-17 Years Ago-
In a small house on the outskirts of Canterlot Castle, a unicorn filly lay seemingly asleep in her bed surrounded by two older unicorns, by the names of; Night Light and Twilight Velvet.
The young filly-no more than 6 years old-gave out a raspy breath, catching the attention both grim, saddened parents. Velvet rubbed a gentle hoof across the filly's mane, while her husband stood up slowly
“We have tried everything I can think of Night, we're losing her.” Velvet let a tear slide down her cheek.
“...Have we?” Night Light pleaded to his wife, not wishing to say what was the sorrowful truth.
Nodding, Velvet replied. “Light magick was our best bet and yet...”She broke down sobbing into the bed sheets. “Oh m-my p-p-poor filly...Twilight”
Earlier that day, was the opening entrance exams for Princess Celestia's School for Gifted Unicorns. Both of them were proud of their daughter, Twilight Sparkle for getting accepted into the school, all that was left was the last exam. Their daughter was-obviously-nervous in front the questioning gaze of the judges. A dragon egg was brought in, all Twilight had to do was levitate the egg a foot or more, so the judges could examine her potential and magic prowess.
Twilight tried multiple times to bring forth her magic, but only a few pathetic sparks came out. Velvet Night Light noticed the frustration and worried looks their daughter gave them. But the egg refused to rise, mostly due to the natural resistance such eggs had to magic, and Twilight's own nervousness.
Heaving a sigh Twilight said quietly. “I'm sorry for wasting your time.” And slowly made her way past the egg.
Velvet, went to comfort her when suddenly a huge magical shock wave made Twilight yelp. Her magic exploded outwards, and fired bolts of uncontrolled power everywhere, turning parents into cacti, levitating the judges around the room, and causing the dragon to hatch and grow into a fully grown drake.
Pure, adulterated magic surrounded Twilight, while cracks and fractures appearing on her small horn. Twilight screamed at the top of her lungs, and all she could feel was pain in her skull.
Than when she felt her world couldn't have gotten any worse, she heard a snapping sound where her horn was, Twilight cried out once more before blacking out completely.
Once the spells cast by Twilight's magic flare immediately ended, Velvet regained her bearings and shook her head while frantically looking around for Twilight. Velvet noticed Princess Celestia herself cradling her daughter in one her long, graceful forelegs, then dashed to them.
“Princess Celestia! My daughter is she alright!?” She couldn't see Twilight's face with the Princess's leg in way.
“Miss Velvet, please calm yourself, I assure you she is...fine.” Velvet could hear the solemn and grimness of her voice.
“Fine? How fine is she!? Please let me see her face!” Velvet tried to peer over Celestia's leg several times but the princess was adamant to not reveal Twilight's fate.
“You will not like what your about to see Velvet. So please calm yourself first okay?” Celestia pleaded with the panicking unicorn.
Taking several deep breathes to calm herself, Twilight Velvet recomposed her body the best she could. “I'm sorry, forgive me.”
“It's alright. Now, steel yourself for this, I fear what you will see will hurt.” Ever-so-slowly Celestia laid Twilight on the floor so Velvet could see for herself.
Velvet gasped, it was worse than she could ever imagined. Twilight's horn was gone. Only a short stub was left of it and blood dripped from Twilight's skull.
“N-n-no, sh-she can't be...” Tears flowed down her cheeks as Night Light came up beside her with equally hurt expression.
“Your daughter is still alive-” They breathed a short sigh of relief. “-but she has been...magically c-crippled.” Velvet could hear the shudder in Celestia's voice.
“What!? B-b-but she just-just...just” Velvet broke down entirely while sobbing uncontrollably into Twilight's fur.
Night Light asked the princess if she could do anything for Twilight, but she solemnly said there was nothing she could do about Twilight's shattered horn. Twilight was taken to the castle hospital, Princess Celestia herself called upon her best medic team to see if they could anything, again they were sadly incapable of saving Twilight's horn.
An hour later, the doctor gave them his diagnoses.
Their daughter wasn't going to make it.
So they quietly went back home and put Twilight into her bed.
“...Dear there is one option...” Velvet looked up and gaze over her shoulder to Night Light.
“W-what?” She questioned him.
Night Light left the room for a minute, when he came back he had a black book with red trimmings along the edges. “This.” He laid the book down across the bed sheets in front of his wife, and turned a few pages.
Looking over the pages, Velvet's eyes widen with horror. “You...you can't be serious Light. This spell is Dark Magick.”
“I know. But it's the only other spell I know that will keep Twilight from Death's doorstep.” Night Light said while straightening Twilight's blankets.
“Ar-are you absolutely certain? Is there no other way?” She stammered, gazing over Twilight's sleeping form.
Night Light nodded and hugged his wife. “For Twilight, she doesn't deserve to die.”
“Y-you're right. But you know what this type of spell requires right?” Velvet gazed right into Night Light's eyes.
Sighing, Night Light again nodded.” It needs the life force of two ponies to work fully.”
“So we'll-”
“Die in the casting process, yes. It's an ugly spell. But for our only daughter, I'm willing to go through with it.” He suddenly stood up and lit his horn with dark magic.
“Curse these spells and the ones who gave these books to us.” Twilight Velvet began filling her own horn with dark magic. “What about what happens after we complete this spell? We can't just leave her alone here.”
“I already called the Royal Guard, the spell will cause a small explosion, it's harmless, don't worry.” Night Light reassured her, than locked his horn with his wife's.
“Good, th-that's good.” Tears began flowing from them both.
“She'll b-be fine in the castle without us. Twilight's a strong filly.” Night Light couldn't hold back his sobs anymore while more he channeled more magic into the spell.
“We love you Twilight. Be a good filly, eat right...”
“Brush your teeth every day and night...”
“Learn more spells...”
“Behave around the princess Twilight...”
Black and purple arcs of magic wrapped around Twilight's gasping form as she slept.
“I'm scared Light.” Velvet whimpered as she closed her eyes and nuzzled her husband's chest.
“I know...I know.” He whispered.
More and more magic filled the air as the spell was completed and both grieving parents wept for their young daughter.
...
...
...
“Goodbye Twilight...We love you.”
Loud explosions could be heard by the guards approaching the Sparkle residence. At first they were confused by it and then the second explosion was singled out by a bright light coming from one the windows on the second floor.
“Get moving! Quickly!” Ordered the stallion guard in the front.
“Sir!”
All five guard ponies dashed through front door and realizing there was no one on the first floor, they ran up the stairs.
“Nopony in the Master Bedroom sir!”
“Keep searching!” After about ten minutes they found something they were not ready for.
“Sir! We found Miss Twilight Velvet, Sir Night Light and their Daughter!”
“I'm coming!” The captain trotted into the bedroom down the hall.
“They're not breathing, they have no pulse!”
“What? No...” Shaking his head he asked. “How's the Filly?” He cringed internally.
“Alive sir. But her horn is...”
“Is?”
“No longer broken sir”
“Than...” The captain gazed over the forms of the Twilight's parents. “oh Celestia...”