how's he going to defeat Doom? His strength, his speed, his magic, he'll just tear him apart again and this time…"
She didn't dare to finish that sentence or the thought that led it. The very idea made her heart ache for a loss that she would make sure would never happen.
Zecora pondered briefly and was about to answer when a weak, still slightly rasping voice cut her off.
"What is there… to be done? What can be… done?"
"Dusk? Dusk!" She rushed to the side of her stallion. "Oh, I'm so glad you're okay!"
"That's… debatable," he replied with a slight cough. "I take it… I have Zecora to thank?"
She nodded. "I brought you here as fast as I could. You were so badly beaten up, I thought…"
"Do not fret, Twilight for try though they might, with my potions and brews, I have yet to lose," the zebra said confidently.
"You have my thanks, Zecora," he said sincerely. "Though… I doubt it'll do much good."
"Dusk, don't be like that," she said gently. "Zecora's treatments have already healed most of the injuries that should have had you out for the rest of the day. At this rate, you'll be back on your hooves in no time."
"And after that, what then?" he asked bitterly. "Just so I can be put into the same state, probably even worse?"
"You can defeat him, Dusk," she tried to encourage. "Zecora can help you too, once you're healed properly. She can train you, like she's going to train me."
"Good. I can stay standing for an extra minute before he breaks more of my bones."
"That won't happen. You'll beat him, I know you will."
"And what makes you think that?" That bitter tone had only grown sourer. "You said it yourself. He's stronger than me, faster than me, his magic is more powerful and he has nothing holding him back and everything driving him forward. Believe me, I know. I don't stand a chance."
"You don't really believe that." Even she wasn't wholly convinced by her own words. "You can beat him. You have before-"
"And then he'll come back, just like he always has," he cut off. "Don't you see, Twilight? Every time I've stopped him, he's always slithered back. The Elements of Harmony couldn't keep him locked away. Your magic couldn't keep him away. Now, he has his own body and nothing to stop him, with the power to crush me whenever he wants and has proven he can. He'll never stop, he'll never leave me alone and I can't stop him. I may have faith, but I know when to stop beating my head against a brick wall and really, that's not too far off a comparison to make."
She gasped. She couldn't believe what she was hearing. She had a hard time believing this was the same stallion she'd come in with. It was like how hopeless, how forlorn he used to be only this time… it seemed much worse.
"Dusk…" she breathed. "Please… you can't…"
"Twilight." Zecora was behind her, resting a hoof on her shoulder. "Come."
Twilight opened her mouth to argue, to say that she could encourage him, and give him his hope back. But she'd heard his tone. He was lost, broken. It wouldn't be the first time Doom had done this to him. He needed some time to gather his strength again and not just what his injuries had taken from him. He would need some time to himself.
Then hopefully…
Slowly, she got up and followed Zecora to exit of her hut. She paused in the doorway and looked back.
"It's not just yourself you're letting down, Dusk," she said quietly. "Remember that."
He didn't reply. He didn't even look at her. With a heavy heart, she left the hut with Zecora, fighting back her tears.
Ray had never met this Trixie before. Some of the girls had mentioned her in passing, often speaking in a disdainful tone of voice. Even Dusk didn't seem to speak of her very positively when he did. All in all, if somepony had ever mentioned to him that Trixie was coming town, he wouldn't have exactly been the first to greet her with cake and tea.
With her being here now, his thoughts on her hadn't improved. As soon as she was done kicking her shared rivals out of town, she had immediately turned tyrant on the rest of them and declared herself the Most Powerful, Most Radiant, Most Benevolent and Most Everything-Else of Ponyville and had got them to work providing for her new domain.
She had imprisoned Mayor Mare in a bird cage and made town hall her new 'palace'. Rarity was forced to make banners in her image for Rainbow and Fluttershy to hang from the rafters. The Cakes had made her a confectionary themed throne, Applejack was stomping apple sauce for a facial for her and Pinkie was being made to dance.
Ray had tried to teleport out for help, but had quickly found out, after three tries, that the bubble that surrounded Ponyville was teleport-proof and had bounced him right back. For that, Trixie had granted him the duty of being her hoofrest for when her throne was ready.
It didn't help either that this kept him in close vicinity to tall, dark and nasty himself, who Trixie had as her bodyguard and… whatever else she might need that he could provide. Needless to say, the thought made Ray's stomach turn, as well as his blood boil to how he and his friends were being treated, not to mention what had happened to Dusk and Twilight.
They'd find a way to get back at them. For now, they had to wait. And Ray hated waiting.
"You two! Hurry up with my throne," she ordered the Cakes.
Oh yeah and that high, reedy voice sure helped too.
"And you," she added to Applejack, "how long do I have to wait for my applesauce facial?"
"Ferget it, Trixie! Ah ain't doing nothin' 'til you let Twilight an' Dusk come home!" Her defiance was ended when Trixie conjured a feather and tickled her with it. "Okay, Ah'll do it! Just make it stop!" After that, she was flung into some apple baskets.
"Not exactly the kind of torture I would have devised," Doom muttered.
"Maybe, but I'm the one in charge, so I shall keep my subjects in line," replied Trixie.
Doom rumbled a note discontent in his throat, but said nothing. The big guy didn't seem very happy to be playing stooge to a former, jumped-up street magician. Ray certainly wasn't.
"I thought I told you to dance!" she ordered Pinkie, blasting her with magic as her eyes flashed red again.
"Oh, Trixie's cruel magic is ruining Ponyville." He heard Rarity prick her hoof on her sewing needle. "Oh, somepony has to help us!"
"Nopony is coming to help you," growled Doom. "You belong to us. Now, get back to work or that little prick won't be the only injury you'll end up with."
Rarity whimpered and her hoof trembled as she levitated her needle.
"H-hey!" Spike strode up to him, pointing a shaking claw at Doom. "Y-you leave her alone you… you jerk!"
"Spikey wikey, don't…" she murmured desperately.
Doom glanced at him. Slowly, very slowly, he rounded on the baby dragon and glared down at him.
"And what will you do if I don't?" he asked dangerously.
"I'll… I'll uh…" He raised his tiny fists. "I'll f-fight you! L-leave my l-lady alone!"
The massive stallion held him in his gaze for a full minute. Then, he let out a barking laugh.
"Thank you, runt. I needed a good laugh." Then, with one powerful hoof, he sent him flying across the room and into the wall.
"Spikey wikey!" Rarity's eyes burned with fire. "You brute! I'll-!"
"Do you want to share his fate?" challenged Doom, rounding back on her.
"Rarity." Ray managed to get her to make eye contact. "It's not worth it."
The debutante appeared to desperately struggle with what to do. Silently, reluctantly, she returned to her sewing, glowering darkly at Doom and glancing worriedly in the direction of Spike.
"Excellent work, Doomy!" she purred. "Keep doing things like that and you'll go far under my rule." He merely grunted in response. "Trixie is glad that one among you is so willing to serve. You should try to be more like my hoofrest here: submissive and comforting."
Ray imagined showing exactly how comforting his hoof in her face could be and it managed to calm him down. Just.
A loud clatter got their attention. Fluttershy had dropped her part of the banner she was carrying out of nervousness. Though there was barely any damage to it, this wasn't very satisfactory for Trixie.
"You klutz!" she snapped. "You should be more careful with Trixie's image!"
"I-I-I'm so sorry, T-Trixie," she stammered nervously. "I… I promise I'll be more c-careful."
"Oh, you'll learn, after you're taught a lesson." She levitated her down with her magic and glanced at her lackey. "Doomy?"
"Gladly," he growled eagerly.
"Hey, you leave her alone!" Rainbow ordered.
"Quiet!" A spell pinned Rainbow's wings to her back and her legs together.
"N-no!" Fluttershy struggled helplessly in a magical grip. "P-please, don't! I-I'll be more careful, I swear, please!"
Ray tried to stay calm, tried to be careful. But he was not standing for this. Though it looked like Doom hesitated a moment at her pleading, he made sure he stopped in his tracks when he teleported away from Trixie and smack in front of him.
"Take one more step, Doom and I'll make sure it's your last," he threatened.
"Oh dear," Trixie sneered. "And I thought you were so sensible."
"Shut up!" he shouted. "You think just because you can throw a few spells around and make us dance your little tune that somehow makes you better than us?"
Trixie only laughed. "I thought that was obvious it did."
Ray shook his head. "I don't what happened to make you think like this, but I can tell you this: I've seen way worse than you and those like you are all the same. They can't have what they want, they're never happy with themselves, so they feel the need to make others miserable too and they think lording it over will make themselves feel better. Great and Powerful Trixie? More like Pathetic and Deluded Trixie!"
"W-what?! Why you…!" That touched a nerve. "Doom, make sure you teach them both a lesson!"
"Certainly." He started to raise a hoof, but Ray wasn't done.
"And you! You're no better!" he went on. "It's not like you're inside Dusk's head anymore. You've got your own body and you could have moved on from this, had your own life. But you just can't let it go, can you? You had to come back, beat Dusk to a pulp and play overlord with Her Egoness here because you think you don't have anything else. Nothing, but causing others misery and suffering. You and all others like you, you're not scary, you're not tough. If anything, you're just sad and pathetic. Both of you."
Doom hadn't moved a muscle. His hoof wavered in the air. He stared at Ray, long and hard, who remained unflinching in his gaze. For a moment, Ray glimpsed something different in them. Something new. Something that made Doom visibly flinch.
Finally, remarkably, he lowered his hoof slowly. He brought it to rest on the ground and, to the astonishment of everypony present, he walked away.
"Hey! Where do you think you're going?!" demanded Trixie.
"It's no concern of yours," he replied.
"I think you'll find it is! Nopony leaves my presence without my say-so!" she shrieked. "Get back here, right now and request my permission to leave!"
He rounded on her, shadows whirling around him. "Why should I take orders from you?"
"Do you forget who holds the power here?! Who gave you that body and who can so easily take it away?!"
A red beam shot from her horn and struck Doom. He wailed like a wounded beast and collapsed. His hooves began to lose form, melting away like ice in the glare of the sun. Gradually, so did his legs and he only cried out louder.
Even Ray had to admit, it almost made him pity him.
"Now remind me," Trixie growled, "who is in charge?"
His voice was very low. "You…"
"Speak louder!"
"You are!" he screeched.
"And do you beg forgiveness? Do you?!"
"Never!"
"I said…" She increased the spell's power. "BEG!"
He screamed louder. "Please, Trixie! Forgive me!"
"LOUDER!"
"Great and Powerful Trixie, I beg your forgiveness!"
"Trixie… forgives you." She stopped the spell and restored his body. "Since you've been good so far, I shall let this matter slide. But you'd better behave yourself in the future, is Trixie clear?"
"Yes…" he snarled, getting back up. "May I… leave your presence, Great and Powerful Trixie?"
"You may," she granted. "Though be ready to return, should Trixie need you."
"As you wish." With barely disguised rage, he stormed out of the town hall, leaving a stunned silence in his wake.
One thing that appearances from Doom always guaranteed was a battle within his own mind. The last two times, it had been with a darker part of himself taking him over and warping his body and mind forever. This time, it was almost the same type of thing.
Dusk wanted, wished to believe that he had a chance against Doom. As Twilight had said, he had beaten him twice before. But those times had been different. This time, Doom was physical and sought nothing more than to destroy him and him alone. Anypony else who got in his way would suffer the same fate. His friends almost had. Twilight almost had. He couldn't let it happen again.
But he had. Doom had broken him and it had barely taken a minute. No strength of mind or spell was going to make him go away this time. He had to be stopped. For good. But the thought of it… Dusk had never killed a pony. He'd seen death and felt responsible for it, even when it was his fault directly.
That dog's howls echoed in his head again. He remembered Cliffjumper's cries, Dreadwing's shouts of defiance… he shook his head to clear it.
But this time… if he killed, ended a life by his own hooves, he really would become like him. Regardless of the purpose, he couldn't justify having to take a life. He'd be no better than Doom. Worse, he'd be giving into the part of him that remained in his mind. He could never live knowing he'd done such a thing.
Not that he'd be able to. Doom would break him again and he was certain this time, he would be the one to cross that line. The thought of being taken like that, never to see his friends, his family, Twilight ever again… he couldn't let that happen.
But what else could he do?
The door opened. He didn't look to see who it was, but he had a good idea.
"Twilight, I… I don't want to talk right now," he said. "Just… leave me alone."
"Your guess is far from right, for I am not Twilight." Zecora walked to his bedside. "How do you feel?"
"Better," he answered, feeling a little foolish. "Sorry…"
"Do not fret or worry, there is no need to be sorry," she assured, taking a seat next to him. "Though when I asked about your recovery, I was not merely referring to your body."
He sighed. "Is it so obvious?"
She nodded. "Despair is far worse than any curse. Would you not prefer to rekindle hope, rather than just sit here and mope?"
"What would you have me do, Zecora?"
"If push came to shove, you could mirror the actions of the mare you love," she advised. "Though she knows the goal is hard to reach, she will still learn what I have to teach."
He shook his head. "How can she think she still has a chance?"
"Because it would be better than to leave her friends to rot," she answered. "Besides, it was you who gave her that faith, was it not?"
"Please, don't try and bring that into it," he said. "I've told you, I don't have a chance against Doom in a straight up fight as much as Twilight doesn't against Trixie. Their magic is too powerful."
"From the day I was born, I learned that magic is not just what comes from your horn."
"It's not just magic," he went on. "Doom is stronger and faster than me. He took me down and I barely gave it my all. If that's what he's like when I'm not even putting my best for it, what chance do I stand at full power?"
"While all you say is true, there is one way which Doom will never best you. Though his muscles have his body lined, he can never hope to match you in strength of mind."
He blinked. "Strength… of mind?"
"It was how you beat him before or do you not recall? Though in a new body he is born, like a child, his mind is not fully formed. Before he was a fragment, with no desires beyond pain and torment but now I think and I do not lie, there may be more to him than meets the eye."
Dusk gasped at what the zebra was suggesting. It seemed impossible, unthinkable, inconceivable. Yet might it be true?
"Truly. And one other thing, dear Dusk and listen to this you must," she urged. "To earn victory, the solution is not drastic. As you have done before, you must use a different kind of magic."
Dusk expected it had something to do with her rhyming habit, but why on earth couldn't she be a little bit clearer? He was about ask what she meant when a knock at the door interrupted them.
"Something in the forest stirs," she noted. "It seems my hut has yet more visitors."
The visitors, it turned out, were Fluttershy and Ray. The former had come with news and information on Trixie and Doom and the latter had come for, as he put it, backup. He said this with a slight blush.
That didn't stop him from, after Fluttershy's hug, embracing Dusk like a brother and giving him a tight, yet heartfelt smile.
"Next time, you leave the grievous injuries to me, okay?" He said this with his voice breaking slightly. "It's my thing and I don't want you taking away my shtick. It doesn't suit you."
Dusk managed a smile in return. "This coming from the stallion who used to beat me with a pipe to give me a self-esteem boost?"
"Hey, it worked, didn't it?" he retorted. "Besides, who says I don't do it anymore?"
Zecora brought in Twilight, who was just as relieved as Dusk to see their friends unharmed. She still held Dusk in a disappointed way, which only made him feel even more ashamed. It didn't do much to inspire anymore hope either.
Their news, however, did ignite something in him. Apparently, Trixie's amulet granted her untold magical power, but the more she used it, the more it corrupted her. Not only that, but only she could remove it. Twilight was especially frustrated that she didn't recognise the Amulet before. But that wasn't the only news they had.
According to Ray and Fluttershy, tension seemed to be growing between her and Doom. And no, not kind of tension, he hastily added. Though he obeyed her commands, Ray could tell that he was doing it because Trixie had much more power than he did and he looked just about ready to rip her head off at a moment's notice.
"It makes sense, really," remarked Dusk. "He never was very good at being the submissive type. He even planned to overthrow Discord, if he could."
"He seems like the type who would try if it means he doesn't have to be told what to do," agreed Ray. "Trixie may have that Amulet, but everypony has their limit and Doom's gotta be pretty close to his."
"But how am I supposed to beat that amulet? My magic's not good enough!" despaired Twilight.
"Twilight Sparkle, much work have you done. You learned all of my lessons; all but one. If Trixie's tricks have you in a fix, you must nix your magic and use the six," advised Zecora.
She did her thoughtful frown. "Nix your magic, use the six... Nix your magic, use the six! Use the six! That's it! Zecora, you're a genius!"
The zebra merely closed her eyes and nodded wisely.
"Not just that." Zecora's own advice to him was playing in his mind. "I think I know a way I could defeat Doom too. It's a long shot, but I think I may have a chance, if I do it right."
"You really think so?" Twilight asked.
"Yes." He dared to meet her gaze. "I suppose… I needed some time to think."
"I suppose you did." Both her eyes and her lips met his, silently forgiving him. "Now, we do this? Together?"
"Together," he echoed.
"Excellent!" She clapped her hooves together. "First, we'll need to get you two back inside Ponyville. I have to write you a letter first though..."
It took all night for them to get Twilight's plan in motion. Once they confirmed that everything was in place, they returned to the border of the dome and rapped it a few times to get Trixie's attention. Dusk felt scared again, but this time he knew what he had to do. Having Twilight stood next to him helped too.
Not long after, Trixie arrived on the scene. She was sat on a large golden bed that was being dragged by Snips and Snails along the ground. Doom walked alongside her. Was it his imagination or was there something different about the stallion? He was barely even smirking at the two foal's suffering and he seemed almost pensive.
"This better not be another false alarm, or the Great and Powerful Trixie will– " Trixie gasped when she saw them. "You! What's the matter, lovebirds? Not enjoying your exile together?"
"Brother." Doom smirked. "I'm surprised you even managed to walk this far without falling to pieces. I could fix that…"
Dusk didn't say anything. He just held his brother's gaze and let Twilight speak.
Twilight got straight to the point. "I know about the Alicorn Amulet. I know you cheated."
"Cheated? Moi?" she asked in mock offense.
"Yeah. And I thought you might wanna see what a real magical amulet looks like." She placed on the 'amulet', a green carved stone set on gold. "Zecora gave it to me. It's from beyond the Everfree Forest and it's way more powerful than your measly little Alicorn Amulet!"
"Ha! Nothing's more powerful than the Alicorn Amulet!" she dismissed. "And nopony's more powerful than the Great and Powerful Trixie!"
"Not only that," added Dusk, "but Zecora's a master with all sorts of potions and brews. Not only did she heal my injuries, but she gave me some that would increase my physical and magical strength." He whipped out a bottle and took a swig from it. "I feel like a brand new pony with strength like this!"
Doom snorted. "You don't even look any different."
"Just because you don't see the effects doesn't mean they're not present," countered Dusk.
"Care to put your amulet and muscles where your mouths are? How about another duel?" Twilight proposed.
Trixie smirked. "Why should we? We already beat you."
Doom looked tempted at the idea, but said nothing.
"That's up to you! But I guess you'll never see the totally awesome magic from beyond the Everfree Forest." They started to walk off. "Come on, Zecora."
They waited about five seconds until…"
"Wait!" With a flash of her horn, Trixie vanished the dome and teleported in front of them. "Okay, okay, you're on! A second duel."
"Yes," agreed Doom. "After such a satisfactory victory the first time, how could I let another chance to finally finish you pass me by?"
"Indeed. How could you?" asked Dusk.
Now the plan was in motion, Dusk had to get his part going. On the way back to town, he made sure he was walking right next to Doom. The massive stallion snorted at his presence, but otherwise did nothing.
"Eager to get started, brother?" he growled. "I would withhold that enthusiasm. A few magic brews aren't going to save you from me."
"Helps to give me an edge though," he remarked casually. "Do you remember that? Hard Edge and his grudge?"
Doom barked a laugh. "I'm hard pressed to forget. It was entertaining watching him beat you to a pulp. Nice somepony was able to in my absence."
"Not that you were all that happy about it," noted Dusk. "I could feel you, stirring away when I got angry at him. You wanted to show him what real strength was, didn't you?"
"Of course," he rumbled. "It was my body he was damaging. I wanted to return the favour. What happened to him, anyway?"
"He died in the changeling attack."
"A pity. I rather wanted him to bear witness to my new body too."
"I suppose you would." He glanced at him. "You two are actually rather similar. You're both strong, aggressive, impulsive, hold a massive grudge against me…"
"What's your point?"
"And he never gave up," he finished. "In the end, he never let himself be told what to do. He followed his own path and made his own decisions. That's true strength, I say."
Doom glanced at him now. "And what do you mean by that, dear brother?"
"Nothing really," he shrugged. "Just making conversation, filling you in on all you've missed out on while being under Trixie's hoof."
He growled. "I am not under anypony's hoof."
"Of course, of course," Dusk said hastily. "How silly of me to say so. You're your own boss now, you don't have me keeping you down anymore."
Doom glared suspiciously at him, but Dusk could tell that he was thinking about what he'd said. His jade pits flickered to Trixie, but he carried on walking with them to the centre of town.
Once again, the town gathered out to watch the duel take place. No doubt with her magic, Trixie had created a localised thunder storm over the town, dark clouds casting a shadow across their home as lightning flashed. As if Trixie couldn't be any more of a typical tyrant. That Amulet was really doing strange things to her head.
As Trixie proposed an age spell to start her and Twilight's duel, Dusk and Doom stood opposite each other and started to walk in a circle.
"I meant to say," said Dusk, ready to move at a moment's notice, "your new body really is quite impressive. I didn't actually know how big you were during your excursions in my head. Colour me impressed."
"The only thing I shall colour you is crimson with your own blood," he snapped. "Though you are right: it is very fitting for me. Shall I demonstrate?"
He suddenly darted forward in a charge, but Dusk bounded out of the way as his hooves flashed pink.
"Yes, very impressive," he agreed. "Just too bad it's not really yours, is it?"
"It is mine!" he shouted. "Mine and nopony else's! At long last, I am free of you!"
He whipped shadows at Dusk. He countered with some explosions of light to dissolve them.
"Free of me, yes," he carried on, "but what about her?"
He nodded to Trixie, who was stunned at Twilight's apparent ability to pull off an age spell on Rarity and Applejack.
Doom snorted. "What about her?"
"I'm just saying. If you're so strong and free, why are you letting her order you around?" asked Dusk. "I thought you were done playing the lackey, brother dear."
"I am nopony's lackey!" he screeched. He lashed out, but Dusk easily dodged it.
"I can see you doing that for Discord, but her?" Dusk gave a distasteful frown. "Just a few days ago, she was making a living on a rock farm because her supposed powerful magic wasn't enough to get her by. And now here you are, being her lapdog."
Doom's response wasn't even verbal. He just roared like an angered lion and tried swiping at Dusk. He pressed on as he dodged his clumsy blows.
"Look at her. Even with that amulet, she can't match my Twilight now in her magic." Twilight had just demonstrated the ability to make one pony play ten instruments, to Trixie's utter shock. "If she can't even match her now with the most powerful magical amulet in Equestria, then what does that say about her? What does it say about you, Doom?"
"NO!" He locked eyes on Trixie and charged like a bull. "I WILL NOT BE MOCKED BECAUSE OF YOU!"
"Quiet, you!" Trixie blasted a spell that made the ground swallow up his hooves and hold him in place. "Trixie is busy and doesn't have time for you right now!"
"DON'T YOU DARE IGNORE ME!" he screeched, trying to struggle free. "I AM NOT YOUR LESSER! I AM NOPONY'S LESSER! I-"
Another spell zipped his mouth shut. "Stallions. All talk, no action."
"Speaking of action," said Twilight. "I've got two more. I can turn a mare into a stallion."
Applejack tried to run but was caught up in a magical blast. When the smoke faded, she (or he?) stood there a buff member of the opposite sex.
"Eeyup," he (she?) said. Another zap turned her back to normal, looking quite dazed.
"And lastly," she declared, "I have the power to make any stallion my obedient, unquestioning slave."
Dusk put on a look of surprise as a blast of magic hit him now. His vision was clouded by the love hearts that filled them, but he did his best to look smitten at the sight of Twilight. Not that that was difficult.
"Come to me, Dusk," she cooed in her most alluring voice. "Bow before me. Kiss my hooves. Proclaim my greatness."
As much as he loved her and as humble as he was, even Dusk found it embarrassing to do this. They didn't even really need to, but Twilight suggested it. She called it necessary for complete forgiveness, all the while with a mischievous glint in her eye.
"Oh, Great and Powerful Twilight," he droned tonelessly, "you are truly the highest level unicorn. None compare to you."
She nodded in satisfaction and lifted the spell from him. He shook his head in a dazed way.
"What… what just happened?" he asked. "Why am I on the floor?"
"Well, Trixie, looks like my amulet is more powerful than yours– " She was cut off when the amulet was levitated off her neck. "Hey! Give it back!"
"With this amulet, I shall now rule all of Equestria!" she declared.
While they put on the act of looking shocked, she yanked off the Alicorn Amulet. Her eyes and horn flickered red for a moment before her aura returned to a purple colour. With a look of triumph, she placed on the new amulet.
"Witness, my subjects. Gaze upon an ever greater and 'powerful-er' Trixie!" Lightning flashed behind her as she laughed like a maniac.
This was while she held aloft the Alicorn Amulet in her hoof. Quick as she could be, Rainbow darted at her and swiped it before she could do anything to stop her.
"Hey!" Trixie annoyance changed to confidence. "I don't need that old Alicorn Amulet. I have this!"
A stream of electricity crackled from her horn and hit Rainbow. At once, she began to laugh uncontrollably.
"Stop it! Tha— that tickles!"
"Tickles?! That was supposed to make you writhe in agony! This amulet is defective! Give mine back!" she demanded, shooting off another spell.
"Sorry." Rainbow placed it in a box held by Zecora, who closed the lid. "This is going back into hiding where it belongs."
"By the way, Trixie," Twilight added, "the amulet around your neck? It's one of Zecora's doorstops."
As if on cue, the stone in the doorstop came loose and shattered when it hit the floor. A reflection of disappointment perfect for how Trixie was. No doubt she was going to have questions for everything that happened, an explanation for how Twilight was able to pull off of that powerful magic with a fake amulet.
Unfortunately, she didn't have the chance to. They'd forgotten something and Dusk didn't realise until it was too late.
"WHO'S THE BETTER NOW?!" With a renting of earth, Doom pulled himself free and charged right at Trixie.
Her eyes widened in terror. He was too fast, there was no time to move. Dusk started forward.
"Blackhole, no-!"
CRACK!
His hoof collided with Trixie's face. The impact sent her skidding across the ground with a loud smack. She lay there and didn't move.
A stunned silence fell on the onlookers. There was no sound, other than Doom's heavy breathing. Twilight rushed to Trixie and pressed an ear to her chest, checking her over. Dusk, meanwhile, turned his gaze from her prone form to the frozen one of his brother.
Remarkably, even he looked shocked. Or was it something else?
"Are you happy now, brother?" he asked in a low voice. "Are you proud of what you've done?"
"Yes… no, I… I should be… why aren't I…?" He grimaced in pain and pressed a hoof to his heart. "Ugh! What is this? What's happening to me?!"
"You're experiencing something you've probably pushed deep down whenever you've acted before. Something for harming the pony who found you, who saved and cared for you. The pony who gave you your own body and a freedom you've never had. The pony who's the closest thing you've ever had as a friend and who you've now hurt by your own hoof." He let all of that sink in. "That something is guilt. Compassion."
"No! No, that's not possible!" he insisted desperately. "Those are your weaknesses, your flaws! I'm stronger than them! Better than them!"
"Not anymore, I think." He shook his head in wonder. "Really, I'm just as amazed as you. It seems almost impossible but… it looks like you actually care about her."
"I don't care for HER!" he screeched. "I care for nopony!"
"You're different, Blackhole, like Zecora said you were. I didn't fully understand before, but I see it now. You're not just my anger, my hate, my despair and everything negative anymore. Those are still part of your being, but you're something more now. Like you said, you're your own pony now. You're changing."
"Into… WHAT?!"
"Something new." He grimaced sympathetically. "I'm sorry."
"AGGGGGGGH!" He beat at his breast and clamped his hooves to his head. "Why?! Why do I feel like this?! I'm not like you! I'm not weak!"
"I'm sorry, Doom but just as part of me is still like you… maybe the same holds true for you. A part of me inside you." He smiled at the irony. "We're brothers, after all. Why wouldn't that be the case?"
"It hurts! IT HURTS!" He fell on his knees, looking up at him. A shimmering of tears formed in his eyes. "Make it stop! Make it end! Please!"
He shook his head again. "Sorry, brother. It's not in my power to do that."
"NO!" He crawled towards Dusk, the fire blazing in his eyes. "You did something to me! YOU can end it! Do it! I demand that you-!"
A violet blast struck him in the head and he fell as limp as the mare he'd struck. Dusk looked to the spell's origin.
"He was getting unstable. Could you imagine a magic surge from him?" She heaved Trixie onto her back. "She has a mild concussion and her jaw is slightly dislocated. Let's get these two treated."
Carrying Doom required the efforts of both Rainbow and Applejack and even then they struggled to heft him all the way Zecora's hut. For Trixie, she prepared a brew that fixed her jaw and concussion and for Doom, a solution that would keep him unconscious so he wouldn't suddenly jerk awake and swing his hoof at whoever was closest.
Dusk watched as even in the state he was, Doom continued to grimace and cringe in his sleep. Their friends had temporarily vacated so they could be here to deal with the two of them when they woke up. That guilt must really be plaguing him terribly. He was out of it for now, but he dreaded to think what he would be like when he did wake back up.
"See?" Twilight was at his side again. "I told you you'd defeat him again."
"Just not in the way I expected," murmured Dusk. "It's still strange, thinking of him actually caring about somepony that way."
"It's not the first time he has." He looked at her in surprise. "The second time he came back, he had me at his mercy. But he couldn't bring about the final blow. Even when he was still attached to you, you were still there to tell him right from wrong."
"With a little help and again this time," he said. "First me, now my brother? This becoming quite habitual, Miss Sparkle."
"I had a good reason for it this time. Who knows," she went on quickly, "with a little bit of you in him, he might become a better pony."
Dusk doubted that. "It's only a little bit."
"Even the smallest amount of good can grow into something more. We've seen it happen before, haven't we?" She nuzzled his cheek. "For the record, he couldn't have a better conscience."
"Maybe. Regardless, I think I've learned something today," he added.
"I should hope so."
"You can overcome your fears and the worse parts of you, but that doesn't mean they're gone for good. They're still a part of you and they can return. But you can't let them get the better of you when they do and you can't just give up. If you've faced them once, you can do it again, drawing strength not only from yourself, but also from your friends."
"Sounds like a good lesson to me." A distinct murmur came from Trixie behind them. "Now, onto figuring out what to do with her."
"Ugh… my head…" she groaned. "Where… where is Trixie? What happened…?"
"Easy there, Trixie," said Twilight. "You had uh… had a rather nasty fall."
"Nasty fall…? Wait…" Realisation dawned on her face. "That son of a mule! How dare he strike me, after all I did for him! Where is he?! I'm going to pay him back twice what he did!"
"Calm down, Trixie," Dusk urged. "It's not as bad as you might think."
"Oh really?" She rounded on him. "Explain then, Dusk. Very quickly."
He complied and did his best to tell her about what he saw. Trixie still didn't look wholly convinced.
"Are you serious?!" she snapped. "He breaks Trixie's jaw and you say that helped to show a better side of him?!"
"Trixie, trust me when I say I've never seen him act like with this with anypony," said Dusk sincerely. "I don't know what it is, but you've unlocked something in him he's never experienced before."
"Is that what you think?" she snorted.
"He was so guilty when he struck you, it appeared to physically cause him discomfort. You tell me," he challenged.
She opened her mouth to retort, but stopped. She crossed over to Doom, who was still grimacing horribly. Pity formed her expression as she reached out and placed a hoof on his.
"There were times, when I was alone… lost… I'd talk to him. While he was still without a body… I carried him around in a jar," she explained. "Even though he could never really say anything, I always felt like… he was listening somehow. That he understood what I was saying. It's been so long since I actually had somepony to talk to, I…" She sniffed and wiped her eyes. "It's stupid. Probably just kidding myself, like always…"
"Or maybe he really was listening," murmured Dusk. "I don't think Doom is the only one who has more than meets the eye to him, Trixie."
"What do you know about me?" she asked bitterly. When she glanced at him, her eyes had a look in them that was all too familiar to him.
"More than you might think," he said quietly.
He wondered if she'd seen it reflected in his eyes, but she sharply looked away back at Doom.
"Whatever," she dismissed. "But very well. If I truly did bring out something better than him, I'll take him with me when I leave. I'll look after him, like I did before. Maybe we can both become better ponies from it."
"You would really do that, Trixie?" Twilight asked.
"Who else has he got?" she reasoned. "In a way, we were both there for each other when nopony else was. I saved him when we met, maybe I can do it again. Consider it my… penance."
"Okay then." She placed a hoof on the mare's shoulder. "Just remember, if you ever need any help with anything at all, just get in touch with us, okay?"
Trixie stared for a long while at the comforting gesture. For a moment, her signature sneer returned.
"Ha! As if the Great and Powerful Trixie would ever feel the need to beg help from her rival! But…" The expression faltered. "Trixie does… appreciate the offer. Greatly. Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. Especially after what I…"
"Don't worry about it," she said gently. "It was as much the Amulet as it was you. I don't blame you."
"I still need to make my amends though." She thought for a moment. "I heard you're meant to be entertaining some delegates, yes? I'll leave a few fireworks for your display. Give it a little pizzazz."
"That's kind of you to offer, Trixie," said Dusk. "I'm sure they will."
"Of course they will!" she said confidently. "They are Trixie's own creations, after all. Be sure you say who you got them from too. Perhaps Saddle Arabia will become more receptive of Trixie's spellbinding performances."
"We'll bear it mind," giggled Twilight. "You going to train him up as your assistant?"
She looked a little unsurely at the large stallion. "One step at a time, I think."
At first, Twilight and Dusk's friends were rather unwilling to let Doom and Trixie go so easily. Trixie couldn't really blame them, but the two unicorns had made their case plain. They argued they were both willing to reform and that the rest of the town wouldn't exactly be thrilled to keep them around. It would be best if they just left as soon as possible.
Surprisingly, they'd agreed. Trixie was still a little taken aback at how much Dusk and Twilight were willing to stand up for her, after what she'd done. They'd even given her a cart to carry Doom in and some food to make the journey back to the rock farm she worked at. Zecora said by the time she'd finished the journey, he would wake up again.
While Trixie was tentative of that, she remained confident she would do her best with Doom when that time came. Besides, there was something else she was more afraid of…
To her relief, they hadn't asked too much as to how exactly she came by the Amulet. They were more concerned with keeping it locked away and getting them out of town before an angry mob ran them out. Trixie was glad. She wasn't sure they'd be very happy with the answer.
But now, they had to get out of here and fast. She was sure that little red stallion and whoever was in charge of him would be very happy that they not only wouldn't be joining them in whatever they needed them for, but that they no longer had the Amulet. Trixie was getting used to poor reception from ponies these days, but she shuddered to think what that little creep might do. She hadn't gotten the best of feelings from him.
Such instinct came from being a showpony and being able to read crowds. He was definitely a bad crowd, but she'd been desperate and had let it slide. Now though…
Maybe Saddle Arabia would be a good place to lay low for a while, she thought as she heaved the cart away from Ponyville. She always did prefer tropical climates.