//------------------------------// // The beginning of Chaos // Story: Shadows of the Past // by Blood Inc //------------------------------// It was a fine day in Equestria, better than fine considering the toll that it has taken during Rarity's "outburst" just a day ago. Luckily the Princesses were able to clean up the mess. Princess Twilight Sparkle was inside of her Library, examining the book which caused Rarity to go bonkers in the first place... After Spike "retrieved" it. "I don't understand!" Twilight said in a confused tone "What could have made Rarity do this?" she asked herself before looking at Spike. "...I don't know, why are you looking at me like that?" Spike asked her, blinking a few times. "Because you were the one who found the blasted thing, Spike!" Twilight "informed" him once again. "Well, I don't know Twilight, I just found it in the old castle. I didn't even know what it was-" Spike started, but was soon interrupted by Twilight. "It was DARK MAGIC, Spike! Do you know how much damage this could have caused?!" Twilight asked with an angry expression. "...No?" Spike asked sheepishly. Soon Twilight was screaming out in rage... *Meanwhile in another place* Rarity was sitting in her Boutique, taking a short break from her constant work on dresses. She took a long sigh before smiling, looking over the work she had done up until now, feeling quite accomplished of herself. "Oh Rarity, you have outdone yourself once again." She flattered herself before grinning, looking over her newly made dresses once again. The white mare walked over to a mirror, looking at her reflection and fixing her mane in a few places. "Oh you are indeed the most stylish mare in Equestria, dear." Rarity spoke to herself, smiling at her reflection. However, her reflection's eyes flashed a bright green, and her smile turned into a wicked grin. Then suddenly, an agonizing pain went through her head. She tripped over her own hooves and staggered forward a bit, clutching her head in pain. "Dear sweet Celestia!" She screamed out in pain "What is this?!" she shuddered. Then it disappeared as suddenly as it came, and she collapsed, feeling light headed. The last thing she saw was a faint glow of green coming from her horn before she passed out... She was not out for long however, as she stood up and looked around, her eyes were glowing a bright green, and she looked distraught. "Could it be..." she asked herself in a voice that did not quite belong to her "Is this the same creature that... I... See?" Rarity shook her head, her eyes still remaining green "N-no this isn't happening!" She yelled in denial, covering her head with her hooves, but soon she removed them from her face, or rather was forced to do so. "Hush now, child. It is time for me to come out again~" Rarity, or whatever was occupying her body now said in a blissful voice, her eyes becoming a brighter green. "N-no! Not you again! Get out!" Rarity shook and held her head in her hooves again, starting to crawl away in fear and confusion. "HUSH! ...Hush..." The other being inside of Rarity once again took control "Hush and take a nap, little Princess... I need you to be at full capacity." Rarity said, closing her eyes and laying down on the floor completely, relaxing her body and drifting off into sleep. The next day Rarity was awoken by loud knocking on her door, she stood up from the floor groggily. She looked all but rested, her mane was a mess and her eyes were red. She let out a yawn looked at the door, trying to recollect the events of the previous night... Day... What was it even? "...Ugh... Coming." Rarity said in a tired voice "Who is it?" she asked. "It's Twilight, I wanted to talk to you about that spell." Twilight's voice was heard from the other side of the door, she sounded rather worried. Rarity opened the door and looked at Twilight, her eyes half closed. "What time is it?" Rarity asked her before yawning loudly. "It's... Nine o'clock... Are you okay, Rarity?" Twilight asked her friend with concern in her voice. "I'm fine..." Rarity said mid-yawn "I just... Can't really recall anything from last night... I can't even recall anything from the last day!" she was suddenly back to her old, over-reacting self. But Twilight was quick to calm her down. After inviting Twilight in, Rarity and her had a prolonged conversation about the spell that the white mare used, about the possibilities of side effects and such, and finally coming to a conclusion that the memory loss was probably a side effect from the spell. "And the book?" Rarity asked in a voice full of dread "What about the book?" "I left it at the Library, Rarity" Twilight responded slowly, worried that her friend might have become corrupted with the dark nature of the book's magic. "Dear Celestia, I would have rather preferred it if you had burnt the thing!" Rarity yelled in a needlessly over-dramatic tone "I do not want to see that... THING ever again!" Twilight looked at her, worry was obvious on her face. She couldn't exactly respond to her friend's words. After spending some more time discussing on the topic, the two parted ways. "I wonder if Discord would know anything about this..." Twilight wondered on her way back to the Library "Well, it's settled... I think I should visit Fluttershy's place today..." Meanwhile back at Twilight's Library, a certain purple dragon was cleaning the bookshelves, oblivious to a certain book letting out a faint green glow...