• Published 12th Nov 2022
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A Dark Knight Over Canterlot - Battwell



Darkness personified. Vengeance incarnate. How does one who embodies such ideals work with those who embody Harmony and Friendship?

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Hurt

Canterlot City

Canterlot Mall was busier than usual, but that's to be expected around the holiday season. Kids were running around, laughing and having the time of their lives, going from shop to shop buying and searching for things that they wanted for Christmas.

Twilight was astounded at the sight, she felt a warmness inside of her when she saw all the little girls and boys playing with each other, united in friendship and harmony. It appeared that this Christmas was a time for people to come together, much like how Ponies came together during Hearth's Warming.

As she and the rest of The Rainbooms walked around the mall, the Equestrian Princess caught the eye of a Mall Santa, who was taking photos with small children on his lap.

Twilight turned her head to ask Sunset what was going on, but then realized that all of the girls were having a discussion about something. She didn't know what it was, but it was obviously about something that she wasn't a part of. Twilight looked away as sadness returned to her, she was feeling... left out.

She wrapped her arms around herself, trying to take her mind off of her sudden loneliness, but the joyous laughter of The Rainbooms wouldn't leave her mind. She gave her counterpart a sideways glance, seeing how she was having a good time, how she was enjoying herself with her friends.

The friends that she stole from her.

Twilight's eyes snapped open when that thought came to her. Where did that come from? She was the Princess of Friendship, not the Princess of Spitefulness. So why did she feel so bitter towards her Earth counterpart? Why did she feel like she stole her friends from her? Was it because of the fact that she felt... replaced?

No. Sunset and the others would never replace her. She did bring them all together after all. Besides, she still had her best friends back in Equestria, so did it really matter?

If it didn't, then why did it hurt so much?

"Yo, Twilight!" The Equestrian was snapped out of her thoughts by Sunset, who had been calling her name for a few seconds. Sunset looked concerned, "Are you alright?"

"No! I feel like you've all replaced me!" She shouted internally before replying, "Y-Yeah, I'm fine." She lied, she hated the act but didn't want to spoil the holidays with her sour mood.

Sunset nodded slowly, obviously not believing her before saying, "Well come on, we're going over to that Mall Santa to take pictures."

Twilight was about to ask who Santa was, but Spike, who was riding along inside her backpack, beat her to the punch, "Who's Santa?"

"WHAAAAATTTT?!!!" Pinkie screeched, suddenly popping up beside the two, "You don't know who Santa Clause is?!"

Twilight and Spike looked at one another before the Princess asked, "Should we?"

The Rainbooms, sans Sunset, all looked at the pair as if they were crazy.

Rarity huffed before wrapping her arm around her friend, "Oh, this shall not do! Come, we can tell you all about Santa Clause while we wait in line."

As The Rainbooms guided them to the long line of children and their parents, Twilight, even though she was finally being included, still couldn't help but feel... lonely.


"Deck the halls with body parts of a girl named Holly. Falalalalalalalala~" Joker sang as he danced around with a stuffed Teddy Bear, while The Dazzlings just stood in the corner, watching the psychopath have his fun.

Aria rolled her eyes at the sight, "I don't remember those being the lyrics." She snarked, clearly unhappy with their current situation. Her sisters looked at her with pleading eyes, practically begging her to shut up.

Joker smiled as he turned to face the Siren, "Oh ho, I am tremendously creative, that I can tell you!" He then tossed the bear behind him as he giggled to himself, walking over to the wooden crate full of stuffed animals he had his goons bring in.

As Joker dug through the crate full of toys, Adagio glared at her sister, "Are you stupid?! Do you have a freakin' death wish?!" She whispered harshly to her sister.

The second youngest Siren glared back at her older sibling, "Well, we wouldn't be in this mess if you hadn't thrown our lives away to this freak!" Aria whispered back, getting in Adagio's face.

The leader of the band of Sirens grit her teeth and got right in Aria's face, "I seem to recall you being terrified as well, dingus!"

Sonata, who was curled up on the cold, concrete floor, covered her ears with her hands, "Guys, please stop fighting!" She pleaded with her sisters, but her pleas went ignored.

Aria's face went red with anger, "Who're you calling dingus, wimp!"

"I'LL SHOW YOU WIMP!!!" Adagio roared back in anger.

Unbeknownst to them, this little dispute had caught Joker's attention, enticing him to walk over and intervene, "Girls, girls girls." He said soothingly before getting in between the two. "Mellow out, Dagi," He said to Adagio before turning to Aria, "Don't throw a tantrum, Aria." He then addressed the both of them with a stellar idea, "Here's an idea! We all go out, have a few drinks, kill some carolers, we'll all feel better!"

The two siblings backed away and cooled off, clearly horrified by the suggestion.

Joker looked at them both before frowning, "Ugh, you girls are no fun." He muttered as he walked away from the group of Equestrians.

Sonata, finally having removed her hands from her ears, looked up towards The Joker and asked, "U-Um... Mister Joker... Sir... Er... Uncle J... W-What exactly are we p-planning to do?" She stuttered out, obviously terrified to question the Clown Prince of Crime.

Joker turned his head and gave the youngest Siren a sick and twisted grin, "Oh, you'll know when it's time, Sonata. The whole town will know. Hehehehehehehe." He giggled darkly toward the young girl, causing her to whimper and curl up even further.

Even Aria had to admit, the way Joker said that sent chills up her spine.


"So, let me see if I've got this right." Twilight started as she and the others continued to wait in line, "A fat man in a red suit stalks little girls and boys for a whole year and during the eve of December 24th, he breaks into their homes and leaves presents for the little girls and boys. Did I miss anything?"

Sunset rubbed the back of her head awkwardly as she giggled, "W-Well when you put it that way..."

Whatever Sunset was about to say fell on deaf ears as Rainbow's complaints took center stage, "How much loooongerrr?!" She complained like a spoilt infant.

Applejack rolled her eyes, "Honestly, Rainbow Dash, you have got to be the most impatient girl Ah have ever met."

It was then that Pinkie wrapped her arm around her athletic friend, "Aw, cut Dashie some slack, you know she gets cranky when she's hungry."

"Hey! I'm not cranky, and I'm not hungry!" RD exclaimed before, much to her embarrassment, her stomach let out a Manticore sized growl that actually startled Pinkie. The rest of the girls gave RD deadpanned stares before the athlete's cheeks turned red and she placed her hands on her middle, "Ooookay, maybe I am a little hungry."

"Aw don't worry, Auntie Pinkie has a solution!" She exclaimed as she gave Rainbow's belly a pat, feeling it growl beneath her hand. She then suddenly pulled out a cupcake from behind her and gave it to her friend, "Here you go, Dashie!"

Rainbow took the cupcake, but gave Pinkie a weird look, "Um... Where did you get that?"

Pinkie perked up before she pulled out a tray of cupcakes from behind her, "Oh! I always carry a stash just in case of emergencies."

RD and the other girls laughed at their friend's wacky antics, "Oh, Pinkie Pie," Rainbow started before shoving the cupcake in her mouth, "Never change."

Applejack chuckled before turning to Sci-Twi, "Ya know, Ah'm surprised ya didn't go inta a full blown lecture about how what Pinkie does isn't scientifically possible."

Sci-Twi smirked at the apple farmer, "I learned a looong time ago that whatever Pinkie does, doesn't make sense. It's just Pinkie being Pinkie."

AJ gave out a hearty laugh as she pulled Sci-Twi into a sideways hug, "That's our Twilight!"

When Princess Twilight heard this, she couldn't help but feel hurt. Maybe she was right. Maybe... They did replace her. That sense of loneliness came back, as did that form of resentment towards Sci-Twi. There it was again, why was she feeling this way? Her counterpart did nothing wrong. Why was she taking all of her stress and hurt out on her?

Her thoughts were broken when a young girl accidentally crashed into her, clearly not watching where she was going. Twilight saw that the girl had dropped her Chess set and decided to pick it up for her, "Here you go, you dropped this. Wouldn't want to lose it, now would we?" She said with a smile.

"Golly, thank you miss!"

Twilight's eyes shot open. That voice. She looked down at the young girl, who was the counterpart of a familiar face.

It was Cozy Glow.

She had her curly hair and was wearing a pink dress with a light blue skirt to go with it. She slowly handed the Chess set back to the young, not so evil girl, which she practically beamed at.

"COZY, LET'S GO!!!" The girl's father shouted.

"COMING DAD!" Cozy shouted before turning to Twilight, "Thank you, have a merry Christmas!" She said before happily skipping away.

As the young girl skipped away back into her father's arms, Twilight just stood there with her eyes wide open. She just saw Cozy Glow. A version of Cozy Glow who was happy and free, not filled with hate and locked in Tartarus. She imagined that's how her Cozy could have turned out if she had had the opportunity to reform her. If Luna and Celestia had even bothered to console her before sending the young filly to Tartarus.

Sunset, taking notice of her friend's state, decided that enough was enough.

She turned to the other girls and said, "Hey girls, you take photos with Santa. I'm gonna take Twilight home, she doesn't look too well." Twilight, catching Sunset's drift, nodded slowly in agreement. While they were sad that their day got cut short, they understood.

As they bid their farewells, Sunset couldn't help but think to herself, "Whatever's wrong with you, Twilight, I'm going to figure it out and we're going to get through it. It's the least I could do after all the good you have done for me."

Author's Note:

Next chapter: The two Equestrians meet The Bat!