//------------------------------// // Chapter 11: Confrontation // Story: My Little Pony Equestria Girls 3: Twilight's Shadow // by Revan //------------------------------// Twilight stepped inside - and gasped in wonder and delight. I didn't realize that my alternate self's innermost sanctum would be a library. It does make a lot of sense, however. But equally obvious was that books weren't the only thing that was important to her. Photos lined the walls, and their content showed that Equestrian Twilight had a number of very close friends. But she wasn't here to browse the shelves, she reminded herself, and she began to search the area. What she didn't notice was the black form that silently followed her. "YAAAAAAARRRRGGGGHHHHH!!!!" Sunset Shimmer was suddenly encased in sticky cotton candy by the manifestation of Twilight's memories of pre-reformation Discord. She clenched her teeth in anger. Alright, that's it. NO MORE GAMES!!!! Sunset Shimmer cried out, and her magical counterstroke came sweeping forward like a tsunami wavefront. A solid wall of brilliantly bright orange magic rushed outward, obliterating the memorized enemies from their current incarnations. Sunset, released from her bonds of sticky cotton candy, fell towards the 'floor' of the 'cavern'. She attempted to teleport, but her magical energies were depleted. She closed her eyes and braced for impact. "I've got you!" THUNK!! "Well, that must've hurt," Sunset commented as she unsteadily came to her feet and walked off of Spike, who had thrown himself under her in order to cushion her impact. "Ow," was Spike's only comment. Sunset Shimmer frowned. Where is Dark Twilight? she wondered to herself. But just as she began to run through the possibilities, Pony Pinkie Pie burst out of nowhere - quite literally. Sunset's reaction was remarkably similar to an earlier incident that she'd had back on the Canterlot High side of the portal. Or, to be more specific, THIS incident: "BBLLAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!" "Sorry Sunset, but we've got more important things to worry about." Pinkie Pie sounded unusually serious, which was enough in and of itself to warrant Sunset's attention. "What?" Sunset asked tersely, with an intense look of worry on her face. "Everypony besides me, you, Spike, and Human Twilight has been forced outside of Twilight's mind." "WHAT!!!???" Spike cried out in shock. He got to his feet and ran towards Pinkie and Sunset. When he reached them, he halted and added in sudden, stark realization, "We're ALONE now??" Sunset replied, "Apparently." She then turned to Pinkie Pie and asked, "Are they alright?" Pinkie closed her eyes, then reopened them. "They're fine - but they are somewhat confused..." A Short While Ago... "Watch your six-" "Bison alert-" "You fiends-" "I can't hold out much longer-" "YOU-" "Dragons incoming-" "WHY-" "Take this, you-" "Should I-" "CUPCAKES!!!" The sudden shock of being thrust back into their own bodies knocked out everyone - except for Pony Pinkie Pie, who managed to teleport away fast enough to avoid the mental thrust. Celestia and Luna looked on as nine colorful streams, each one wrapped around a different mind, emerged from Twilight's head. The formation split, and the minds socketed themselves into their natural places. But their bodies remained asleep, and Luna walked over, magically evaluating each one. "The magical signs are consistent with a forced mental ejection, Sister. I fear that Twilight Sparkle may be lost to us," Luna stated as she turned towards Celestia with a worried expression on her face. "There is still hope, Luna. Twilight still slumbers, and Sunset, Spike, Pinkie, and the other world's Twilight are still within her mind. Thay may yet truimph over Twilight's evil side," Celestia replied. "I hope you are right, dear sister," Luna sighed. "So am I, Luna. So am I," Celestia replied quietly. Now Twilight turned a corner, and found a staircase that led upwards. She paused for a moment, then began to slowly walk up the stairs. The shadow silently followed her. Pinkie Pie began to shake. Violently. Sunset frowned with puzzlement, but Spike recognized the signs. "TAKE COVER!!!" he hollered, simultaneously tackling Sunset out of the way. A jet of flame came streaking in and obliterated the spot where she had stood a moment before. Sunset looked back - and then wished she hadn't. "Sweet Celestia..." There, behind her, was an enormous dragon. He had a dull red hide, and a very nasty expression on his face. "YOU MUST DIE!!!!" he bellowed, and the battle was joined. Twilight came to a door. She hesitated a moment, then pushed the door open and softly called, "Hello?" There was no answer, so Twilight walked inside. There was a bed, and on it resided a purple pony. She had wings and a horn, and an eight-pointed star on her flank, surrounded by five smaller stars. She slept, her face buried in a scroll. Is this really... me? Twilight thought as she stared at the alicorn's straight mane. I've haven't worn my hair like that since the beginning of high school. She reached out a quavering hand, and- KA-BOOM!!! Twilight, flung against the wall by the explosion, looked up and coughed. There, in the doorway, was a dark shadow, but even as she watched it, it coalesced into a regal alicorn, who was approximately twice as tall as the pony who still slept on the bed. Her eyes were red, her mane long and flowing, with darker hues of Twilight's own hair. And her skin was as black as the depths of interstellar space. "Dark Twilight," Twilight whispered. Dark Twilight looked at her, those red eyes seeming to blaze. "One last chance. Will you join me?" Twilight shook her head firmly. "Never." No doubt about it now - those eyes were blazing in anger. "Then you shall be DESTROYED!!!" Dark Twilight screamed, and the final confrontation was joined.