> Night Fall Equestria
>  by FLUTTERxxDASH
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> The Abyss
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

The Abyss

The room was pitch black apart from the light red glow of the crystals, a dark figure came in front of the light and came closer to the tied up Twilight Sparkle, "Child, how does it feel to be so helplesss, you're teacher, you're friendsss, all gone and you are a husk of the mare you used to be, without a horn you are nothing," Dark purple magic wrapped Twilights horn and with a loud SNAP!!! The figure tore it from her skull.

Screams of pain, noise that just wasn't natural escaped from her mouth, Tears flowed like rapids from her eyes as the trickle of red joined the stream of liquid that escapes her.

A sharp toothed grin came across the figures face, "That was payback my dear little sparkle, for my horn AND body was literally blown apart by you and you're friends," he leaned over and licked some of the liquid, with a low tremble hum, "mmmm tastes like sweet vengeance!!" the venom seemed to drip from his mouth.

A haggid voice came from the beaten body of Twiight, "N..ver..  y.ou..wont...last..so.mbra," gasping for air, coughing and wheezing but her eyes still showed resistance.

"DAMN YOU TWILIGHT SPARKLE!!! you will die in here alone, you will lose you're sanity, you will lose you're hope!," his eyes flared up as purple mist drifted off his green enveloped eyes.

The sound of buzzing came as a second more slender figure came towards her, "Do not worry my king, she cannot escape but just in case," Twilights left front leg was enveloped in green magic as it twisted and turned in ways it shouldn't.

Another set of screams as she nearly passed out from the pain, her captors would not let her slip though as Sombra slammed a hoof into her.

"GAHH!! *COUGH*.......*COUGH* haa...haaaa you bastards!" Twilight now didn't even have the strength to keep her eyes open.

"Now that was just sick and twisted, HAHA get it 'Twisted', oh Crysalis you are just the sweetest thing mine eyes hast laid upon in centuries," Sombra chuckled as he began to walk out of the light, Crysalis followed, his voice echoed through the caves, "time is ticking my dear, you're end is soon, say you're prayers in you're last moments, goodbye," the noise of loud creaking doors slamming was the last thing she heard, Twilight then passed out.


Some hours later the moon rises


Twilight awakes, still not having much strength and feeling very disorientated from blood loss, the cold rusting shackles that bind her are sharp cutting into her fur, at this moment the only thing keeping her tied to this plane of existence is the pain she inhabits that is her body. Knowing full well her horn is gone she know that this will hurt, trying her best to get anything she can from her power, small flickers of purple come from the nub on her head only to be replaced with pain, more screaming and blood pulsated out of the open wound, "this is the.........end, no magic, I cant even see my friends anymore *panting* Spike, I hope he got away, thankfully he stayed with the ponies in ponyville, *Tears flow again* I'm sorry Spike, I'm not coming home anymore, I think this is it, I'm getting cold" she thought, Twilight with the last of her strength opened her eyes ever so slightly to see the light of the moon through a crack on the roof of the cavern. "funny, the student of the sun falls beneath the moon in her last moments, tragic"

As Twilight began to close her eyes she heard a voice, regal and loud that resonated in her, "Thou would chose death willingly, thine power only amounts to this feeble amount, you worm, struggle for you're existence, I can give you power beyond you're dreams...........

"Who's there"

"Thou dost not need to know, just know I'm the only one left who can save you're sniveling existence, as you're the only one who can now free me, brake thine shackles, accept the darkness," Twilight realized the voice was not audible through her ears but it was a telepathic connection to somepony.

"I'l never accept the darkness," Twilight began to cough blood as she spoke.

"Think child, I can still hear thou through you're mind but you must accept you're hatred, accept the darkness if you wish to free yourself and you're friends, DO IT NOW!!!"


The light in the room started to drift from sight, the moon could not be seen, Twilight felt Liquid at her hooves, It was warm much like a bath at the spa but this liquid was thick and smelled, It smelled of rotten flesh, Twilight didn't even have the strength to puke from the smell, The liquid encased her legs and seemed to crawl up her chest as it seeped into her wounds like nails, digging deep and hard causing pain to thrush through Twilights mangled body. Twilight could feel it pulse through her vains and spread through her body, her arm snapped and popped in a violent manner as it bent back to its original position. The nub on her head began to drip the thick liquid as it started to solidify into a new horn, her fur malted as her skin bubbled, It burnt like she was in the center of the sun itself, in an instant it stopped as she felt knew fur and mane with a tail on her body, the pain wasn't there anymore more so it changed into something euphoric, it was strength, her eyes bolted open, Two red orbs in the pitch black of the cavern as she screamed out not in pain but in power as she tore the chains that held her, the wounds that the chains made sizzled as they healed like brand new. Finally away from her binds she breathes out, A dark red mist escaped her lips, "What is this, its.....its fantastic I've never felt so empowered before"

The light came back to the room, a pool of red and purple lay under the crystal pillar where she was, "That was the darkness, you said you would resist the power but you accepted it without struggle so easily"

"No I would neve....."

"But Thine power now dost not lie, you did accept it, you're body does not lie, even now you have changed you're appearance for you're task, the Twilight which once was is now dead, you need a new name, if not you will be soon found by King Sombra and his black arch mage guards"

"But I......I cant change my name what would I be called, I wouldn't be me anymore I would be changed my destiny is with my friends"

"I suggest you look at thine flank and see what you're cutie mark now holds," Twilight began to turn, in the moonlight her cutie mark had changed, the pink star was now red, A black mist flowed from it, the five stars had become a dark purple and she noticed her fur was much darker, almost black itself, apart from that she could not see anything else so she decided to run to a crystal that was able to act like a mirror ever so slightly, "Oh Celestia, What has happened to me, I..I.I've changed so much," her new horn was twisted like before but had small shards point out at different angles, her hair was longer and more messier with the purple turned to deep crimson and her stripe was now black, same with the tail but the worst was her eyes, slitter like a dragons with blood red pupils, "What have I become," she stumbled back wards and fell on her flank biting her lip, "OW," she licked her teeth and felt four canines as sharp as a knife on the top and bottom of her mouth, "I..I.I...I I'm a monster"

"As I had said it would be best if thou changed thine name, you are not you anymore, you are not Twilight Sparkle you are much more than that pathetic excuse for a pony, you are the the suns eclipse, you are Astral Star"

"Astral Star, It doesn't sound too bad, I cant keep my old name looking like this, Why would you want too it was shit anyway, What was that, who was that, Doesn't matter to us," Twilight started to climb the crystals up to the hole in the roof of the cavern, slipping she grazes herself on the razor sharp rocks but stabilizes herself, the crystal had a black liquid dripping upon it now as she carried on climbing finally reaching the hole and climbing out, "whatever that voice is its quiet now, where do I go now and you still haven't told me who you are,"

The voice comes back, "I told you Astral that it matters not who I am, only that I am here to help, you're friends will be released from their prisons when Sombra falls, but first we must kill the bug queen, she is to the east many will come to block you're way upon this quest but you're body shall tell you what to do"

"What do you mean my body will tell me?" Twilight waited but nopony returned her question only silence and the crickets could be heard in the night air, "Atleast tell me how far I'd have to walk, still she said that my friends could be sav.......," Pain spread through her head, FORGET FRIENDS, FORGET FAMILY, ONLY DEATH, KILL THOSE WHO WRONGED US, KILL, KILL, KILL!!!!!, The voice stopped as Twilight opened her eyes again.

"What was that?"
> Below the moonlight
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Below the Moonlight


A mare alone in a rock formation at the edge of the canterlot forest, staring at the moon with slight pain lingering in her head, her eyes adjust better to see the white orb surrounded by twinkling lights, "what the hay was that voice, it was.. *gulp* sickening," the voice had curdled her stomacher as it reverberated through her thoughts, "being turned into this and pushed back out of the cave,I didn't think I could escape that fast, I mean it was just yesterday when we got captured," Twilight suddenly jumped out of shock as a far off siren flared for a few seconds, turning to were she heard the noise she could see smoke rising, luckily it was east, the direction she needed to go.

"Well no point just standing around, first its back to civilization," Twilight began her walk through the moonlit woods, small growls could be heard in the distance but they never got closer, moving for numerous hours through the woods as her muscles burnt from the exercise, she came to the edge of the forest that crept to the borders of the town, one of the houses had caught alight somehow and was being put out by two ponies, most unusual though was that they weren't in the yellow and red firemen suits but in black hooded cloaks, glancing around further from the shadows she noticed that the rest of the accumulated crowd was also in these cloaks and had an onyx chain dangling from their necks," what the...... they couldn't have taken everypony over so fast," Twilight rushed over the tall wall she dangled from and made quick steps to the shadows in between two red buildings.

The alleyway had puddles and a big open trash can, a rat was feeding on rubbish as she started to trot down the path, as she did it squeaked and ran away, "why is it so dirty, it never got like this, were is all the ponies who clean these, they usually clean them everyday," shaking her head she carried flitting in between the shadows of the buildings getting more and more confused by the odd pony who was out for a stroll still in a dark hooded cloak, finally her exhaustion caught up to her she decided to rest, a pile of boxes not so much appealing but still dry non-the-less was a quick fix bed she made, sleep quickly took her as she curled under the cover of the boxes.


A few hours later as the sun rose


Twilight cracked an eye open as a stream of red light pierced the crack of her makeshift bed, quickly stretching and yawning she pulled herself from the box, jolting in pain from a few scrapes and bruises she caught yesterday from the forest, "Weird.........," as she stared open eyed at the orb in the sky her mouth became agape, the once orange sun that donned the sky was now a deep red, she was even able to stare at the sun feeling no pain in her eyes, it changed too fast, not even Sombra and Crysalis should have this amount of power combined, "thi....this is impossible even for Celestia in one day," Hoofsteps could be heard down the alley, not knowing what was coming Twilight jumped back in her cover, hearing the steps slow down and then a dumpster lid slam she peaked out for a second before shooting back, two black guards were scanning the area with magic, realizing this she threw a counter spell up so not to be noticed, as they walked past and turned the corner she came out looking in there direction, "fffeww.. that was close I don't know what I wou....," Suddenly she felt a magical pressure around her waist as she felt a metal blade at her throat, a white muzzle popped into eye view but her eyes could see the black cloak over the ponys head.

A mares voice slightly squeaky came from the muzzle, "Are you one of the guards, answer me and don't make any sudden movements," the mare used her light blue magic to turn Astral around slowly a pointed curled lock of pink dangled from the left side of her hood.

Astral turned to find a cloaked pony just a bit smaller than herself, "I'm no guard, just a no pony form no where," Astral faked a worried expression like she couldn't counter the spell that the mare had her in, It wouldn't be best to cause a problem as soon as I get free from that pit, she fell limp in the magical grasp after a few pretend struggling flaps of her body.

"Hmm...... Still you look very odd," the mare took her hood down, similarities sprung from Astral mind to a certain marble white purple maned unicorn friend she knew, apart from the fact that her mane was slightly smaller and was half pink half light purple, her mane covered half her face covering leather straps, "Still you should know better, even if you are homeless you should wear your cloak, everypony no matter who is issued it along with that shitty chain," the mare stamped her hoof and shot her muzzle in the air as her main swished around her head to the other side.

"Rari...Rarity?"

"What did you just say, how do you know that name, TELL ME!!"

"It cant be, you...... you look different"

"How do you know my sister, who exactly are you?" The white mare backed away slightly taking a stance that was ready if she needed to use her magic against this individual.

"Oh, what you cant be Sweetie belle, that's impossible, you're a filly, not a teen"

"I'm no teen I'm twenty three this year, and no one calls me that anymore, not since all those years ago," the glare in her eyes sharpened, "so not only my sisters but my name as well, again who. are. you!"

Astral sat down an pawed at the ground, how can I tell her, LIE, what?, no I cant do that, JUST DO IT, LIE TO HER, no I'l explain what happened, then get answers to why the world has changed, "You may not believe what I have to say," Astral looked up to Sweetie, she nodded to reply her to carry on, "Years ago, I think, myself and five friends tried to stop an evil that wanted to take over equestria, one of those five was you're sister Rarity, after the battle I was locked in the crystal cave, left to die but then I was changed into this, crawled from the pits of darkness to this world that is unknown to me," Astrals face never twitched, it stayed in place.

"But that means you're............... Twilight, but Overlord Sombra announced you're death, you have been dead for years now, and you're horn was thrown into the crowd where we were, granny smith even wrapped it in cloth to bring back to ponyville where spike was, you died so stop lying you can't be Twilight Sparkle, don't disgrace her memory.

I TOLD YOU TO LIE, SHE DIDN'T BELIEVE US, I know but we must make her believe us, "Please understand I don't know what happened to me..." WE DIED, REMEMBER, WE ROTTED AWAY FOR OUR NEW BODY TO GROW, Twilight stopped halfway through an explanation as she realized that gruesome voice was interfering with her thoughts, not only that, the voice said she had literally died, "I..I remember now, I did die, my body rotted away and from that my new body grew, Sweetie exactly how long have I been dead now?"

"Its been around sixteen years since the announcement of Twilight's death, *a tear escapes her eye* its also been that long since I have seen Rarity up close, now she is placed amongst the crystalized ponies in the royal chambers, If you really are Twilight do something, We have been trying to but with so few numbers we can't"

"what do you mean 'we'"

"For now I'l try and find some sort of way of believing you since you resemble Twilight slightly but I'm warning you, one wrong move and I'l cut you were you stand, follow me we'll get there soon," Sweetie turned around and shook her head forward to say 'follow me', as she turned the corner the two guards from earlier spotted her, "RUN!!!" she bolted around as Astral followed.

"Whats happening?"

"Those ass' are back again," for a while they were chased many ponies were bumped into but then one of the guards tackled an elderly pony down, Astral noticed this so when they turned another corner she stopped, they turned the corner to follow and found themselves in a constricting grip of magic.

Astral bared down on the two guards, nostrils flared and her eyes became sharper, "quickly tell me why you chase use or I'm going to clip you're colthoods short, don't waste my time," her magic gripped tighter.

Struggling and flailing around in mid air the left pony choked out, "W..w.wanted crimi *urk* criminals for treason against *ARGH!* *Haaa* the empire," after he finished Astral threw the two as fast as her magic could take them and slammed them to the wall, she turned and caught up with Sweetie by using a teleportation spell.


*PUFF*, "so, all this time and you become a criminal against the so called empire?" giving a quick eye a turn over the pony on her right.

"What, don't expect me or the others to conform to their sick and twisted attitudes of using their chains to take our magic and freedom, I would never agree to that." they carried on running for a while passing many houses and trees and then entered the train station without being noticed, once in they boarded a train going north, WE SHOULD BE GOING EAST, we need to find out who Sweeties friends are first maybe they can help, WHAT AND BE EXTRA TARGETS FOR US, I would never hurt them 


For around three hours they were in a steamy compartment of the train only the sounds of the clunking track could be heard above the toots of the train.


Arriving at Ponyville


The ride wasn't the most comfortable, Astral has never had to hide while riding a train before, every second was tense as the black guards of the train would pass the small gaps where they were led, on arrival they both sped out of Ponyvilles train station passing the guards without being noticed, not much changed for the village apart from a few minor changes such as the butique was borded up, they passed by it fast, before long they were nearing the barnyard Applejack use to live in, a red stallion was out on the field pulling a big piece of metal that churned the dirt, he looked back to Sweetie and nodded, nodding back they entered the house.

Again just like she remembered, the wooden chairs and clock on the wall and simple atmosphere, apart from the numerous ponies that inhabited the room, a little colt ran through the room and bumped his head on Astral falling backwards, A mare rushed through after him, she had a large red bow above her right ear, "Corey Jack stop right there ya lit'l varmit! Oh Sweetie," she turned her head up and hugged sweetie before turning to Astral, "and this would be?"

"Its Twil.." she was suddenly interrupted, "I'm Astral Star," she turned her head and winked at Sweetie Belle, "I was told that you ponies are against the royals at what they are doing, I also noticed that the ponies here don't wear cloaks," she then looked down at the mares neck, the same onyx chain dangled from it, she cringed at the sight of it.

"This lil thing, ah know its not a gud thin to look at but now ta av a gud life ya hafta have one of these things to do evry thing nowadays"

"I just wish you would take it off when you're in the house, plus I'm sure Corey doesn't like to see her mom in chains," she put a hoof on the young colts head and scruffed his mane.

A colt wandered from the kitchen, he was a cream, red maned colt, "I agree with Sweetie on this one Hun, you really should take that off, ain'tit heavy?"

"I ain't no weak lass, I have my sisters blood in me, us apples are a strong family plus you yourself are still wearing you're magic sapper Butter Scotch," she sauntered over to the colt and tapped his horn that had a ring placed around it.

"You know this is different from that chain"

"Well never mind any of that crap, if ya a friend of Sweet you a friend ta us"

"Thanks Applebloom," Astral began to walk in as they all stopped what they were doing.

"I never mentioned mah name, huh, did you already, wait even if Sweet did tell you, you wouldn't know if it was me or the other two mares, Sweetie! who is she," A stern look came across appleblooms face, her hooves ushered Corey away from the room, glaring daggers once again Astral huffed and pointed for Sweetie to talk.

SMOOTH MOVES THERE JACKASS, shut up it was a slip of tongue


A few minutes pass, tears were shed and then Astral began to tell them memories to prove she was Twilight, after long she had explained how she changed, many just cringed and felt sorry for her but some faces in the room never lost their own suspicious looks.

"and after that we arrived hear the rest is history, I need to defeat Sombra to free you're sister and my other friends, one thing I just have to ask where is scootaloo, I've been here for nearly an hour and I'm sure I should have seen her by now, you CMC were inseparable as fillys," Astral knew straight away that what she said struck a nerve, their faces grew dark.

Applebloom came over, "Erm Twi...Astral I think you should come with me, shes upstairs," if the air was any more tense you could literally see it, after rising the stairs they walked to the very end door, *knock* *knock* "Scoot, I'm C'min in," no words came just a mumble like something had muffled her words.

Astral was shocked, the young orange and purple filly she use to know was sat up in bed, although she was not a filly any more she had not grown much, "This is what happened to Scoot, Twilight.. I mean Astral, a lot has changed, this is what happens when you go against the guards," the young mare who sat in the bed dribbled slightly, "Oh dangit weresa tissue, here yar Scoot"

"hannn uuu," Scootaloo was torn physically, her face was slashed and having most of her tongue was gone, her right eye was milky, and her wings and one hoof was missing leaving only bandages, "ss hhdat hrely hu hriilight,"

Applebloom was tearing up, scootaloos left hoof rose up and wiped the tears, "Thank ya Scoot, Astral this is what happens, this is why Sweetie has to cover her face and this is why," she turned around and showed a wooden appendage for a back leg, "we were all tortured, we were caught stealing food in canterlot to help some of the people here, Scoot tried to defend us, that sick twisted bitch was in the castle that day tho, we had to watch her bite and claw through her skin, then she went to town on us, she plucked Sweeties eye out of its sockets and ate the thing, I don't want this world for Corey Twilight.......Please do something, we want retribution, we need you and mah sister and the rest of the Elements Twi er I mean Astral," Scoot pulled her friend into an embrace then looked up to Astral with her good eye.

The word may have been jumbled but it was clear with its intent, "VVVEENGHEAANCE!!" the venom dripped from Scootaloos torn lips.

Sweetie Belle was stood at the door, now Astral knew why she seemed so cold now apart from the filly she use to know, the nickname Robot clearly fit now, "Hey Applebloom we goin on a food run, do you or Big mac need anything apart from the usual," Applebloom just shook her head as a reply, "K, we'll be back at dawn, Astral make yourself at home an go meet the guys, some might be who you know already and there is some new faces, be back tommorow," leaving the room.

"Shes right we need to catch up, Corey darlin go get a new towel for auntie Scoot will ya, Go on downstairs Astral I'l be down in a while"

"Alright I'l see you soon," Astral left the room, and began to walk downstairs as Sweetie was leaving, she gave a quick wave, MORE TIME WASTED, WE SHOULD BE KILLIN THAT BITCH OF A QUEEN, one day, just one day and we can go is that too much


The night went by quickly, card games and getting to know Corey, after talking to everypony and getting to know them the only one who was still edgy was a cream pegasus mare named Noi, still it didn't matter, they were safe and she could set off east in the mourning, everything was going great, until...........................
	
> To The East
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

To The East


Astral rose up from where she lay, she could see nothing around her, just a pitch black darkness, "wh..where am I," the vale of darkness seemed to move ever so slightly, Astral began to hyper ventilate, she was alone in this dark world, "WHOSTHERE!!" the black parted way letting a red mist leak through.

A deep voice reverberated through the room with bass, "you are where you need to be, my little birdie," a pair of red eyes with a slit going both through and down peered from the darkness at Astral.

The eyes seeped through every contour of Astrals mind like there was no space between the two creatures in the darkness, "w..what are you," backing away Astral asks, the eyes didn't stay in place though as they turned to red mist and drifted at lightning speeds behind the mare.

Astral stopped in her tracks at the muzzle that now stood from the darkness with a grin that could match any chesire cat, but these teeth were serrated like that of a saw, "Oh my dear Astral, you should know this most, you know me so well how can you not recognize me," Astral fell backwards as her eyes widened, the figure stood before her a mixture of purple and red, almost a physical form but still that of mist, "yes, you know me best of all, as you say great minds think alike"

"NO!! not you, I cant be........................


early mourn sunshine


Astral sprung from the bed she lay in, sweat dripped profusely off her muzzle as she panted gasping for air, "I cant be," just after these words Applebloom walked through the guest room door.

"Canbe whut, Astral"

"Its nothing Applejack............. oops sorry, hehe Y'know you look so much like your sister now, almost identical if it weren't for the red mane and bow, guess I'm still waking up *YAWN* whats for breakfast," putting her arms back down to her sides and blinking a few times to get the sleep from her eyes.

A smile was on Appleblooms face, "waffles with lots of hunny, fresh from mrs hunnybottoms farm," she pondered into the room and lay down the wooden tray that was on her back onto the side table, "heres a glass of water be down in ten for the waffles hun, Sweetiebelle ul be back in half hour or so, ahl go get those waffles ready"

"Cya Applebloom be there in a few minutes," waffles sounded great to Astral *gurgle*, also to her stumoche, but there was another thought that seeped into her mind since last night, I wonder if Spike is ok, last night Applebloom said he still runs the library, glugging the water down and running through to the toilet Astral made her way downstairs.


The light blue furniture was just right of the staircase, in the middle of the table lay a great pile of toasted brown waffles, with golden hunny dripping over the edges, at the far end of the table was a mischievous little colt trying to reach for a head start on the mountain of food, a high pitched voice came from his direction, "Ah almost got it," suddenly a hoof swattered at his head with a light thump, "OW, WATCHA DO THAT FO MOM!"

Applebloom glared daggers at the young'n, "Y'know it aint fair on other people if only you get to start ya food first, wait for everypony else before starting"

"But mom I might get my cutie mark in waffle eating"

"Ah told ya before, when you're ready your cutie mark will reveal itsel, now sit down still and wait for, Oh Astral just in time," Astral walked through and sat down on another chair, "this little bugger was about to go nuts on the waffles tryin ta get his cutie mark"

Astral placed a hoof to her mouth letting a giggle escape her lips, "Guess like mother like son then, did you know your mother was a cutie mark crusader, that reminds me when did you get yours Applebloom, erm is that a hammer with an apple emblem, you always was handy with fixing things"

"There was an accident that happened at the farm a few years before Corey was born, when we were fixin it mah cutie mark popped on, when I weren't even trying to fand a cutie mark either, guess mah sis was right so I've been telling Corey the same things Sis told me," one of her hooves was placed on Coreys blond mane, it was scruffy but cute at the same time, he also has three freckles underneath each eye.

"Mom whats a cutie mark crusader," Applebloom just blushed at this comment, "is it some club or something"

"Ahl save that story for another day, isnt benchmark and Frostina waiting for you, you have to get going to school soon, quickly each your waffles then set off ok and dont forget your coat its cold out today," Applebloom took a seat next to Corey to begin breakfast.


After they finished Applebloom went upstairs to wake scootaloo for her breakfast, when she did the front door open as Astral was passing it, Sweetie Belle walked in, "Hey sweetie bel....... whats wrong," Sweetie belle looked at Astral like she just lost her soul.

"They got Talon............. they killed him on sight, he had no chance," tears began to stream down her face, "I stood there in the shadows, he saw me and shook his head for me to stay where I was, I saw it all, they tortured him, there was so much blood, a full eight minutes before they would let him die," In her remaining green eye, deep hatred dwell within as the tears fell down from her muzzle, "they need to die, all of them," Astral ran over and wrapped the young mare in a gripping hug.

"Calm down and just let it all out, don't hold back your tears," Sweeties grip was almost bone crushing as she waled at the front door, luckily they weren't loud enough to disturb Applebloom upstairs as the noise was muffled by Astrals fur, "I will fix this all, don't you worry"

Sweetie Belle looked up from the wet patch that was now on Astrals chest, "take me with you to wherever it is you're going, I want to see that tyrant bastard Sombra die with my own eye," her tears turned into a snarl, the hatred clear as the words turned to venom.

"Sweetie it is too dangerous don't argue with me on this, just trust me.."

"But you know what they will do if you're alone...... they'll kill you too just like everypony who is captured"

"Sweetie I'm not the SNIVELING LITTLE SHIT TWILIGHT ANYMORE!!" Astral raised her voice making Sweetie retreat ever so slightly, "I..I'm sorry I didn't mean to scare you, I don't know what came over me"

"what was that red mist that came out of your eyes"

"What do you mean red mist," Astral moved to a mirror and checked her eyes, no mist just her new ruby red eyes, "there isn't any mist what are you talking about?"

"you had red mist and your teeth were sharp, your appearance changed for a second, what happened to make you like this?" Sweetie Belle moved over out of curiosity forgetting that the same mare just shouted at her.


For a few minutes the pair checked through the changed features of Astral new body, Applebloom came downstairs to Sweetie on the far end of Astral, it painted quite a picture as it looked like the pair was smooching in the doorway, "*CLEARS THROAT* well definitely a way to greet one another"

"Hmm what now, whatcha mean Applebloom," Sweeties head popped above Astrals back and then she realized how it would look to her from the other side, "Its not what it looks like I'm just getting a better look at her new looks"

"whatever just don't let Corey see non of it, got it Sweetie, he nearly saw you and that other mare toot sweet smoochin before," Applebloom stated flatly.

Sweetie just huffed, "It was just once and he didn't see nothin"

Astral moved back a bit with a surprised face, "wait you like mares, wow everything did change, I thought you actually liked spike for a while after my brothers wedding, although weird you two were sweet together, that reminds              me do you know whether Spike would be still at the library?"

"Ah would think he would still be there at this time yeah, its only two so he shud be sortin the books at the moment," Applebloom walked to the kitchen with the plates that Scootaloo just had her food off of, "why you thinkin of goin seeing him?"

"I think it would be best if I leave him alone but I just can't do that I need to see him so I'l be back soon and then I have to set off to the east, there is somepony there expecting a visit from me," Astral nodded then began to head for the door.

Sweetie quickly grabbed her hoof, "wear this," she handed Astral a black cloak, "you know what happens to those without them, we both know that too well by now," sorrow deep in her voice, "I'l break the news to Applebloom whilst you're gone seeing Spike"

"Alright I'm off then be back around half three," she waved a hoof at the two mares before leaving the door.


It was a quick journey with not much hassle, same old ponyville just with the odd few black guard here and there, there it was, the big tree that was once her home, The open sign is there so he must be in, Astral began to walk up to the door but before she could knock on the door she stopped, its been so long to him, what if this shocks him too much pus he'll be a teen now,but before she could turn away the door opened to a grinning Spike.

"Heya, I thought I heard somepony outside and its a new face too don't worry I don't bite come on in," the   little purple dragon she knew wasn't so little anymore, he was a head height above her now even with her little growth spurt, he also had wings now, you really have grown Spike, I just wish I was here to see it nut I can't change what has happened, "Erm this might sound weird but you seem very familiar, both your looks and aura feel very............... erm comforting, ur I didn't mean to gross you out or anything but its just what I feel"

Astral sighed and released as much pressure as she could, "Its ok Spike, you know me quite well, you've grown so much in the time I've been gone, I might not look the same though"

Spikes eyes widened, "Twilight?"

Astral moved forward and nuzzled Spike, "you've definatly grown if can see my aura now, sixteen years, its not a long time for a dragon but so much has changed," Astral could feel something tugging at her throat as tears began to streak her face, "I'm so glad I can see you again"

Spike grabbed a hold of Astral, "I thought you were dead, and you look so different but its you, your smell the way you move and talk, its really you isn't it, I'm not having another night terror am I, I'm not dreaming that sadistic dream again am I where your taken from me again," Spike moved away but never let go, "your really here, I'm not dreaming, quick come in before the black guards get a wiff of your magic," Spike pulled Astral into the building and moved to the kitchen.

The library didn't change much apart from looking a little more worn down and the new additions to the library, "Twilight what happened to you, your physically different now, I could tell from sight and physical observations, I can see your spiritual form now, It isn't purple anymore its red and is flowing around like a mist, unlike the usual flow of a stream. Its more like that of Celestia now."                                                      

"First thing first, I have changed my name for obvious reasons, I've changed it to Astral, so from now on when we meet call me that so that no guards  find the name Twilight, even if I weren't me but had the name Twilight they would inspect me never-the-less, okay?"

"alright"

"Now as to why I have changed so much, I'l make it simple, I have no clue, when I was locked up I DID in fact die down there but when I woke up I heard a........... well lets say someone helped me, and the next time I saw myself I looked like this," Spike stood up and moved over to the doorway of the kitchen.

"Well, I won't ask anymore, you're back and that is all that matters to me, do you want a cup of tea and some biscuits, I'l make your favourite, be right back," Spike went through the door and Astral saw a singe tear fall from the drakes face, sniffing could be heard lightly over the kettle.


Many hours passed, more than she wanted to spend at Spikes due to the danger she was bringing him, they shared stories until late into the night, by the time Spike began to get tired it was too dark to head back to Apple Acres, "Stop hear tonight, Your room is the same as when you left, I didn't have the heart to change," they ascended the stairs as Spike opened the door, "See, nothings changed, Its all as you left it Twi.. Astral"

"Spike I'm sorry I left you alone so many years but I'm back to correct my mistakes and rid equs of that villain for good, I'l see you tomorow before I set off to the train station, night Spike"

Spike moved to his room, leaving Astral to her own thoughts, well that was an eventful day, Yawning she made her way over to her bed and lay her head down as sleep took her away.


In the realm of Dreams 


Astral looked at her surroundings, white sand surrounded her for miles as the blue and green orb in the sky covered the sun, its quite beautiful up here

"Thou hasn't spent a millennium here yet child,yes its beautiful but it is a desolate cold place," the voice spoke from behind Astral, Astral turned around to face the voice, an alicorn with a mane of stars walking toward her, although regal the mare had slitted eyes like that of a dragon and she had canines that were pointed, "Its finally nice to meet thee Astral face to face, you don't look like such a worn anymore with your new looks"

"I've heard that voice before," Astral was interupted by another deeper voice but still recognizable as a mares

"of course shithead, she is the one who made us," Another figure came from the alicorns shadow, such as the alicorn this pony had a flowing mane but it was red and had blotches of black drifting through it like sludge, "for us being so smart we are so stupid, I cannot believe you are my host"

"your the mare thats in my head, your Eclipse aren't you?"

"Give the mare a prize, nice one genius what made you think that, so stupid, fucking rediculous," both mares walked forward and took a side on either side of Astral.

"If you want true beauty child, it is down on Equs, luscious green grass but now it is being corrupted by the king of nightmares, my power fades as he grows and you are the only one in my place who can rid the darkness, you did it once with the elements but now that is useless, the only way to victory now is by using dark magic to counter sombras attacks"

All the mares were stairing at the blue orb until Astral turned to the alicorn, "Princess Celestia told me that using dark magic will take control of me if I use it..."

"That was before Child, that was the sniveling bookworm Twilight who was too weak and would submit to the darkness with ease, now you are a creature of the darkness, you are ECLIPSE!!" the alicorns wings extended as she said Eclipse, "now you control the darkness, you control the fate of this world, you. control, death. itself."

maniacal laughter came from Eclipses side, "you really think she can do it, you know she will give into me, after such I will kill you nightmare and become the queen of the nightmares myself, after which comes the rest, Sombra then Celestia, Equestria will be mine when Astral falls," the words came with venom intact as the waves of words slammed into the pair.

"I cannot wait for the day that happens so I can put your sniveling existence in its place," the navy blue mare turned her muzzle to the sky in a show boating way, "and when I do I'll make you my slave for eternity, so remember Astral if you fall I will have your body, I'l be waiting for you to kill Sombra," she placed a hoof upon Astral, "But for now its time you went back to reality," blue hue surrounded Astral as she rose into the air, all of a sudden she was hurtling towards the blue planet, as she entered the atmos she started to burn up, her skin melted and she could feel every intense pain as she hurtled towards her target, a town that surrounded a tree, she hit the tree with a large explosion

She bolted up from bed with streams of sweat dripping from her muzzle, that was the strangest dream,panting for breathe just like the last time she regained composure for the day ahead, I can't lose to Eclipse, no matter what happens I won't lose
> To those who hide in darkness
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

To those who hide in darkness


Astral made haste in the morning to get to the train station, when she said goodbye to Spike he gave her some bits to catch the train to the wastelands border town, the trip was easy, more so than the last as she had the cloak now and could ride in the cabin. When she got to the town she was quick to get her supplies and while she was doing so she could feel several presences follow her, Astral went down an alleyway as they follow and turned to her assailants letting loose a pillar of red magic trapping them as they kicked and flopped to get loose, "WHO DARE FOLLOW ME!!"

A mares voice screamed out, "stop astral, I'm sorry for following you"

Astrals face contoured as she shouted at the marble mare, "SWEETIE!! I told you to fucking stay in Ponyville, how long have you been following me?"

"Since Spikes but I had to, I am tired of having to hide in this dark world as he rules, I want to make a difference"

Astral grunted in an annoyed manner, "FINE, but let me warn you, the mare you knew as Twilight is gone, I'm Astral now and if you slow me down I will not hesitate to leave you for DEAD! do you get me?" Astral face showed that she was not joking.

Sweetie knew that if she says yes there is no turning back, gulping she said, "yes I know, I wont slow you down neither will these guys," she put a hoof backwards to the rest of her group.

Astral put a judging eye on the group, "fine," then she released her pillar of magic letting them get up, "I'll give you ten minutes to get your supplies as we are crossing this desert to get to black crystal mountain where Crysalis' Hive resides," she then point a hoof at the blurred image of the mountain across the desert.

"you don't have to worry we have everything we need already, even a cart to travel in, Cable carl and Dirt dasher will pull us, isn't that right boys," when she said this two hoods came down, one orange stallion with brown hair and one blue stallion with sky blue hair put their hooves to their heads.

"So be it but if you come with me past this point it be on your own heads to survive, I don't know if the Hive has changed but c'mon then lets go," she turned around and started to walk as the group fumbled into the cart.

The cart came past Astral just in front of her, "Here you go Miss," a sleek black hoof reached out as Astral accepted it, "glad to have you aboard"


The base of the Black crystal mountain


The trip took around four hours until the Mountain was visible, although up close is wasn't a mountain, it stood tall as a crystal tower more like a palace than a mountain, small swarms of changelings could be seen around the outside of the palace going her and there and at closer inspection there were two changelings that guarded the door, "what the fuck are those things," one of the stallions said.

Astral was as shocked as the rest, "I don't know they are behemoths, they are huge at least two heads above Celestia, they weren't in her army before. They might be like worker ants, small forgers and large soldiers to protect the palace, we'll have to find another way in to kill that bitch," Astral said, YOU KNOW WE COULD JUST DESTROY THE PALACE AROUND THAT ASS, you know we cant do that, the others could get hurt too, FUCK THE OTHERS WE LIVE TO DESTROY THOSE WHO KILLED US, with a shake of the head Astral leap off the back of the cart, "Okay we will have to find another opening, any ideas as to where the queen of bitchness would put a back entrance to her hive?"

Another stallion voice came forward, "how about there," A hoof was directed at the side of the Palace where small changelings were carrying boxes and other items through a side entrance.

"Good eyes there, I have an idea, all of you come here," the group did as they were told, Astal began to glow a dark red, "for ones looks to change you must be rearranged into something much more plain," the air began to simmer with magic as all who were set up in fire after the fire dissipated they all stood in the forms of changelings, "good much better, now gather your stuff and do as they do, carry your items into their palace and sneak off to the shadows, I have placed a magic tracker within your bodies and can find you when needed, we will meet up in the palace," after saying this they left the cart and came up behind the black chariots where the changelings were picking the objects from.

All was okay for a while they joined the line and headed through two massive black steel doors that led into the chitin walled palace, not much different from Celestias apart from the odd one or two piles of green gunk that illuminated the walkways. A large domed roof had stacks of boxes, one by one the changelings passed another with a board he was writing on, finally it came to their turn but something went wrong as the changeling threw the board and hurtled at Astral, I knew it since I don't have a mind connection he knew about me, NOT ALWAYS THE SMART ONE FUCK FACE, before he could touch Astral she backed up ready to attack with her head faced upwards, a tendril of red magic hurtled at the changeling piercing through it with force as a bit of ooze fell to Astrals face, she shivered at the feeling as a devilish grin became her face, "who wants me next then," she dropped her disguise in her pleasure.

All the changeling that were in the room apart from the still disguised group were hurtled about here and there in a horrific manner and when they were dead Astral didn't stop as she would prance in there green ooze and slash at there corpses with her magic, it took one of her friends to snap the blood lust away from her, "Astral stop, they are dead already," the rest of them released their respective disguises as Sweetie stepped forward cautiously, "stop, PLEASE!!"

Astral grasped at the air that struck her lungs, her senses finally coming back to her, "I..I....c'mon lets carry on, she will know what has happened they are all connected through the Hive mind.


Travelling the Palace


Unlike what Astral had thought they traveled through the palace for around a good thirty minutes without trouble, the odd one or two changelings had retreated into the shadows, Astral could feel the magical signature of her target easily and she knew that she was enclosing on her fast. A few minutes later and they stood in front of a huge double door-ed walkway that had illuminated green crystals embedded into it, as they pushed it open the Queen had been sat there with two behemoths either side of her, a voice came from her that sounded like two voices with a gritty echo, "welcome esteemed guests, welcome to the dark palace may I inquire as to whom I have in my company, so I may cut its head off whilst I scream thy name," The queen rose from her seat with her voice dripping venom.

Astral could not contain herself as she shocked the rest of the group with maniacal laughter, "Oh the Queen herself doesn't know my name after she killed me, this saddens me so but what the heck I have a new name since I am not the same pony you killed, I am not Twilight Sparkle any more," at this comment the Queen practically screamed from her facial features itself.

The Queen regained her composure before saying, "That is not possible, that little shit died in canterlots caves"

"Don't get me wrong, you did kill me non-the-less except I'll just say you shouldn't have FUCKED WITH SOMEPONY YOU CANT KEEP DEAD!!" Astral made this her opportunity to run at the queen until one of the behemoths swung a massive axe in green magic toward Astral, she teleported back to where she was, "didn't think those fat fucking minions could move so fast, this is gunna take longer but never-the-less I will have your head Crysalis"

The rest of the group decided to split up into two groups and target the behemoths, they held them back long enough for Astral to get close to Crysalis, "I'm not the only one with people who work for me you bitch"

"Touchy, touchy, maybe I should brake your leg again and watch you writhe in pain but I must say you have changed, I did not think you would escape the caves," she swung her horn at Astral catching her fur slightly as her red liquid escaped it, "But you will never have changed, still the little filly who wouldn't hurt a fly"

"I wouldn't be too sure," Astrals horn glowed an almost black color of red as the red mist started to escape her body, her voice sounded more ghastly now, "I've changed more than you think," a tendril of red span at Crysalis who dodged just barely with a shocked face, "you really should see yourself you look just li....." A scream came from her left.

"CLOUD RACER!!! NO STOP YOU'RE KILLING HIM," Sweeitie screamed as the behemoth had the pony in his jaws, being as big as it was even this stallion who was just a bit smaller than Bic mac fit snug in his mouth, with a crunch the stallions blue fur became red as all his blood poured from all orifices of his body, his body dropped to the floor as the behemoth laughed with deep bass, "NOOOOO!!!!" Sweetie rushed forward only to be swatted away.

While Astrals attention was taken Crysalis swung at her with her own magic taking one of Astrals legs and flinging her across the room knocking her unconscious, one by one the rest were killed by the behemoths leaving only Star Crasher and Sweetie left, "Oh this was uneventful I thought you would actually do better Twilight or should I say Astral, it was you're downfall having brought these young ones with you alas everything can die twice," The queen waited as the rest were killed, Star Crasher was lifted into the air as his limbs were tore off one by one and then flung aside.

Sweetie Belle was scrunched up against the chitin wall as Crysalis strode over, "OO I'm sorry did you have an accident you seem to have PISSED YOURSELF," Crysalis bellowed as the young mare began to shake uncontrollably, "now sorry for the rush but I have things to do kill her, as I want my fun with dear sparkle over her," her behemoth nodded.

Astral cracked an eye open as the muffled sounds came into focus, pain rose from her side as she took a look to see nothing there...... literally her leg was missing and she was bleeding but now the wound had magic stitching into it, using her magic she got to the hooves that were still usable and made a sue-do leg of magic and looked around just in time to see a behemoth swing an axe downward toward Sweetie Belle.

The behemoth gulped and dropped his axe, all he remembered was a blinding crimson light and pain in his chest, as his eyes readjusted there he saw a monster with serrated teeth staring him straight in his glowing eyes, the behemoth stood as a line of red going past his neck and down the barrel of his chest began to drip and then all of a sudden his body slid in two halves as the green ooze left his body, seeing this Crysalis screamed as the second behemoth fared no better against this wounded monster.

"YOUR NO PONY ANYMORE YOUR A MONSTER!!!" Crysalis began to trip backwards back to her throne as she collapsed onto it, "more guards help me, GUARDS," she screamed, she couldn't feel her hive mind, green trickled down her muzzle as she looked up to see her horn missing, she then screamed again.

"Monster?! HA most fitting but no I wont go to your level I'll just sever your head tear out your inards and destroy every last parasite of your hive then go for the king, not too over the top then ey Crysi, I'll make it quick......... oh I see Sweeite wasn't the only one who had an accident now has she Crysi?" each word sounded like it came from the devil himself, there was no more harmony left in Astral, only rage.

The queen laid there as the liquid she released dripped off the throne, much like Sweetie was she shaked, "Please don't kill me it was Sombra, you wouldn't kill me, release me like you did before, let me live I wont do this again I swear, PLE...." A quick flash of red was the last thing she saw, "ARGH!!!! my eyes I cant see," both her eyes were torn from her skull.

Astral didn't stop as she tore her left foreleg off in the same manner Crysalis did to her, gaining a skrill of pain from the queen Astral shivered in pleasure as her mouth opened and dangled her tongue out, "feel more PAIN!!!" she moved to tear another limb off as the green ooze sprayed out of the flailing nubs that were Crysilis' legs.

With a voice hagged, "YOU...BITCH!!! you wont..win against Sombra *coughing blood* even if you have *haaah* changed you don't stand a chance, now end me"

"HA end you? no I would never do that Crysi I will just leave you to die like you did me"

"But you said"

"I said I wouldn't stoop to your level yes, that just meant I would leave you in a state you couldn't revive from," after saying this she swiped a physical red form of magic across the queens stumoche as most her inerds escaped her, "Stay put whilst I destroy your castle," leaving the heap of mess wheezing she walks over to Sweetie as best she could with how her body is, "Sweetie get up," all she got in response was an eep, Sweetie had horror filled eyes that were stairing straight at Astral.

It was clear that her rage was showing, her fur became nearly black and the red mist escaped her eyes, her mane grew long and began to shift a little at no wind at all, the whites of her eyes were pitch black and finally her teeth were serrated, Sweetie had just watched her literally slaughter the one who made child's play of her friends, "I..I.II.."

"GET UP!!! NOW!!!" Sweetie shot up and followed Astral out of the room as changelings small and big flooded into the room ignoring the two and going straight to their queen, minutes later they were out of the castle, Astral turned to the castle and laughed under her breathe, "for sixteen years of pain it was rather fast Crysalis, maybe Sombra will entertain me more, now for the finale," Astral rose into the air as a orb of darkness surrounded her, as it was around her it began to swirl and pin pointed onto her horn, she opened her eyes and fired a tendril of black and red at the castle and on impact the big palace imploded as the 'mountain' collapsed, Dust flew past the two.

"They died in there and you just destroy the place?" Sweetie questioned.

Now on the ground Astral turned to her, "so they were dead what could I do about it, let the horde come out and look for us in blind rage, no I brought their castle down on there heads, you accepted what I said when we went in there, be it on your heads to survive. Stop being a filly and realize that life just isn't so sweet Mrs Belle!!"


The walk back through the Desert was pain staking, miles upon miles of sand, finally arriving in the town the pair go to an inn. I the room there was only one bed, Sweetie had already collapsed onto her tear filled pillow as Astral laid onto hers, Sleep took her to the dream realm again.


Back in the dream realm


Just like the night before she was accompanied by the blue Alicorn and her counterpart except Eclipse had grown in height and was as tall as the alicorn, "well done today boss, quite the brutality, I couldn't have done better myself"

"O h shut up you know it had to be that way"

"you sound more like me by the minute fucko hopefully I'll have a body soon"

The navy blue Alicorn stomped her hoof, "enough, were all adults here"

Eclipse sprung in, "and phycos"

"BE QUIET!! Finally, now Astral that was faster than I expected it to be but never-the-less a job well done. Next though is the true enemy and you will have to embrace the darkness fully to kill that tyrant bastard and release Celestia and your little friends, thou will make haste though if Sombra hears of Crysilis' downfall it wont be long until his defenses become impenetrable, now do you want sending back or will you comply this time by waking up my dear," a toothy grin came across the Alicorns face.

"I will comply but first I have a question, what is you're name, you haven't told us yet"

"Its nightmare....... nightmare moon my dear" 
> The fall of Equestria starts here!
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A Dark morning


The night had been hard on Sweetiebelle, she would turn and scream, an unending stream of tears riddled her sleeping face as her dreams tortured her mind. Astral had awoken very early and moved to the balcony of the hotel, the screams echoing until a knock came to the door, six fifteen in the morning, must have awoken one of the other hotel room	occupiers. Astral moved to it and answered, it was just one of the staff asking what was wrong, she placated him with a lie and said they would be gone soon.

Finally Sweetie began to calm down as she stirred in the bed, moving to the left of the bed she sat up from the wet pillow, jumping slightly when she saw Astral, "A-Astral-" was all she could say, to scared to say anything else, she shook with fear. Astral noticed this, Sweetie just yesterday lost all her friends in the fight and then watched her obliterate the ones who did it, anypony would be scared of a pony what could do that.

Astral moved closer to the bed and used her magic to pick Sweetie up, "you smell and your fur is messy, you're showering and then you are taking a train home. I told you this was too much for you and you didn't listen, now you have seen what I truly am and are afraid of that fact-"

Sweetie shook her head furiously, "NO, I am not scared of you," a clear lie, Astral knew she was, "I mean it, I was just shocked and with my frie....... my friends," Astral dumped her on the white plastic and with her magic turned the taps, the water ran over Sweetie as she began to cry.

Astral then made her way out calling back, "no arguments, you're going back-"


It didn't take long before they were both finished, with no bags and only cloaks that they had they made their way to the trains station, Sweetie was reluctant but she did as she was told and boarded the train going to Ponyville. Astral stood there as two black guards passed her, one was a pegasi and the other was a unicorn. The unicorn stopped and looked at her, when he did he turned to walk toward her but as more passengers left the train that stopped he lost sight of her.


Twilight boarded a four car brown train, headed to Canterlot where she thought Sombra might be, I have to find him, once I do I get my friends back. I can go back to a normal life.

Snickering in her head stopped her thoughts, Normal, far from it Astral, you will come to see no need in friends or your petty mentor. For now hold onto your mind as I will take over soon, Eclipse said.

I won't believe that I would forsake my friends, that is why I accepted the evil, I will defeat Sombra and release them. Twilight held her breathe and cloaked her magic as another black guard passed, once he did she relaxed. the low thunk of the train wheels drilling into her,   I won't let you have my body Eclipse, I will die before that.

Try to die if you can, Do it, sever our and and cut your limbs off. Nothing can kill us now Astral and you know it, I will forever keep you alive in endless torture even after your friends die. The words echoed in Astrals head, she didn't want to believe what she said but with what happened the day before anything could be possible.

Astral was too caught up in her thoughts as a black guard began to pass, a unicorn no less and he had picked up her magic and turned to her, "YOU! you're the one from the train station," Astral jumped slightly, seeing him she leaped upwards on top of the second car, the guard followed. "Stop right there, don't move," He motioned to his ear as he mumbled something, noticing this Astral then heard the door from the third car open as another guard jumped behind her.

I don't need this shit, I am so close to Canterlot, not now! Why, is it bothering you that two measly guards stand in your way, kill them. I can't do that, I won't. But you will, you need to do this, you heard nightmare, to beat Sombra you must accept me. Accept the darkness within you, you can't stop this.

The guard slowly moved forward, "put your hood down and lower yourself to the ground to stay away from being imprisoned, do this and no harm will come to you"

Do it!

The second advanced from behind her, the first called out again, "I said pull the hood down and this transaction of disrespect will be much less severe, if not we will be forced to take you down"

Do it now, Embrace your anger and hate, feed that emotion, DO IT!!

"PULL THE HOOD DOWN! do it or I will attack," the guard said as a blue hue of magic wrapped his horn, the other guard unfurled his wings and bent down slightly ready to take off.

Last Chance Astral, Do it now, DOOO ITT!!!!

The two guards pounced forward as Astral rolled to her left nearly falling off the cart, the Pegasus kicked off the ground before colliding with the unicorn, lifting himself into the air and flapping with the train to keep up. The Unicorn stood back up and unsheathed his hidden blade, "I warned you, you insufferable criminal, I thought you seemed shifty back at the station," he swung his blade forward as it tore through Astrals cloak revealing her, her eye's glowing and teeth sharpened.

"Leave now and I won't have to do something I would regret"

"No, I will take you in to custody"

In Eclipses voice Astral boomed, "LEAVE"

The guard stumbled slightly but advanced on Astral swinging his blade, it slid through her skin slightly with every swing, small trails of red made way for the blade as it did. Now stood in the middle of the car the Pegasus charged forward trying to grapple her, he grabbed one of her back legs but received a buck to the face, shaking off the sudden dizziness he sprang forward again but this time he stopped. Tendrils of black magic span in front of him as he dove off the side and began flying again.

Red mist started to seep from Astral as she snarled at the unicorn, a tendril flew forward as he dodged it, it didn't stop there though as it turned and wrapped his front leg. Where the tendril touched his skin bubble and his hairs began to get singed as his screams were muffled by the wind passing them, noticing this the Pegasus flew to hit twilight but passed right by her. When the unicorn saw him pass her the pegasi's wings tore off as he plummeted to the ground at hurtling speeds.

"I did warn you foals, I would do something I would regret but now I feel a little bit giddy," The tendril of sludgy darkness lifted the unicorn up into the air as Astral made her way to the front car, when she met the edge she grinned as the guard dangled and went wide eyed at the passing tracks and hard stone directly beneath him, "Do you want to know what would make me not drop you right now"

The guard nodded with vigor, he shouted, "YES, PLEASE DON'T DROP ME, PLEASE"

"Then laugh for me with a smile, a big fat grin and laugh," Astral grinned devilishly, she licked her lips at the display before her. The guard was dangled upside down with a big smile slightly faultering, laughing as loudly as he could with tears coming from his eyes, "yes just like that, now I won't feel as bad," Astral made a fake pouting face as her tendril released him, he screamed as Astral teleported forward and turned.

The train ground to a stop as it ran over the body sending his innards and other body parts flying on the track, Astral began to cackle as her grin widened, suddenly she stopped as her face turned from insane happiness to one of horror, "what did I just do? how can I enjoy doing that," she watched on as a few more guards exited to see what happened. They saw the body parts and armor and Astral heard them shouting as they searched, seeing this she pictured her old manor, Sparkle manor and teleported away to get away from what she just did.


A changed life


When she opened her eyes where she lay she could see a fire, she was laid in the front room, two chairs and a couch of brown sat in the room with pictures of her family hung around. Twilight stared at the picture hung above the fire, four ponies stood together, herself and her brother were on the front and then her dad and mom were behind them, a small tear fell as she heard hoofsteps behind her.

When she turned she noticed her father with a frying pan held in his magic, his once dark blue mane now gray and riddled with dead ends, he shouted at the intruder in his house, "WHO ARE YOU, THIEF, GET OUT!!" never one for a shouter showed that he obviously couldn't tell the change that had happened.

Astral stumbled to her hooves and looked at her dad with loving eyes, she missed him so much at the end, all her friends and family flashed in her mind. Now though sixteen years had passed and she was unsure whether the house would even still be there, "Its me," she said as her voice broke, Nightlight shifted slightly at the voice.

He moved closer slightly and looked at her features for a minute as he processed her looks, with questions running through his head and tears about to fall from his eyes he asked,  "Twilight?" Astral nodded as her own tears fell slightly, feeling completely lost she fell to the floor. Nightlight ran over and wrapped her in a hug as they cried, the light orange glow of the fire warming them, "How? y-y-you died, we even saw your horn," nightlight said as he saw her new one, "your horn!"

Astral looked up, "its different I know, I will tell you everything soon daddy but where is mommy?" the only reply she had was a saddened look, "no, nooo, NOO!!" she screamed as she pushed her face into her fathers chest. Minutes passed as her cry became sniffles, light drops of tears every now and then fell but her eyes showed she was numb, numb of feeling.

"I am sorry Twilight, I couldn't stop them," Nightlight said as he moved back, "but now you're here I wont let them get you," he said will a stern look on his face, "that bastard took your mother and I won't let him take you-"

"Who did," Astral asked as her voice became slightly ghastly, "who took her and what happened," she looked up as nightlight slightly jumped at seeing her eyes glow.

"Sombra, he took your mother from me and........... and...-" his teeth were gritted as tears fell from his scrunched up muzzle, "he piked her in front of a crowd along with many others as an example to us," he slammed a hoof into the ground braking the black tiles, he then let out a scream of anger as his breathing became rapid. Astral laid forward and wrapped her dad again as tears fell from her eyes.

Venom  leaked from every word as she spoke, "I will do much worse to that bastard, I will make his death slow and show the world when I do. I will enjoy every scream and wail with pleasure as he struggles in my grasp," her teeth grew with every word as her mane started to extend, "I will slowly impale him as he begs for mercy," her eyes split and glowed even more, "and when he is about to lose consciousness I will force him back awake to torture him more," her voice now more like the scratching of nails on a chalk board that equin, "I will enjoy every cut I make, he will die by my hoof and I will take pleasure in it-"

Astral felt the hooves tighten, "I will not stop you Twilight................ It's-its not alright to kill but that............ BASTARD deserves it," his eyes full of ferocity himself, "kill him Twilight, do it for your mother and your brother, cadence and your friends and then some more for what he did to the Princess', every scream he makes don't give him an easy death," Astral was surprised to hear her father agree instead of not stopping her.

Everything has changed, Of course it has, look at our home, it use to be so lively until that fucker showed up. We will kill him, destroy him, rip his guts from his body, Make him pay dearly for everything he has done, He will Die, painfully and we will enjoy every second of it, Astral was merging slowly with Eclipse, shocked too much from hearing of her mother and brother. Astral stood and looked at her father who also rose to his hooves, he nodded and walked through to the back room.

"As I said I won't stop you, I am coming with you, we will avenge everypony tonight," Astral was about to argue but her father glared stopping her, she was still surprised that he said nothing of her image change, "give me a few minutes as I pull my old armor out," Nightlight disapeared up stairs.

Astral waited downstairs as she was looking out of the window at the ponies who slumped past the window in cloaks, each muzzle down in a frown, she snarled at the guards who didn't look her way. She then heard the clink of armor and turned, glowing yellow eyes, dark blue armor and............... and dragon wings, "Dad, you have wings? how did you?"

Nightlight strode forward, apparently his daughter could tell his magic signature easily obviously and asked the question most do when they find the family secret, "I never got to hand you this armor, at the end f tonight I will pass it down to you. Our family have been waiting for our ruler, we were the night guard, this armor was enchanted for battle. When one wears it they gain either wings or a horn, if they were an earth pony they would gain both sometimes, this was our family secret. The sister of Celestia was our ruler but she was banished over a thousand years ago and we don't know where, she went crazy and attempted to kill many but our clan belive she will be back one day and she will come back reformed. One day you could be the right hoof of her, I hope you will be any way" he said looking down at the armor, apart from the slight changes to his teeth and wings he looked the same.

Nightlight moved over to Astral, "Twilight, if you see me fall tonight, do not falter. We do this for a bigger cause, we do this for everypony, If I die tonight avenge me by killing Sombra, end him."

"But dad you can't just sa-"

"No but's Twilina Bella Sparkle, don't drop your guard, don't ever be distracted from what we are doing. No matter what happens know I am here," he placed a hoof above Astrals chest, "your mother and the rest are also there, they will never leave you, I will never leave you, I love you darling. Lets go, its time Sombra fell, this day we reclaim equestria," he bellowed as he began to move, he moved to the kitchen and then shifted the table off the carpet it lay on. He then moved the carpet with magic to reveal a hidden door, "the hidden door that Celestia had us put here for you, hopefully he never discovered it." the door swung open as a wall of cold dusty air flew out of the pitch black walk way. Nightlight went first and lit his magic to lead the way.


They walked in silence for around an hour, slowly making their way through the muddy soil and rats that ran past every now and then. A small draft passed at regular intervals, now though it was getting stronger meaning they were near the exit of the walkway, "Twilight, we are nearly there, get ready for the guards," as he said that the end of the walk way grew wider as a jagged opening looked over the courtyard of Canterlot gardens, guards riddled everywhere, an uncountable number. "Remember, no matter what Twilight, I am so glad you are back, be safe," He leaned back and gave her a kiss on the forehead before jumping, meters away from the ground he unfurled his wings and hit into the back of a guard plunging his knife through him. More guards tried to rush him but Astrals tendrils tore through there bodies shredding them.

They began to run at the entrance of the gardens that lead to the castle as the guards chased them, Nightlight took guards down with magic and his sword severing limbs and heads as he moved. Twilight did the same as she tore through them, two unlucky enough to end up sharing a brain as she thumped them together smashing their helmets and skulls in the process. More guards came and the two cut a path until they hit the gates, the guards were trying to stop them from getting to the switch to open them up.

"GO! OPEN THE GATES TWILIGHT!!" Nightlight screamed, battering against the swords of the guards, slaying one and taking his sword in magical grasp for more attacking power.

Astral nodded and then made her way forward, many tried to stop her as they screamed and dropped to the floor in pain, "MY LEG!!", slash, "MY FACE!!" A tendril shot forward impaling two guards and lifting them into the air before flinging them over onto the spikes of the gates, the guards were dwindling in numbers the further she pressed. All the guards could do was wait for immanent death until one got a lucky shot and impaled her chest from the left, blood spewed from the gap, puncturing many organs.

The last of the guards cheered in joy as Astral coughed blood only to have their hope crushed along with the attackers face, she lifted up as a massive grin was splattered across her, she began to giggle, though the sound was more of a gurgle from the blood of her throat and chest. Seeing how the mare reacted the guards backed up slightly, slowly one guard turned to run as electricity ran through his armor killing him, "Attack her, we will die other wise," The guard who shouted it died instantly, the other guards watched the tongue flap after the top of his head was cleaved clean off, a second later and the rest dropped to the floor. Tendril after tendril the guards suffered much worse deaths than those before them.

Everypony in front of Astral died, save but one holding a sword in magical shakily, he breathed rapidly as her hoofstes made him jump at every step. Astral was so close now she was muzzle to muzzle with the shaking guard, "Aw, how cute, you are shaking. Whats wrong, do I scare you, are you going to run away. Tell me, are you going to use your sword to pierce me, slowly before you tear my skin, then faster as your breathe becomes raged, faster and faster," she moaned as the guard quaked in his boots, she licked her lips at the sight of it, "I would be fast if I was you, or else I might just," she leaned past his muzzle up to his ear, "bite!" she said and then bit down on his ear that protruded his helmet, quickly ripping it away as blood spurted onto her face, she cackled with laughter as the guard dropped his sword and clenched his head. Astral moaned with pleasure, "that's it, that's the face I wanted to see, squirm with pain you maggot. Now to die," a tendril of sludge tore into his chest and dragged the guard up the wall until he was looking down at Astral, blood slowly dripped onto her face as she laughed.

"Twilight stop!" A hoof placed on her shoulder made her spin around, another tendril flying at its target only to stop millimeters away from Nightlights face, "Thats enough, hes dead, open the gate," Nightlight said as Astral gripped back on her sanity.

But that was just getting good, oh daddy why did you stop us, I can't keep killing I am losing my sanity, no I am not, I enjoy it when I tear flesh with my own teeth, her thoughts becoming more one with Eclipse, her minds voice now a joint of the two. Astral raised a hoof and pulled the leaver and moved through the gate, they moved quick up to the entrance of the palace, it was now a walk of thirty minutes to the palace halls where Sombra should be. They made haste as guards started to come out of the shadows of the halls, again dying as soon as they got near the two, Nightlight was covered in as much blood as Astral by now.

They got around ten minutes in when the guards could be seen pushing something down the hallway, two stood behind the contraption as one held a torch, he dipped it down as a large bang sounded off. A metal ball hurtled through the air and collided with one of the attackers head, it splattered up the windows as grey matter sprayed on the rest who stood there. The guards next to the canon placed another ball in it getting ready to fire again, Astral nodded to Nightlight as she leaps over the guards and rushed the canon. The guards on the canon began rushing to get the gun powder filled into the canon but it was too late, they lit the end as Astral cut the barrel off, the powder ignited and exploded next to them, one guard died instantly, another had flown back yards away and the last had two legs and half the skin on his face blown away. Astral grunted and spat at the downed guard who was now throttling at the mouth, "Deserved it, wanker, you don't fire balls at me when I am enjoying myself!!"

Astral noticed the change in personality but ignored it, moving back to her dad who was struggling now with around nine guards on him, she came slightly late as one guard slashed at a back leg as he dropped to his knees. Astrals rage sky rocketed as she used the tendrils to move faster, suddenly she appeared on the other side of the group. Each of the guards stared at each other as their necks steamed smoke, they then tried to turn their necks to look at Twilight but they all seemed to fall over, some tried to scream when they noticed what happened but they couldn't their bodies with their lungs were still stood. Then the bodies joined their heads on the floor, Nightlight looked a little surprised by what happened but got up with a limp, looking at Astral, "Twilight come on were nearly there," she looked at his leg for a second and looked back up, "Ignore it, I want to see that fucker die, even at the cost of my own," Astral giggled slightly and then pressed on, her father hobbled behind her trying to keep up.

Her mood had changed, she had changed ever so slightly, the guards that came at her never even made it to Nightlight as they instantly fell to the floor, the white marble floor was sprayed red as blood drained from the accumulative of all the guards until they reached two familiar white oak doors, "SOMBRA!" She shouted before moaning in pleasure, "Knock knock, any one home~" she said before pushing the door open.


Astral pushed forward into the room, she saw Sombra sat atop the throne, now crystal and see through. A few normal black guards were spread around the room and two smokey grey looking ponies made of mist held double ended spears stood under him. Nightlight hobbled in after her and snarled at the usurper king, "SOMBRA, we are hear to claim Equestria back"

The king sat up and looked down at them, "And who hath the nads to claim right of throne, my throne no less, you jest. Who prey tell are you, old man"

Astral started laughing and couldn't hold it in, "Sombra!! Oh fuck....... I really want to see you decapitated and piked, even more I want to study the sizes of how long your small intestine would reach compared to your big intestine. Cutting you will be heaven," She breathed in sharply as her cheeks became flushed and red at the thought of killing him.

The king scowled, "Who is this mare, she thinks of me easy kill, I will not stand for this, WHO ARE YOU"	

Astral giggled again and looked up, "Twilight Sparkle at your service my liege," The king looked shocked and stared at the mare who resembled Twilight.

"You died in my caves, I saw you dead carcass weeks after you began rotting, KILL THEM, KILL THEM BOTH," Sombra screamed as the guards ran at them with weapons bared, Astral bolted forward at them as blood and limbs flew around the room.

The two mist guards never moved and watched on as their king sat upon his throne with a snarl, a few black guards decided to run and ended up dying from their enchanted armor, dropping to the ground as a burnt crisp after being electrocuted. Astral fought the guards as her fur became matter with fresh blood, she cackled with every swing of her blade, enjoying every kill she made. Sombra began to shiver slightly at the mare in front of him, not the feeble minded little filly but the insane demented mare that wanted his death. Her grin rivaled that of a Cheshire cat as her serrated teeth chattered from laughing, finding their way into a guards neck or torso every few kills.

Nightlight was holding his ground but his leg was slowing him down, most of the guards were focusing on Astral so it wasn't anything worth noticing, he kept his eyes on the guards before him. Dodging to the left he was missed by a few center meters as a sword swung at his neck, then thrusting his own sword forward he killed the guard but in doing so his left side was open and was cut by one of the guards making him falter. He dropped one of his swords so that he could stop the bleeding with magic as he slain the guard who wounded him.

Astral was getting closer to the step, the last guard in front of her was torn in half as skin and bone snapped across his barrel, the blood fell down onto her mane as she stepped forward, "Oh, over already, boo boo, I was having fun. Sombra, is that really the best you have for me, Its disappointing, tell me that these guys will be better," Astral asked as she pointed a hoof at the mist guards.

Sombra stood and waved his hoof from left to his right, "Honor guard, attack!" The two mist beings moved as they span the spears, one was held in a blue hue as the other was held in a green hue, they came at Astral with lightning speed. The spears came close to her muzzle as she dodged back, with over a two meter fighting advantage it would be hard to fight hand to hand, so Astral tried to use her tendrils differently.

She span her tendril forward letting the sludge be released at the mist guards, the two span the spears clearing all gunk that went their way, the blue hued guard created a barrier around the green hued one as he advanced. His spear snapped into two as he advanced, swinging them violently Astral then decided to make some blades for her self, she jumped away from them and concentrated as the tendrils began to pool at her hooves, it started to spread up her legs and then her barrel, her head was last and then it solidified. The sludge now looked like obsidian shards of armor, draped over her and was able to move like rubber, Two sword hilts protruded from the sludge at her forehooves and she gripped them with magic, each came out of the ground at a length of a meter each.

Her mane seeped out of the line on the back of the helmet, her eyes split across the middle and began glowing as she grinned, "Playtime, Lets play," she shadow shifted forward leaving black smoke where she just was, the mist guard jumped and span to where she appeared, barely dodging the glimmering obsidian aimed at his throat. It did not stop as she shifted again to behind him, the blade scraping the blue bubble as it cracked, the blue hue mist guard whimpered slightly trying to keep the shield up. The green hue span his two points at Astral for them to meet obsidian blade, sparks of bright orange flew from the blades as they dueled, slowly the blue shield began to spider web with every colliding strike of Astrals blades.

Finally her blade broke through and pierced the mist of the creature, surprisingly blood came from its head and splattered on the last parts of the blue shield as it stumbled backwards. Astral giggled as she swung the blood off the blade, when the shield fully dropped she stepped forward and swung with both her blades and the tendrils as she swung straight down from skull to the bottom of his barrel. After she moved her blades away the mist slowly drifted to the floor and back to Sombra, leaving a very malnourished looking brown stallion who was dead as he stood, his eyes glazed over milky.

Astral turned on the second one as he tried to swing his spear, Astral caught it in her magical grasp and impaled the guards stomach and through him at a wall, he dangled there as the blood trickled down the spear, Astral slowly made her way over cackling, "Your dogs weren't very hard to put down, come now I will end your suffering," Sombra began to laugh loudly as he watched Astral turn to him, "whats so funny, I just killed nearly all your guards and you laugh," Astral said as she stopped.

Sombra laughed again before speaking, "Truly you are malevolent, you have taken in darkness, now I must put a nail in thy coffin," His horn glowed as Astral took on a stance but Sombra did nothing as she saw the mist return from the guard, when he did that she turned and her heart nearly stopped.

"SHINING!! NOO~!" She had impaled Shining Armor onto the wall, he dangled there with slow breathes, Nightlight saw him as he was slashed across the chest and dropped to the ground. Nightlight watched on with tear filled eyes as his daughter fell screaming, Shining's once marvelous white coat was not gritty and dirty, blood stains from cuts and clear bruising was shown across his body. His ribs protruded from his body, his stomach just larger than one of his arms, "No shining no, I am so sorry I didn't know, I am sorry"

Shining looked up but his eyes saw nothing, he mumbled something but they couldn't tell anything apart from, "Caa.....de....nce"

Astral moved to get him down but then the bottom half of Shining fell to the floor as his head fell, Sombra had sent a blade of black mist through him, Astral stood there looking up at her brothers face, his tongue dangling out his mouth. Then she screamed, her mane began blazing like it was alight in red flames, her eyes became pitch black as she advance on Sombra. Each swing of her blade was either dodged or stopped by Sombra, in her fit of rage she was an easy target as her front two hooves were cleaved away in black mist. She fell to her muzzle and looked up, only to have a hoof smash onto her face, "Twilight, do you know, you were the mare who used to torment my very existence. Now I see you are much like myself, maybe this is good for you, the world is not as easy as you think it is. Throughout all of these years I have been draining the elements and have been sapping Celestias powers for myself, you are no match," He said as her released his hoof from her head so she could look up, all it caused was for her to scream again as she saw wings on his back, he grew taller as well, "Playtime is over," He said. He began by teleporting over to where her father lay, her eye that could see them became a pinprick as Sombra raised his hoof, slamming it down on her fathers head with a crunch.

"Now my dear, this time I will thoroughly make sure you stay dead," Spears of pure black pierced through her and lifted her into the air as she looked down, terror and fear emanated across her very existence, "I will show the world what their savior has become and how futile it is to rebel against me, I shall crucifies you in front of the nation," He said as they moved through the halls, passing all the dead without so much as batting an eyelash, he even stepped through the blood and guts as he trotted.

They reached the balcony of the castle where the Princess would usually hold ceremonies and speeches, he raised his head as his horn glowed, "My dirty little subjects, hear me now, your savior and liberator has fallen," some of the city had stopped and looked up at what was happening, Sombra flew off the balcony and rose higher up to the middle tower, a large spear of dark energy solidified in the wall. He slowly slid Astral onto it as it impaled her chest, blood dripped from her two legs as she stopped breathing, "This is what happens when you try to stop me, TWILIGHT SPARKLE raised from the dead to be killed again, you will have the same fate if you cross my path," screams of horror errupted from the city as they saw the mare dangling from the spear on the tower as Sombra glided down to the balcony, "That is all," He gathered magic as the clouds began to accumulate in the sky, suddenly lightning and thunder rained down on Astral hitting her directly, she screamed before becoming still, she died again.

Sombra let out a huge laugh as he disappeared back into the castle, pulling the dead back to life in his mist, making them puppets, little did he know he should have destroyed Astral completely. Astral lost consciousness as she became cold, losing her senses she let everything go, it was the end.
> Death of a King, Rise of a Tyrant! 
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dead Again, Ouroboro's, the life cycle


A vast darkness, white specks of light lettered the sky with art, a blue sphere adorned the sky. Astral has found herself in the company of the dark navy Alicorn once again, her dark counterpart on her other side. It seemed forever that they sat there in companionable company, everything was serene, Astral finally felt at piece.

"You aren't going to just give up with that are you?" Nightmare said, turning to Astral.

Astral shifting around and opened her eyes again, "What do you mean? Give up what?" confusion struck over her face.

"Its time Astral, It has been a few hours since you were killed, you have to chose to either stay dead or fully integrate with the darkness," Nightmare stated, Astral turned to see Eclipse staring at their planet.

Without turning Eclipse talked, "You know, I may be your shadow but Sombra did just kill our family, that doesn't sit right Astral. Join me, accept me, I don't want control. I want to be accepted, I am still you at the end of the day, what other choice do we have?" she stated turning to face Astral.

Astral walked forward and stared up, "What will happen to me though, I have felt the darkness over the past few days, it gets stronger and feeds on my malicious intent," She asked as she turned around. "How can you say I will still be me?"

Nightmare walked forward and placed a hoof on Astral's shoulder, "You will be you, the true you. Ponies create a mask to cover their inner darkness, I once did the same but I finally realized that it was the same as lying. I accepted who I truly was and when my friends and family thought it was ugly they encased me here on the moon, from that point on I have been searching Astral, searching for somepony like you. You have so much darkness you cover, on the inside you hate most around you and you don't even realize it, you just cover it up and bottle your feelings. I have been with you for many years, watching and waiting to see how you develop but Sombra had put my plans to a stop by killing you." She said, Astral gawked at what she said.

Astrals blood boiled with anger, "WHO? who exactly do I hate, I love my friends and family," she shouted, stomping a hoof and making the moon dust scatter to the cosmic wind.

Eclipse let out a laugh, walking over and standing right in front of Astral, "You can't lie, not here, it shows on your face. You don't even believe your own words, let me ask what do you think when Pinkie would bug you by her randomness?"

"Its just Pinkie being Pinkie, she was always random, even if it was annoying I can't fault her for being her," Astral answered.

"Then when Applejack used to come over and ask for you to help her with her stall when you obviously had things to do for others," Eclipse raised her eyebrow.

"Any friends would hel-"

"Rarity when she would get you to model or help with her designs for hours on end?" Astral tried to answer but was interupted, "Rainbow when she would smash your windows to break her fall, or just land on you, calling you names throughout her visits," Again she had no chance to answer, "Fluttershy wasn't so bad but she would wake you very early on many occasions or keep you up at night, when she would freak out and be mean to you? None of your friends Treated you as a friend, You were just the work pony. Everypony came to you for help because you wouldn't say no, you just push your own stress under a rug and bottle neck all the problems," Eclipse stated, Staring directly into Astrals eyes.

"But I, my friends-"

"And finally we have Celestia, for years we wanted her affection but all we got were simple parlor tricks and when she grew bored of us she sent us to a hick town out of her sight," Eclipse huffed as a small tear dropped from her eye.

"No she didn't," Astral screamed back as she began to cry.

"See I am right aren't I? you realize everyone has been using us for their convenience right?"

Astral shook her head violently, almost as if to shake her ideas away, "NO! I can't believe that, I won't believe that," she kept screaming.

Nightmare came over, "BELIEVE IT!! Celestia, My own sister trapped me here, just like she did to you with ponyville. She wouldn't send you far away because she knew I had my eyes on you"

"Your sister? Celestia was your sister?" Astral said in shock.

Nightmare nodded, turning to look at the blue orb, " I can remember how long I have been here, I spent years hating her for what she did, all I did was accept my unworthy side. For what I did she thought it uncouth of a Princess of Equestria and banished me to the moon, the very celestial body I control, she seized control over my powers and made a slave of me," A snarl came over her face, "That bitch would get rid of anything she disliked, Discord, the crystal ponies when they wouldn't bow to her, even her own family. Then my dear you think she could have qualms about getting rid of a student?"

Astral looked horrified, her two red orbs quivered in sadness, realization of the truth hit her like a fraight train, "No........... That can't be....... Celestia loved me"

Eclipse let out a scream, "Astral, stop being a stupid filly, the world isn't just black and white, everypony has a dark side. She may be a god and a Princess but she is capable of doing things you wouldn't believe, It takes a cold heart to rule a country, one hardened so that nothing could disturb their rule. And the only way to defeat a tyrant is to become one yourself, ACCEPT ME!!"

Astral sat there for a second, her eyes were blank, losing their color, "If I get to release my friends fine"

Eclipse winced at her words, sadness in her eyes at the look of herself, "It will but just know I will always be here on the inside for you Astral, we are one."

Eclipse turned to Nightmare, she nodded and her horn began to glow a dark blue hue, Astral moved closer to the Darkness of her other self. The height difference between them was clear, "Will this hurt?"

Nightmare looked at her, "I won't lie, this is going to tear your soul apart and rearrange your very being but it will be over soon," Astral nodded.

Eclipse looked at Astral and smiled, "We will walk the same path, finally as one, you have no idea how long I have felt in this lonely place without you Twilight, so cold and lonely," She said as she moved forward and hugged Astral, that is when they both screamed.

They screamed as their flesh joined together, both mares had tears streaming from their eyes but one had a smile. Astral could feel her hoof begin to burn, looking down she saw the black sludge that she was now very familiar with but now a claw seem to pull itself out of the darkness. With the claw came a body and then a head. Its teeth tore into her leg, blood drained from her into the darkness, Eclipse was in the same position as they ate her stomach flesh. The smell of burning flesh and the sound of blood splatting the liquids below spread through the air. Slowly their skin began to melt into the black sludge, Astral watched on as Eclipse's face melted, one eye flailing out of its socket, finally all that was left was a pool of black ooze.

Nightmare studied the pool as it slowly moved, small tentacles of black rippled its surface, then small bits of red mist began to evaporate through the sludge. Looking closely pure white began to grow from four corners of the sludge, it shaped a skeleton, in the eye sockets were two floating red mist balls. The sludge made its way up the bone, caressing every joint with a sizzle, forming the legs. It got to the barrel and pooled in the rib cage making the organs and made its way to her neck. It covered her face all the while her hoofs and horn grew back and emanated red mist, next her eyes grew back, the sclera were a muddy grey as her irises were a deep red.

Her back snapped into position as more white bones began to grow, two wing bones grew out as the mist covered them, when the mist dissipated it left one black feathered wing and one burnt dragon wing. As her horn still grew longer it snapped and twisted into position, her black body began to protrude points that solidified into silver armor and lastly her thin tail grew out as a bone. Her hair was now replaced with a dark mist, "This feels amazing," Her voice reverberated as numerous voices came out, "We feel that this power is amazing."

 	
(Drawn by ElkaArt, I modified it for the story)

Nightmare took a step back and looked over Astral, "It seems the process has succeed, welcome back to life my dear. Do you now see why it is so much better to accept yourself for who you really are?" She asked.

"Yeees~" The moons surface trembled as she spoke, "It is so much better, I feel like I am truly myself, I think it is high time I pay Sombra one last visit. Nightmare, once this is over what will happen though?"

"That my dear friend is up to you, chose your destiny, remember you have already died twice, destiny is never set in stone."

With that knowledge Astral nodded and turned to look at the blue orb, her wings spread wide as the red mist spread out into huge wings, she kicked off and swung once with her wings. Her speed plummeted her back to Equine, straight at Canterlot and the main tower where she hung.


The King and I


Sombra sat on his throne in front of his many mist guards, slowly sipping the wine in his magic, mulling through the thoughts of what had occurred in the day. How could she be back from the dead, There is no way she could revive herself after death. There is no spell or ritual for bringing back the dead, only us immortals can bring our self back from death and she is no immortal., He sat there for a few more minutes thinking through every small event and then he felt power, power was emanating from above him. Dark power, very strong and sickly, it pounded his body to the floor as he rushed to see what it was.

A few seconds later he was through the doors of the castle, he looked up at the sky, cracking thunder and lightning as the swirling black mass of cloud span around and around. It was up there, no it can't be, he thought as he turned to look at Astral, she was gone, Impossible, she couldn't. The thunder stuck again as a shadow on the clouds illuminated, a massive winged beast behind the clouds roared, red mist leaked down from the black and grey clouds as Sombra shook. He grabbed his hoof to stop the shaking, Something that could make me feel fear, preposterous, She couldn't be the one up there.  As he stared up thunder struck to the left of him as he simply ignored it, watching with trepidation to what was coming.

Ponies below the gates of the castle were running riot, scared of what was happening and seeing that it wasn't Sombra, one little filly was in the middle of the street looking up as she clutched her teddy tight. Her small blue orbs caught sight of the sparking demon that parted the clouds, so beautiful like an angel but looks that could kill, she stood there as she cried silent tears until her family grabbed her and ran.

Astral flapped her wings to keep aloft and looked down, her red mist wings taking most of the sky with every swing, "Sombra, your end is nigh!"

A spiral of black mist span around Sombra as his body turned into an obsidian dragon, his head broke the mist as he rose into the sky. His voice became very deep as he talked, "You don't die easily do you little girl, Do I really have to crush the coffin as well as planting the nails," his voice was slightly shaky but still full of confidence.

The mares eyes pierced his, for a second he stopped flapping from shock but resumed, "YOU HAVE SLAIN ME TWICE, THIS TIME WILL BE DIFFERENT, I WILL HAVE YOUR HEART ON A PLATTER THIS DAY SOMBRA. TODAY DARKNESS PREVAILS, ECLIPSE WILL RULE!!" she shouted as she dove at the dragon, red mist claws surrounded her hooves as she clamped into the hardened flesh of Sombra, both tumbled through the air as they slashed at each other. Blood rained down on to the floor as fur and scales dropped from the two beasts, as they released each other and drifted back to the sky they both cracked with magic flaring, healing their wounds and getting ready for a second bout. 

Sombra's mouth and nose began to glow as he faced Astral, he reared his head up and then let an inferno of fire out into the air, Astral beat her wings as the flare of the fire burst away from her in every direction. The walls and ground of the castle began to burn at the heat, any mist guards watching on dropped to the ground in steaming flesh. "You are far greater in magic than you were all those years ago, you use black magic now to transform but I have to ask, who gave you these abilities?" Sombra asked as he stopped breathing fire.

Astral looked back up to Sombra, his scales slightly less shiny from the ash, "It matters not who gave me power, Soon you will be dead!"

"You know that won't work, Immortals bodies can be destroyed and then be reborn as you know first hand, I will gladly die again. The one thing that troubles me most this time was the sudden regrowth you had and how you attained new powe-" He had to move suddenly as a bolt of magic struck his left wing, blue fire lit up his wing as the skin singed, "That was rude my dear, thy manner hath suffered most from your ascension," He said as her lifted a claw, black glowing runes floated in the air as sparks of purple came from his palm. From within the rune a hilt protruded which he grabbed with his right claw, slowly and struggling he pulled on the summoned blade, the blade was huge and looked like it was made of molted lava. The skin of the blade hardened as he swung it, blobs of the liquid flew over the castle walls hitting commoners as they died on contact, "Since you know an immortals body can't really die I suppose I will have to seal you in the 7th realm of darkness, Azeroth, this blade will send you there once you die again," He beat his wings as the castle walls crumbled, dust propelled in all direction as he made a straight line for Astral.

Astral stood strong as the black sludge drained slightly, Two blades were made, the ones from before. She brought the swords up and slammed them together, they morphed and twisted into a scythe, with her tail she gripped the hilt as it split into many parts. The blade hung over her head looking most like a scorpion would its needle, As Sombra struck his blade she blocked. Drips of the lava dropped to her as the skin of the sword cracked, letting the life blood of the sword leak, Sombra swung his arm back again and struck back with double re-doubled vigor. The sky cracked open with white light as the two blades met, Ponies screamed out as the sight blinded them, some burned from the heat it created.

Some of the mist guards that were left began to drop as Sombra pulled his mist back for more power, He pushed the blade down as hard as he could with every swing, getting closer to his goal. Astral watched on as Sombra struggled, a smile came over her face as the last swing hit.

"Why do you laugh, you are losing! My blade comes ever closer to you, soon you will be joining the demons of Azeroth, your death is immanent!" He screamed in frustration, Is this mare crazy, she is laughing in the face of death, Sombra raised the blade and saw she was still smiling, "JUST DIE ALREADY"

A loud thud emanated from the castle, the last part of the entrance fell opening up to the throne room, Sombra looked down as the dust passed over his arms. Astral stood there with a smug look on her face, behind her laid his blade and attached to the item was the last parts of his arms. Sombra screamed out in pain as large amounts of blood dropped to the floor and pooled together, "MY ARMS!! YOU BITCH, DEVIL INCARNATE," He screamed, Astral began to cackle as her teeth protruded her lips, Sombra fell backward into the throne room as his belly faced the sky. Trying to get up but failing he decided to revert to being a pony, when he did a blade pierced his chest and rose him in the air, he looked down at the mare who did this to him, a complete reversal of the earlier events during the day, "You bitch!"

Astral let a small giggle pass her lips, "Oh Sombra you flatter me, your much too kind," Astral began twisting the blade rapidly as Sombra screamed, "Is that really the worst word that you could say, I am slightly disappointed, not once but twice you failed to keep me dead," Sombra spat blood at Astral, she just opened her mouth and swallowed it as he cringed.

"You aren't that kind mare anymore, your not even the one from hours ago, your a true demon!" He said before coughing blood, Looking down he cringed again as he could see his blood slowly draining, "You can't kill me you silly child, how would you do that? there is o other way to kill an immortal, why do you think I trapped Celestia instead of killing her, child?"

Astral snorted, "Really? you think I would be stupid enough to just kill you so you can revive, you underestimate me Sombra," The air around them began to tremble as the last pieces of the castle fell, sparks of purple and red surrounded them as red mist left Astrals mouth, "I will devour your soul Sombra, you will die if your soul is broken, even a god cannot survive that," Sombra could only watch as Astra thrusted her teeth in his chest, a loud crack was heard as she tore some of his ribs away. A bright red crystal was centered in the middle of his chest.

His eyes went wide as she gripped the crystal in her magical grasp, a horrific grin on her features, she pulled slowly as his magic struggled to keep it in his chest but slowly the tether of his magic could hold no more as his last breathe escaped his body. The red crystal was floating in front of Astral now, in her head she could hear Nightmare, "Eat it, crush the crystal and he will be no more, you will have your friends back," She stared at the crystal as it sparkled.

She placed it on the floor and raised her hoof, "Goodbye Sombra," She pressed down but stopped for a second and looked over to the ponies in crystal resin that she did not care to even see, different sizes and colors, "But why kill you when I can trap you?" Astral looked back down at the crystal as she sparked her horn back with magic and levitated it over next to the other Crystals containing her friends, "This will do nicely, who needs friends when you can wear a crown," An evil grin crossed her face as she began to capture the red crystal in a surrounding magic resonance, that itself creating more crystals to trap it. 

Nightmare looked down from where she was at what she had done and screamed, "NOO! YOU FOAL, YOU MUST DESTROY SOMBRA OR I WILL BE TRAPPED HERE, YOU DAMN BITCH"

"Nightmare, I only see one throne, that throne there is now mine," She cantered over to the throne and sat down, "Quite nice, I think I could get use to this," She said. 

"You don't know what you are doing, Sombra will rise again, he wil-"

"You don't get, Celestia has been trapped the same way for many years, how could he escape?" Astral sat as she looked around, rubble and dead bodies littered her new home. With one cast of her magic she blew the rubble and bodies off the white marble of the floor, the night sky could be seen now as the moon and stars shone bright, "This is my throne now, My rule, MY KINGDOM!!"


Epilogue


A week had past and news of what happened to Sombra had spread to ponyville where spike was, with the new he made his way quickly on the train with Sweetiebelle, arriving in Canterlot it looked better than it did. The sun in the sky had a slight more red tint than when Sombra ruled, looking up to the castle they could see pillars of dark blue, huge open roof and one tower where the old castle was, "Well thats different, what do you think Sweetie?"

Sweetie was looking around at the city folk, many trudging along, some were crying out of sight. Spike had noticed this and could see that many had lost family during the battle they had, the city fared no better, walls and houses had been leveled from the magic shockwaves and were being rebuilt. "I don't think this will be a happy place for a while, if Twilight really did defeat Sombra why hasn't the Princess announced her revival? Don't you think something is wrong, something isn't sitting right with me here," Sweetie said as she looked at her friend.

Spike thought over Sweeties questions but shrugged them off, "I am sure that being in a crystal resin for sixteen years would put you out of commission for a day or two, plus what could they do to help right now. The Princess would only be able to placate the public for so long and I don't think it would of helped anyway, lets see Twilight and see what she has to say," Sweetie hesitated but nodded after a while.


They both made there way to the castle entrance, along the way they noticed the ponies became more skid-dish and less were seen the closer they got, "See Spike, this isn't right," Sweetie said looking at the crumbled wall.

"Maybe so but we still have to find out what is happening," Spike said moving over the rubble and making his way up to the path above, the closer they got the more larger the blue pillars looked, big enough for a full grown dragon to nest in, Woah, when did this happen? Did Twilight do this?.


They made there way through the castle, and up to an obelisk that protruded the floor, one huge room and this obelisk, the tower had no doors. They wandered for a few minutes but came back to the obsidian shard in the center of the room and approached it, As they did red runes in an archaic language appeared inside of it, it began glowing until it sparked. Once they put their arms back down they set their eyes upon a mare who was now stood before the obelisk, smiling at them with glee.

Twilight had reverted a lot to her old self now, all but the wings and hair, her hair was now a luminous red, "I am so happy you could make it, I have been waiting for you to arrive, Please come this way," Twilight said as she walked around the obelisk. They followed noticed the almost too happy nature of Twilight, she didn't even wait for them to greet her. A few minutes later they were at the base of the tower next to the mountain, Twilight placed a hoof on a rock of the mountain as its stone snapped and shifted opening a door, it was the same red runes.

Sweetie spoke in a hushed voice, "This is giving me the chills, we shouldn't follow her there, there was never an opening in the mountain before right?"

"I don't know, c'mon she is walking away," he said back in a hushed voice.


A few minutes later they had arrived in a massive cave, at the center of the room were five crystals that had red runes surrounding them, protective spells to keep others away. Twilight stopped when she got in the cave and turned to them, "I have been waiting for you Spike, I need your help, I need your life," She stated nodding whilst still smiling happily.

"My-m- What?" Spike was confused as to what Twilight was meaning, "Twilight, I don't understand-"

He was suddenly pinned to the floor, Sweetie belle was dragged over to the crystals with a tendril of darkness, It curled around her and squeezed, "Spike, listen closely, I need you, if you help me I will let her go," Spike gasped as Twilight opened her eyes, where the white of her eyes should be they were black and her irises were dark red, he struggled under the grip as he watched Sweetie struggle to breathe.

He looked between Twilights eyes and Sweetie Belle, his head sunk low as he spoke, "How could you Twilight? How can you do this, this isn't y-" A tendril span around his neck making him look up.

"Not Me! but it is my little spikey, I have finally accepted what I am. Friends, not needed. Mentor, outdated and old news. Little brother, needs to grow up and smell the coffee. I will say this one more time, Join me or she dies," Small tears were dropping from his eyes as he quickly nodded, hoping she would release Sweetie.

Twilights grin became maniacal as she laughed, "Goood~," Her horn lit up as she levitated the dragon into the air, pure white chains shot up from the ground and dug into his scales, he screamed in pain as it did. "Today spike, you will get what you wanted, today you will grow up, mommy is so proud," She spat, the dragon squirmed in the air as Sweetie cried below.

"STOP!! YOUR KILLING HIM!" Sweetie screamed, the tendrils tightened their grasp, snaps were heard as her bones broke.

Twilight lowered Spike back down and walked over to him, several chains dangled with blood steaming down their links, Twilight lowered her head and touched her horn on Spikes head. Spikes eyes bolted open as he gasped, all his muscles rippled and his bones snapped, his claws grew long into talons as he grew larger and larger until his back hit the roof of the cave.

His purple scales turned red, Twilight why?, were his last thoughts as his eyes glazed over and turned a different color. Twilight stroked the top of Spikes huge head as the white chains dissipated into thin air, now a mindless beast who is controlled Spike let out a roar that shook the cave.

Sweetie looked on in horror as Twilight turned around and walked to her, the same grin from when she turned Spike on her face. Twilight knelt down and pushed her horn on Sweetie, who in turn screamed out into the air, the cave echoed with her wails. Then it ended and Twilight moved away from her, completely black eyes and protruding teeth were all that was changed on Sweetiebelle, "Now I have a guard for the prisoners, now to make a list for a list of how to take over the country as a ruler," She said as Spike curled around her.


She left the cave as Spike followed through the huge gap and retreated to her blue pillars and lay down to rest and think her plans as to what her next stage of take over would be, Now she was the Queen, Queen Astral Eclipse. With that thought she used her magic and created a crown to befit her image, Finally where she belonged she sat to rest before the coming days of being a ruler.


(I modded the image, I did not draw this and own no rights to it)


Twilight was now the Queen but without her knowing she would soon be meeting some old faces and maybe some new ones, only time will tell.

In the cave below the mountain, Sweetie stood guard as she looked at the white Crystal, a tear fell from her emotionless face, as it hit the ground she did not see the small cracks that were spreading across the crystals in the room, all apart from one.