THUD!
Sunset fell to the floor, moaning in pain. Her body shook and trembled on the floor as pain was striking every part of her body. Her horn was covered with dark crystals, showing that Sombra had sealed her magic. Sombra then gave a huge grin and said, “Well done little peon.”
He began to wipe off the dust on his cape. He then rubbed one of his legs as there was a huge wound on it. “I must admit...I knew you had power but...you wounded me quite well...thank goodness those other peons weren't here to help you...I probably would've lost...” He then cricked his neck as he walked up to Sunset, who was still flailing on the floor. “However, I still won. You did quite well to fight me for over an hour but...you lost.”
Sombra continued to watch Sunset as she tried to get up, her body covered in wounds. He then thought, 'Hmm...what should I do next? I could just send this now pathetic useless pony to the mines...but there are still two other unicorns in my castle, or rather my dungeon...then again, she can't move in that condition so I should be okay to check without her going for the crystal heart...what should I do?'
Meanwhile...
“Why are you here, NIGHTMARE MOON?!” yelled Twilight as her horn shined. Then, Twilight's horn stopped glowing. Twilight couldn't produce any magic. “Wha...what's going on?!”
“Your magic won't work here.” Nightmare Moon said as she slowly walked down the top of the mountain to Twilight. She then grinned as she said, “After all, we're not exactly in the same plane of reality that you're used too.”
“Same plane? What a minute...” Twilight said as she looked around her, noticing that she was no longer cold. “This is...this is in my mind...”
Moon nodded. “Yes. It is.”
“How? How is this possible?”
Moon gave a huge grin. “Sombra.”
“Sombra? What does he have to do with a meeting with you in my mind?”
“Simple. This entire 'mind meeting' as you called it, is a type of dark magic. I suspect you are currently just standing somewhere in the real world with your eyes fully open at whatever is casting this illusion upon your very eyes.”
“I see...” Twilight scratched her chin and then asked, “If that's the case, why are you telling me all this information? Wouldn't you not want me to know?”
“If I was casting the magic, yes. However, this magic has opened a very unique opportunity for me.”
As Twilight heard those words, she then thought, 'That doesn't sound good...I don't like the looks of this...'
“You see, there are two very important things happening right now that are so beneficial for me. First, the magic that has been currently cast on you can only be broken if somepony interferes with your body in the real world. However, since I'm in your mind, I know that Sunset Shimmer is fighting Sombra and Trixie hates you. That means nopony is here to save you!” Moon said with a laugh. “Second, the original illusion that this magic was going to show you...let's just say I took it over.”
“Huh? What do you mean 'took it over'?”
“The illusion was designed to show you your worst fear. Yours in particular was you dying alone in the middle of nowhere. Now, even though I support such a fate for a goody-two shoes pony like yourself, I can't let that happen.”
“Hold on, that's my worst fear? You've got to be joking. That would never happen to me.”
“Oh, but it is. Your fear is to be left alone...unloved...unwanted...all on your lonesome...completely and utterly forgotten. That's your true fear Twilight. A place where you have no friends, no family, nothing.” Moon said with a smile as her face leaned towards Twilight’s face. “You've always feared that.”
Twilight's body slightly shook as she heard those words. Her face almost showed a slight tinge of fear, but Twilight knew she was stronger than that. She then glared at Nightmare Moon and said, “Sorry, but I don't buy that. I spent years alone and it didn't bother me one bit, why would it now?!”
“Because you have something now. You have your family and friends back.”
“I got the family back moron. I just can't see my friends anymore.”
“I know. You still care about them though. Why you do, I have no idea why...but you do.”
“That's because you don't know what friendship is.”
“I don't. Friendship is for the weak Twilight Sparkle. After all, you spent years without friends and became the best fighter in Las Pegasus. You survived perils that no other filly could possibly survive and you did it without friends. Now, because you have friends, you got caught and had to give yourself up to Celestia.”
“Oh shut up!” yelled Twilight as she slammed her hoof down. “Stop lecturing and get to the point Nightmare Moon! Why are you here and how do I get out of this stupid illusion?!”
“Oh my, so impatient!” Moon said with a giggle. “You should really calm down there Twilight, there's no rush.”
Twilight's eyebrows twitched a little as a scowl appeared on her face. “Ugh...you have got to be...look here Nightmare Moon.” Twilight said with a huff. “There's only about three different ways you're going to go with this so I'll just cut you short and explain why each way isn't going to work. One, I'm not gonna fall for any of that 'You are alone' garbage. Two, if you think you'll just keep me in this illusion forever, that won't happen either. All magic, whether light or dark, have weaknesses. I'll figure out how to get out of this eventually. Finally, if this is some plot to turn me into you or some kind of nightmare pony, that won't work either. I know who I am and I know I'm not alone!”
“Are you done dear?” Moon said with a slight giggle.
“NO! I'm done listening to you!” screamed Twilight. “Listen up Nightmare Moon, I'm not falling for any of your tricks! I may have done some bad choices in my life but I'm not stupid. I know my friends will always be there for me, even if I can't see them anymore. My family and I have made up and they will always be there for me too. No matter what happens to me, I'm not alone!”
“I know you aren't Twilight Sparkle.”
“What?!”
“I said, I know. I've always known.” Moon said with a short sigh. “Even so, you will still be consumed by my darkness.”
“Oh yeah?!” Twilight said with pure skepticism. “Why is that?”
“The Element of Darkness.”
“Huh?”
“Oh please, surely you haven't forgotten that little gem?”
“I haven't. What's that got to do with anything?!”
“Tell me, do you remember anything about your first encounter with Sombra? You know, when he took the jewel from you?”
“No.” Twilight said with a huff.
“Exactly. I took those memories away.”
“WHAT?!”
“Don't worry, I took about a good two minutes worth, it wasn't much.”
“But...what...”
“Don't look so shocked Twilight. After all, I wasn't expecting to even tell you this information until much later.”
“Why are you telling me right now?!”
“Simple. This magic that is currently affecting you is helping me.”
“Helping you?”
“Yes.” Moon nodded. “This illusion shows true fear. That is very dark magic, just like myself. You see, after you encountered Sombra, he took the Element of Darkness and broke it open. There, the darkness inside was split.”
“Split?! He didn't absorb the whole thing?!”
“Oh no, he couldn't. Only an alicorn could absorb that much and keep their body intact. Instead, the magic flowed into more than one pony. Can you guess who else it flowed into?”
“Me...that's where you're going with this, aren't you? You've been inside me since Sombra broke the jewel...haven't you?!”
“Yes.” Nightmare Moon said with a huge grin. “But you didn't just absorb dark magic Twilight Sparkle, you absorbed the most important part of the Element of Darkness.”
“I absorbed you...didn't I?”
“Yes. My essence. The main piece you locked away in that little jewel...” Nightmare Moon then put her face up to Twilight's, “That means that even if your mind is as pure as Harmony itself...one day, you will be mine.”
“And if I go to the Tree of Harmony?” Twilight said in a deadpan tone.
“Oh...well, let's just say I always have an escape plan. Then again, what makes you think the Tree of Harmony will help a little thief like you?!”
Twilight then gave a huge grin. “I don't know. Let's find out.” Twilight's eye began to glow as she glared at Nightmare Moon. Moon instantly stepped back and said, “What the...how are you channeling Harmony here?!”
“Seems you haven't been in my brain long enough Nightmare Moon, Harmony is always with me. Now, show me how to get out of this illusion.”
“Never!” barked Nightmare Moon as she put herself in a battle stance. “As long as you are in here, I have control of this plane of reality! I won't let you leave!”
“Oh yeah?!” Twilight said as her body began to glow. “This is my mind Nightmare Moon, are you sure you wanna fight me here?”
“Grrr...” growled Moon as spread out her wings, her horn fully shining. “I won't lose! I will make you into the next Nightmare Moon, Twilight Sparkle!”
Twilight then turned into the Queen of Harmony, her horn glowing a magnificent glow. “Sorry to say, but I'm not losing today. Hail to the Queen baby!”
Meanwhile, on the top of Sombra's castle...
“*huff* *huff* We...*huff*...we made it...*huff* we really...made it Rumble...” Spike said as he walked onto the last stair. He then looked up and saw the Crystal Heart, shining in all its glory. Rumble soon joined him and said, “Yeah...*huff* we made it...”
The two sat for a second, trying to catch their breath. After a moment or two, the duo nodded to each other and walked over and began to grab the Crystal Heart. “So...uh...do you think Princess Cadance will be waiting for us once we get this out of here Spike?”
“I don't know Rumble...let's just get it out of here first...”
“Okay.”
“Yes...you should hurry and get the Crystal Heart out of here.” said a hissing voice. The duo looked at each other and then turned around. There, they saw that the voice was a giant shadow that slowly transformed into King Sombra. He gave a huge grin and said, “Now tell me, my little intruders...what do you think you're doing with my Crystal Heart?!”