> MLP-Twilight's Journey
>  by Tigerarrow
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

> Grumpy Unicorn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Once upon a time, in the magical land of Equestria, there were two regal sisters who ruled together and created harmony for all the land. To do this, the eldest used her unicorn powers to raise the sun at dawn; the younger brought out the moon to begin the night. 
 
Thus, the two sisters maintained balance for their kingdom and their subjects, all the different types of ponies. But as time went on, the younger sister became resentful. The ponies relished and played in the day her elder sister brought forth, but shunned and slept through her beautiful night. One fateful day, the younger unicorn refused to lower the moon to make way for the dawn. 
 
The elder sister tried to reason with her, but the bitterness in the young one's heart had transformed her into a wicked mare of darkness: Nightmare Moon She vowed that she would shroud the land in eternal night. Reluctantly, the elder sister harnessed the most powerful magic known to ponydom: the Elements of Harmony. 
 
Using the magic of the Elements of Harmony, she defeated her younger sister, and banished her permanently in the moon. The elder sister took on responsibility for both sun and moon and harmony has been maintained in Equestria for generations since..”
 
“…But Nightmare moon could not be stopped forever and on the longest day of the thousandth year, the stars will aid in her escape and she will bring about nighttime eternal. Hmm.” Twilight Sparkle hummed quietly to herself as she closed the book of prophesies. 

The fourteen-year-old tapped her chin wondering where she had heard the story before. She had only picked the book up because she didn’t remember having read it before, though she now wondered if she had wasted her time. The mare in the moon was just an old pony’s tale used to frighten foals on nightmare night. Everypony knew that Celestia had no sister, she had always raised the Sun and Moon by herself and the elements of harmony were simply an overinflated myth. 
She snorted shaking her head. Nightmare Moon, really. She rolled her eyes. A story book character suddenly coming to life and returning after a thousand years. This could only mean one thing….

“We’re all going to die.” She deadpanned tossing the book over her shoulder. 

“Die!” a tiny voice squeaked as a small purple and green dragon shot up from his resting place at her side. The four-year-old gripped at her fur pulling himself onto her back. 

“I don’t want to die Twilight!” 

“Oh, it won’t be that bad.” The purple unicorn snorted trotting over to the bookshelf to find a new book. “I mean you’re a dragon so you can probably go live in the center of the world or something and eat lava rocks or whatever while we all freeze to death.” She explained sounding remarkably unconcerned with the certainty of her own death. 

“Twilight!” Spike whined tugging at her mane, “We have to do something I don’t want to live off lava rocks! They taste salty!” Twilight rolled her eyes shaking her head to dislodge the parasite. 
“Oh don’t be such a drama queen brat. Eternal night doesn’t even sound that bad.”

She pulled out a few of her favorite astronomy books, humming as she flipped through the pages. “I can get some nice star gazing done, cake flank can get taken down a peg or two ha and—” She twirled around smirking victoriously.

“With all the stupid ponies fighting over who gets to kiss our new queen’s flank first no one will bother me. No more seeing their annoying faces.” She stroked her chin and nodded firmly to herself.

“This nighttime thing might not be all that bad. Maybe I should help. Think she’ll be looking for an underage librarian.” 

“Twilight!” Spike cried looking like he was about to burst into tears. She rolled her eyes. 

“Alright, alright whatever. Do you have a plan for fixing this?” She asked not in the mood to listen to his whining if she continued to refuse to help in preventing their untimely deaths. Spike smiled wiping his eyes, happy she was now taking this seriously. 

“Of course!” he beamed running to pick up a piece of parchment and a quill. 
“We just got to send a letter to the princess! I bet she’ll know what to do.” 

Twilight simply grunted refraining from telling him that it was her sister that she banished in the first place, so sunbutt most likely already knew the exact day baby sis would be coming home. 
Then again this was cake-flank so she might have forgotten with all the rocks in her head. 

Now that she thought about it if Celestia had somehow forgotten that the sister, she had banished to the moon was coming back for revenge she was a pretty crappy sister so maybe Nightmare moon had the right idea to try and dethrone her. 

Deciding those problems would be best left to someone who cared Twilight turned her thoughts to more important things. Namely the slight problem of who would be sending the scroll. 

Twilight’s ears flatten before she shook her head face settling back into a familiar scowl. Even if she did send a message there was no way Celestia would believe her problem student about a threat to Equestria. 

She would more than likely see it as a stupid prank and give her a long lecture about respect and false reports that Twilight would happily ignore. 

Milling over this hiccup in her plan, technically it was Spike’s plan but seeing as she basically owned him all his great plans were her greats plan. At least until they failed then they were his and she completely blamed him, her though process was forcefully interrupted when the door to her tower suddenly slammed open, an light blue colored unicorn trotting in with a haughty toss of her mane. 

“The great and powerful Trixie demand for you to vacate this space as her mentor Princess Celestia has assigned her a book report.” Trixie scoffed looking down her nose at the smaller pony. Spike squeaked hiding behind the purple unicorn as she glared. 

“Why are you even here you fake clown? If you’re doing a book report, there a thing called a library.” Twilight sneered, tail lashing. Trixie eyes shot fire at her most hated nickname but then she smirked, flipping her mane. 

“Well egghead unlike you the great and powerful Trixie actually has a life and a reputation to think of and the last thing I need is somepony seeing me reading about..” she shuddered “History,” 

She flipped her mane again, pointedly looking around the large room filled from top to bottom with books. “but as you have no life or friends and are an isolated little freak on top of that. Trixie figured this would be the perfect place to get this done and over with.” 

Twilight growled opening her mouth to tell the other unicorn where she could shove her idea when a light bub went off in her head. She smiled slyly gathering up a few items in her magic before grabbing Spike by the tail and carrying him out. 

“Sure Trixe its allll your..” she singsonged mind racing. Celestia may not listen to her but there was no way she would dismiss her Faithful student’s words. She snickered quietly, plans forming quickly in her mind. If she was lucky Trixie would bully her way to the frontlines, there was no way the arrogant unicorn would pass up the chance to face an alicorn and prove herself better, and if the stars were really on her side maybe Nightmare Moon could banish her to an asteroid or something. Maybe even the sun. Remarkably more cheered she whistled happily as she set off to forge a letter.

“I hate you.”

Twilight was fuming. Everything was going so perfectly and of course Fat Flank had to go and ruin it! She’d sent the fake Trixie letter to Celestia with all her finding and when the response had come back so quickly, she was sure the rock headed princess had grown a brain for once and mobilizes the military or something but no! This idiot tells her student to stop reading dusty old books and to go over see the Summer Sun celebration in Ponyville. And what was worse she ordered her to take Twilight with her! 

Of course the purple unicorn had no desire to be anywhere near ground zero and had took off running. Sadly, after a lengthy chase through the castle it all ended with the pout worthy predicament, she found herself in now. Namely being carried by the tail toward a scowling Trixie by Cake flank herself. Stopping at the edge of the chariot Celestia set Twilight down before picking her up by the scruff of the neck and placing her next to Trixie. She beamed at her students, ignoring Twilight’s murderous glare with well-practiced ease. 

“Now my faithful students off you go. Trixie I’ll expect you’ll have everything well in hoof. Twilight listen to Trixie and at least try to behave yourself.” She nuzzled both unicorns, placing a kiss on Spike’s nose. 

Twilight simply scowled curling into a ball facing away from her while Trixie sulked. The spoiled unicorn had argued fiercely against going to some “backwater town” not wanting to leave the shining capitol but had eventually grudgingly surrendered to her mentor. Celestia smiled softly nuzzling her eldest.

“I know this isn’t what you wanted Trixie but try to have fun.” She bopped her nose affectionately “and make some friends.” 

The arrogant unicorn tsked and looked away, Twilight simply brooding as the chariot took to the sky. Waving cheerfully as the chariot took off, Celestia waited till she could no longer see them before letting the smile drop, her eyes growing sad.

“This is it. It’s up to you now Trixie.” Snow white ears fell, her head dipped with a deep sigh. 

One student. One last chance, no time to train another. Nightmare Moon would be returning in a few short hours and that was it. If Trixie didn’t make friends, if she didn’t awaken the Elements of Harmony then- 

“Tia! “

Purple eyes squeezed shut and her breath hitched as she fought back a sadness a thousand years strong. No more waiting, no more planning, no more time. One last chance, one last hope. She couldn’t fight Luna, wouldn’t and if this didn’t work, if her sister couldn’t be saved, there would be nothing left. No reason to stay, no reason to liv- Stop. Deep breath. Choose to hope. A vison of glaring little unicorn flashed across her memory and she winced. Mostly she just hoped Twilight would stay out of the way.

“ok listen here shorty cause I’m only going to say this once.” Trixie snapped glaring at the purple filly as the chariot pulled into Ponyville square. Digging into her saddle bag she pulled out a long scroll shoving it into Twilight’s chest.

“I have no desire to hang out or “make friends” with any of these inbred losers. So you’re going to take care of whatever it is that Celestia wants done while I am going to hopefully find some alcohol that doesn’t taste like piss around here and forget I was ever banished to this place.” The older unicorn sneered turning and stomping away, Twilight jerking back in time to barely avoid being slapped in the face by her lashing tail. 
She glared after her tossing the scroll to the ground in disgust. 

“Well this is about as fun as a kick in the teeth.” She sneered leaning down to groom her chest like the scroll had cooties. Shaking out her fur she stood and stretched.

“Come on Spike lets go find that library we’re staying at.” She bends down grabbing him by the tail to carry him away. 

“Wait!” the little dragon yelped scrambling to grab the scroll before he was lifted into the air. He waved it in her face. 

“We’re already here and Trixie not going to do it so why don’t we check on the preparations.” He widens his eyes, and trembled his lip attempting to spear her heart with his soulful gaze.

“Yeah no.” The worst pony in the world deadpanned dropping him on his head. He yelped but being a dragon he wasn’t really hurt.

“Aww come on Twilight.” He whined rubbing his head. “Trixie bailed and we can pick up the slack and make the princess proud of us for once.” He implored. 

Twilight rolled her eyes. The only way cake flank would ever be proud of her was if she could go two seconds without something exploding. Her nose twitched and she sneezed, a stray bolt of magic from her horn hitting a random house and causing it to burst into flames. She winced slightly as ponies started panicking a dark green mare’s screams of “MY HOUSE!” echoed in her ear. 

Well so much for that. 

Deciding it wasn’t her problem she turned back to her whelp, narrowing her eyes. “Weren’t you just panicking about the whole enteral night- thing.” She grouched sarcastically. “You know returning alicorn? Impending doom? That ring a bell?” 

Spike waved away her protest. “No way Princess Celestia said it was just an old story so it’s all good.” 

Twilight rolled her eyes but decided not to push it. Personally, she was of the mindset that watching the world burn would be great fun, so it didn’t really matter to her either way.

“Come on Twilight even if we don’t do the celebration stuff I thought we could well..” he scraped his foot across the ground giving her a sheepish smile
.
“I thought we could maybe you know…make some friends.” he asked nervously, giving her a wobbly grin. 

Twilight glare immediately hardened, lips curling back into a sneer. “Seriously, friends! That what you’re going on about what have I taught you about friends?” 

“Other ponies are worthless idiots who aren’t worth our time, energy and barely the air they breathe.” The baby dragon dolefully repeated the unicorn’s most frequent teaching. He clenched his fist biting a trembling lower lip before looking up at her with all the courage he could muster. 

“I know, I know but I really want to try please.” Twilight gave him a look a war waging in her heart before finally she rolled her eyes and grunted. “Fine.”

Spike squealed and pumped his fist. “yes!” he cheered. Griping her fur he pulled her toward an approaching pink filly who had come up to see about all the noise.

“Well go on.” He pressed pushing her forward. Twilight huffed giving the filly an unimpressed scowl. “Hi” she deadpanned with all the warm of a blizzard. 

The larger filly stared at her with wide eyes before jumping into the air with a startled gasp and flying off. As in, she really flew. Like seriously, Twilight was sure her hooves didn’t even touch the ground. They both blinked after her. 

“Nope.” She declared putting the whole thing out of her mind. Tossing Spike on to her back she pulled the scroll out and unrolled it in front of her. 

“Alright first thing food. That would be Sweet Apple Acres.” She read trotting out of town. 

Finding the farm was easy enough and the two of them walked through the gates searching for somepony in charge. Hearing a fierce yell her ears perked up and she turned to see an orange filly who looked to be a year or two older than her running toward an apple tree. At the last second, she stopped spun and bucked, hooves hitting the trunk with a hard thump, apples falling perfectly into the waiting baskets. The filly snorted with satisfaction and Twilight rolled her eyes at the sight. 

“Meathead.” She grumbled shifting her hooves. 

Seeing the tiny signs of the unicorn desire to bolt Spike gave her a pleading look and she groaned head and tail lowered like a mare being led to her execution. 

“Fine, let’s get this over with.” 

Walking toward the other filly she cleared her throat to catch her attention. 

“Hi.” She said. “My name is Twilight Sparkle and I’m here to oversee the stuff for the summer sun- “

“Well howdy there sugarcube I’m Applejack. “the orange filly interrupted wiping the sweat off her brow with a bright grin. “It’s a pleasure to meet you Twilight. We here at Sweet Apple Acres sure love to make new friends!” she reached out and to grab her hoof in an overenthusiasm shake but Twilight smoothly side stepped, slapping the offending hoof away. 

“Yeah no.” she said pulling back a step. “Look the palace send me to oversee the summer sun whatever and you’re doing the food right.” 

Applejack frowned at the rudeness but soon found her smile again, chest puffing out in pride. “Sure as shootin sugercube, just let me introduce you to the family.” 

She took a deep breath. Twilight backed up shaking her head. “No its fine I just need to know--” 
 
“MA! PA! WE GOT COMPANY FROM THE PALACE!” 

Applejack thundered ignoring the younger filly’s protest. Twilight grit her teeth hoof slamming into her face as Spike snickered behind her. She glared at him, bouncing her shoulder to jolt him around in revenge. The little dragon was pleading for mercy when two adult earth ponies came trotting up.

One was a large yellow stallion with a red mane while the other was a peach colored mare with a thick curly brown mane. She walked with a noticeable limp.

“AJ who’s your friend baby girl?” Pear Butter asked nuzzling her daughter. Applejack beamed up at her parents throwing a hoof around the smaller filly’s neck, ignoring the way she stiffened. 

“This is my friend Twilight. She’s here to check up on the food for the celebration.” Twilight growled slapping her hoof away and stepping out of reach. 

“I’m not your friend.” She snarled shaking her fur to get rid of the sickening feeling of touch. She backed up a few more steps.
 
 “Look you obviously got everything well in hoof so I’m just going to—" she turned, tried to walk away but soon found her way blocked by the large stallion. 

“Whoa there little filly what’s the rush. “he gave her a friendly smile, lowering his head to seem less threatening” Don’t you want to sample some of the food.”

Twilight shrank back, ears folding back before she forced them straight again. “Uh no thanks I got stuff to do and—”

Her denial was cut off by Spike’s stomach releasing a fierce growl. The baby dragon chuckled sheepishly when she shot him a glare. The purple filly grunted slapping the infant with her mane before mumbling.

“Fine as long as it doesn’t take too long.” She groused. Needing nothing more than a word Applejack disappeared grabbing a metal spoon and ringing a large bell vigorously. 

“SOUPS ON EVERYPONY!” 
 
Twilight flinched as the ground began to shake, pulling in on herself as a large herd of ponies came stampeding toward them. Before she could blink, she was seated at a low sitting table and surrounded by grinning ponies. Applejack smoothly appeared beside her. 

“Let me introduce you to the Apple family.” She grinned. “You’ve already met my Ma and Pa Bright Macintosh and Pear Butter—” 

“How can you be a apple family with a pear in the group.” Twilight grumbled but Applejack ignored her and kept going like she hadn’t spoken. “Apple Fritter, Apple Bumpkin, Red Gala, Red Delicious, Golden Delicious, Caramel Apple, Apple Strudel—“ 

Twilight toned out all the names that she didn’t care to remember, the unicorn filly much more interested in the large amount of food that threated to break the little table in two. She tuned back in just as Applejack took a deep breath. 

“Big Macintosh, Applebloom annnnd” she drew out the last word as she pointed out a lightly snoring old green mare. “Granny smith. Up and at em granny we got guests.” 

The ancient pony snorted awake mumbling quietly to herself as she wandered over. Applejack grinned finally succeeding in wrapping her hoof around the small unicorn. 

“This here Twilight sparkle ya’ll and I’d say she’s already part of the family.” Twilight bristled, shaking herself loose with a snort. “Yeah no so look the foods is all good so I’m just going to go…” 

“Aren’t you going to stay for brunch.” A tiny, trembling voice asked. 

“Don’t look down, don’t look down. don’t look down.” she chanted but it was no use. She looked down straight into the large soulful eyes of a tiny yellow filly. 

As a rule, Twilight hated all of ponykind and everyone else in the world, but she had a large weak spot for foals and any other baby creature. 

“I’m..sorry but I have a lot to do still.” She forced out valiantly trying to resist.

“Awww.” The foal sighed turning upon her a look so heartbroken and sad Twilight was sure her heart had frozen in her chest. She was dimly aware of the adults echoing the sound but all she could see was the large teary eyes and a wobbly lip. 

“Fine.” she moaned knowing she was beat. The Apple family cheered hurriedly dragging the purple filly off before she could change her mind.


“That was fun Twilight! We should visit them again latter.” Spike chirped totting along behind her as he licked a caramel apple.

Twilight only groaned holding a hoof up to her mouth lest she lose her lunch..agian. 

“Ugh what do we got to do now.” She grunted holding up the list. She read over it quickly muttering to herself. 

“weather team blah, blah, blah sunny sky blah, blah, blah Thunderlane ok.” She said tossing the list back into her saddle bag. 

She looked up at the sky seeing the big blue still filled with clouds and scowled. 

“Apparently somepony named Thunderlane is supposed to be clearing the sky though it looks like he’s—ofg” Twilight yelped as she was suddenly slammed into the mud by a flying blue bur. Landing in a tangle of hooves her attacker stood up revealing herself to be a young rainbow maned filly. 

“ops sorry.” The large blue idiot chuckled not sounding sorry at all. 

“Get off!” Twilight yelled bucking the other pony in the stomach. The rainbow filly grunted clutching her stomach from the hit as she fell back into the mud. 

“Hey what the hay was that for!” she yelled angrily as she gingerly pulled herself to her feet. “Who the heck goes around bucking ponies for no reason!” 

“The same pony who’s too stupid to watch where she’s flying!” Twilight yelled back shaking her fur to remove all the mud. She grimaced as a wet strand of mane slapped her in the face, glaring at the other filly before taking a deep breath.

“Look are you Thunderlane?” she asked using magic to try to squeeze the mud out of her mane. Rainbow snorted pulled out of her annoyance by the misunderstanding.

“That geek, please. I’m Rainbow Dash fastest flyer in Equestria! And you must be new if you don’t know who I am!” she bragged shooting up in the air. Twilight rolled her eyes. 

“Whatever I’m here to oversee the summer sun thing and he’s supposed to be clearing the sky.” She said dully already done with this conversation. Rainbow blinked then waved a hoof airily floating on her back. 

“Oh, that yeah he was supposed to clear the clouds but he got super hammered last night celebrating his new marefriend.” She reached up and dug into her mane pulling out a jiggling bag of bits with a wide grin.

“Paid me twenty bits to make sure the boss mare doesn’t find out he’s home with a hangover.” She snickered. Twilight groaned and rubbed her temple already feeling a headache coming on. “Ok so why haven’t you got it done then.” She asked trying to brace herself for the stupid she was sure was going to come out of her mouth. Rainbow Dash waved her away lazily. 
“Yeah, yeah, yeah I’ll get to it in a second once I finish practicing.” 

“Practicing for what?” Spike asked peeking out from behind Twilight’s leg. Rainbow’s eyes lit up and she zipped into the air. 

“The Wonderbolts! They’re going to be flying at tomorrow celebration and I’m gonna show em my stuff.” Twilight face twisted in confusion and she flicked her ears. 

“The who?” 

Rainbow gasped falling out of the air as she turned to her with wide disbelieving eyes. “You don’t know who the Wonderbolts are! Have you been living under a rock!” she cried shooting back into the sky.

“The Wonderbolt are only the most amazing, most famous the most amasomest flyer in all of Equestria!” she breathed staring at a magically appearing poster with two parts worship and three parts creepy. 

“and once they see my performance, I’m going to join them.” She finished cockily. 

Twilight snorted out a laugh. “Please if they’re so amazing no way would the want a lazy Pegasus who can’t even keep the sky clear for a day.” She jeered.

Rainbow pulled up short flying down to glare at the small filly angrily. “Say what! Who you callin lazy! I can clear this sky in ten seconds flat easy.” She snorted. Twilight smirked arrogantly narrowing her eyes.

“Prove it.” 

Rainbow started but never one to back down from a challenge she leapt into the air, zipping and diving as she busted cloud after cloud. 

Bursting through the last one she landed with seconds to spare striking a pose. “See ten seconds flat I’d never leave Ponyville hangin.” She boasted.

“Uh uh.” The little unicorn muttered already wandering away now that her objective was complete. 

“Yeah, great whatever weather now done by Rainy trash.” She muttered checking it off the list before tossing the gawking Spike onto her back. 

“It’s Rainbow Dash!’ the offended filly yelled but Twilight only flicked her tail and continued her way without a backward glance.



“Alright next are decoration.” Twilight muttered heading into the main hall, Spike struggling to keep up on his wobbly legs. Twilight having thrown him off for no other reason than she felt like it. 

“Keep a look out for a mare named Twisted Design she’s supposed to have this in hoof.” She said looking around. 

The hall was lavishly decorated. The bright white and golds of the sun monarch colors were on full display and Twilight had to admit it looked good. 

“Pretty.” Spike breathed in a small voice and Twilight nodded absently. 

“Yeah its pretty nice.” She agreed but Spike shook his head pointing at white unicorn filly a little way away. 

“No, her.”  Twilight followed his pointing claws rolling her eyes when she caught sight of the other young mare. “down boy.” She muttered fondly before grabbing his tail and tossing him onto her back.

“Hey!” she yelled trotting closer. “My name is Twilight Sp-“ 

“Just a moment darling. I am in the zone as it were.” The other unicorn interrupted adjusting a bow on the ceiling till it was just right. Giving a snort of satisfaction she turned to face them. 

“Now how can I help yooooou! Sweet Celestia what happen to your mane!” she recoiled in horror at the wet tangled heap on Twilights head before gasping again as she spotted the mud-spattered coat.  “And your fur! Darling you look simply awful!” 

Spike giggled cheekily and Twilight glared at him shoving the little dragon onto the floor and ignoring his pained yelp. She tossed her mane groaning in annoyance as it slapped wetly against her face. 

“Whatever look I’m just here to-“ 

“Please darling say no more. I know exactly what you need. Now if you’d just come with me back to the boutique…” Rarity said circling around and nudging her slightly in the flank. Twilight jumped spinning around quickly with her tail tucked between her legs. 

“Hey where do you think your touching!” She growled horn sparkling. Rarity took a step back looking surprised.

“oh really forgive me darling I was only..” “

Being a pervert.” Twilight deadpanned ears back. The white unicorn turned red but Twilight pushed forward in order to get the meeting over with. 

“Look are you Twisted Design my name’s Twilight and I’m here to look over the summer sun stuff.” Rarity shook her head still looking a little embarrassed. 
“Huh oh uh no darling. My name is Rarity I’m his apprentice. Twisted got inspired to go on a design journey to look for a new muse last minute so I’ve taken over till he comes back.” 

Twilight groaned head dropping, “You know what whatever I don’t even care anymore.” She turned away gripping Spike’s tail to drag him along. “Your decoration looks good, fine whatever bye.’ She grunted quickly trotting out before the white filly could say anything else. 

“she was so nice.” Spike cooed smiling goofily. Twilight just dropped him on his head.

“ok last is the music.” Twilight grumped marching through town. She was sooo done with this. She had been touched, nuzzled and spoken to more ponies today than she had in the last year and she was done.  She didn’t care if cake butt hated her forever. She just wanted to go back to her tower and curl up with a good book. 

“Cheer up Twilight just one more and we’ll be done!” Spike said cheerfully, bouncing along behind her. The unicorn only grunted scanning the crowd with narrow eyes. According to the paper she was looking for two mares named Octavia and Vinyl Scratch who were supposed to oversee music. 

“Lets just get this over with.” She said moving toward a music shop she spotted. Her ears flicked when she saw the darken windows, her heart dropping when she saw a tiny slip of paper fluttering in the wind.

“oh come on!

She glared daggers at the happy little note which read 

“Last minute business be back soon!
 
 And the smaller text below which sent her temper flaring. 

“If your looking for information about the Summer Sun celebration music find Fluttershy”  

She groaned slamming her head against the door. “You have got to be kidding me.” She snorted harshly, tail lashing before spinning on her heels and marching off. 

“Screw this I’m going to find a book and hide under a rock or something till the world burns.” She grumbled. 

“Wait Twilight!” Spike struggled to catch up, grabbing her tail in a futile attempt to stop her. “We only have one more! We can’t give up at the end!” 

“Watch me.” She said without looking back. 

Spike dug his heels in desperately, but it didn’t slow the unicorn for a second, so he started begging. 

“Please Twilight this is our big chance! We’re doing the job she gave to Trixie. Trixie!  Her favorite student and there only been one fire! That’s a new record! No police or lawsuit or angry mobs we can do this! And if we do well maybe..” his words slow as the unicorn came to a complete stop, then soften to a whisper. 

“Maybe she’ll want to spend time with us.” Twilight’s eyes squeezed shut, ears falling back to block out the words. 

“Maybe she won’t look at you like you’re a disappointment.” 

She clenched her teeth, tail lashing as her mane fell over her face. She knew she wasn’t the best student. Oh, she was powerful a thousand times more powerful than Trixie would ever be and her power was still growing but she was also a ticking time bomb. 

Four years since the princess had taken her on as a student and she was barely passed kindergarten level work. She was too unstable, too emotional, her magic fluctuating violently at the drop of a hat and often going out of control. She was the reason there were so many new buildings in Canterlot, the one who caused Celestia endless frustration cause she could never just get it right.  She hated it. Hated how much of a screw up she was, hated how weak she was. But mostly she hated how much she craved her mentor affection.

“Fine!” she growled snapping her tail to toss the baby dragon on to her back with a yelp.

“Let’s just get this over with.”

Luckily Fluttershy wasn’t hard to find, Twilight only had to walk a little way out of town before she heard the music. 

“Oh excuse me everyone oh could you stop please.” A soft voice asked as Twilight poked her head out of some bushes. Looking around she spied a butterscotch yellow filly flying toward a group of birds resting on some branches. 

“Oh, I’m so sorry to tell you this but you were just a tiniest bit off on that last note.” The pegasus continued as Twilight moved closer. 

Flying back from the red bird the pegasus waved her hooves once more “an one, two, an one two thre-“ 

“HEY!”

Fluttershy eeped her birds scattering at the annoyed call. Looking down at the small purple filly glaring at her she immediately landed, head lowering as her eyes instinctively sought the ground. 

“Are you Fluttershy?” she asked her voice soft despite her mood. She’d seen the bruised look in the pegasus eyes and even she wasn’t that heartless. 

The yellow filly scuffed a hoof not meeting her eyes as she muttered something under her breath. Chalking the answer up as, good enough don’t really care, she powered on. 

“My names Twilight Sparkle I’m here to check on the stuff for the summer sun thing. I guess you’re doing music.” 

Fluttershy made some tiny noise that sounded vaguely like words.

“Didn’t catch that.” Twilight said blandly.

A tiny whimper that didn’t even pretend to approach any known language. 

“Right well keep it up then.” she declared walking off. 

“That was easy.” She said as Spike came trotting out of the bushes. 

There was a large gasp and a excited shout of “A BABY DRAGON!” before the yellow filly suddenly rushed forth. Twilight whirled around eyes flashing as she saw Fluttershy flying toward her with hooves stretched out to pick up the infant. 

“Don’t touch him!” she snarled stepping in front of Spike with her horn sparking. Fluttershy drew up short, scrambling back from the suddenly furious unicorn. She cowered pitifully squeaking out a hurried apology as Twilight glared down at her, Spike hiding behind her leg fearfully. 

Twilight sucked in a deep breath as she bared her teeth at the trembling Pegasus doing her best to ignore the hysterical voice screaming deep within.

“Not safe. Not safe. Not safe. Not safe.”

“Don’t touch hm.” She repeated quietly clamping down on the whirling magic that had surged with her emotions. Closing her eyes, she turned away scooping Spike up and trotting off missing the sudden understanding that crossed over Fluttershy face. 

“She didn’t seem so bad.” Spike said lowly, tiny fist balled in purple fur. Twilight only snorted, a furious burst of magic shooting from her horn. Spike watched curiously as it soared across Ponyville slamming into the side of the brand-new house a dark green mare was building just after she hammered in the last nail. 

The poor mare watched in horror as all her hard work burst into flames. “MY HOUSE!” she sobbed. Twilight didn’t even look up.

“Lets just get this over with.” She said moving slowly toward the library. 

“Hey! You..uh purple loser!” A slurred voice suddenly cut across the silence and Twilight groaned. Turning her head, she spotted the stumbling figure of Trixie wobbling toward her. 

“The great and..udge drunk Trixie demands you take her to..to..her-” a large blech “-bed this instant.” The blue mare slurred out trying to lift a hoof in a superior fashion but only succeeded in falling on her face.  

Sighing Twilight simply grabbed the snoring mare’s tail gagging slightly at the strong scent of alcohol before dragging her along behind her. It was a struggle. Twilight had always been smaller than most foals her age and Trixie was an adult, if in name only, which made her twice her size, but she managed. 

Kicking open the door she pulled her limp weight into the darkened room just as her skin stared to tingle and her hair stood on end. Whirling around she jumped back just as the lights snapped on and an deafening yell of “SURPRISE!” filled her ears. 

Eyes widening in rapidly increasing panic she backed away from the large wall of ponies in her house. Her space, her safe place. 

“How did they even get in?” she heard Spike ask distantly over the sudden roar in her ears. 

The voice was screaming again.

Earing folding back, her pupils narrowed as the pink filly she’d met earlier was suddenly in her face. 

“Hi I’m Pinkie Pie and I threw this party just for you!” she cried with a disturbingly large grin, the fillies she had met through out the day standing behind her. Fluttershy was giving her a worried look and looked like she wanted to say something, but Twilight could barely see with the white filling her vision. 

The pink filly  jabbered on, jumping from place to place, getting too close. Spike was pressing into her mane, ponies were drawing closer and she needed it all to stop-. 

A snort from behind her. Trixie rose unsteadily to her feet smacking her lips as she looked around with glazed eyes. Hazy eyes pasting right over the trembling mass of purple rooted in front of her she zeroed in on the crowd of ponies, decoration and general level of merriment.

Arrogance + Alcohol equal one conclusion. 

“The Great and important Trixie acknowledges your feeble attempts to gain her favor with your foalish party!” she cried face flushed with her own importance. “You may bow before her greatness!”

Everything stopped as everypony stared at her in confusion before it registered what she had said. As a cry of outrage sounded from the crowd nopony noticed the little purple shape slip out the door.
> Return of Nightmare-unedited
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

“Twilight?” Spike asked softly, hesitatingly reaching out a clawed hand from the cocoon of her body. Twilight didn’t answer, her glowing half lidded eyes staring out at nothing as her body trembled in the cool night air.

“Are you ok?” 

Twilight shivered releasing a shuddering breath, her body occasionally jerking from the torrent of magic within. 

“Not now Spike.” She said softly curling tighter within their little hiding spot. “ just not now.” 

It had been hours since there escape from the unwelcome intruders into their home and Twilight still hadn’t calmed down. Her magic, uncontrollable at the best of times, beat furiously within her viciously seeking an outlet for her frenzied emotion and turning on her when it didn’t. 

It was a familiar state. For a filly who regarded the world as her greatest enemy she would often need to seclude herself away when the world kicked back simply by existing. 

Curling tighter the small filly pulled in a deep breath the glowing white of her eyes finally fading as she got herself under control and her magic settled down to a light simmer beneath her skin. 

“Are you ok now?” Spike asked quietly running his claws through her fur. Twilight sighed shaking her head giving him a small nuzzle. 

“I’ll live.” She said shortly pulling herself to her hooves. She doubted there had ever been a day in her life where she was “ok”.

Giving herself a brisk shake she looked around quickly.  It was still dark, but she could sense that the sun would be raising soon and sure enough she could see ponies heading toward the center of town from her hiding place. 

She bit her lip waring within herself. She didn’t want  to go to the celebration as she was quite done with ponies for today and just wanted to curl up in her tower with a good book. 

Plus, with all the time that had pasted Celestia was sure to have arrived already and nine time out of ten Trixie had found her and twisted everything she had done into her own work while playing up Twilight little meltdown.

Her ear fell back, lips trembling slightly. She had been so close… purple fur vibrated as she suddenly gave herself a hard shake forcing her ears to stand straight and throwing those thoughts to the back of her mind. 

It was too late now. Celestia would believe Trixie over Twilight any day so she wasn’t even going to waste her breath trying to come up with a defense. 

Thinking quickly the purple filly figured  if she played her cards right she could find the chariot and curl up there till everything was over. Celestia would be disappointed she missed the ceremony but that was nothing new and at least she would be toning out the lecture while on the way home. 

Nodding firmly she tossed Spike onto her back before dodging her way toward the center of town, keeping her head low. Neither the guards nor the chariot had come into sight yet but she knew they would have landed close to the town hall. Hoping to go unnoticed she slipped toward the back- 

“Twilight!” 

She flinched and groaned looking up in time to see Trixie trotting toward her looking annoyed. 

” Trixie has been looking for you everywhere! The princess is about to raise Sun and as her student and pest we are expected to be at her side!” The blue mare hissed grabbing the filly’s tail in her magic before dragging her inside town hall. “Let’s go!” 

Twilight scowled fiercely but didn't try to escape, already knowing it would be pointless. Trixie’s pride in her position bordered on obsession and she never missed a chance to show off. 

The only reason she even bothered to look for Twilight was because the arrogant mare wasn’t going to miss out on being heaped with praise for taking care of her “troubled” junior student. 

The moment the doors opened Twilight flatten her ears as a deafening wall of noise blasted outward. The town hall was packed wall to wall, the place alive with joy and excitement as everypony waited eagerly for the Princess of the Sun to appear.

Twilight hunched within herself trying to ignore them all and calm her churning stomach as Trixie sat them up front and center. The blue mare looked extremely smug as she soaked up the envious glances and whispered words of the full crowd while Twilight merely looked irritated. 

Pointedly ignoring the pink party pony trying to get her attention Twilight flinched as trumpets sounded and a grey maned pony stood in front of the crowd. She cleared her throat. 

“Fillies and Gentlecolts as Mayor of Ponyville it is my great pleasure to announce the beginning of the Summer Sun Celebration!” 

The room erupted into cheers but Twilight felt like it came from a great distance. Her skin was tingling, a strange pressure building behind her horn. She shook her head, ears flatting as her eyes moved from side to side nervously. 

“Spike.” She muttered slowly tongue thick in her mouth. Her head swam feeling like she was trapped under water, the pressure growing.

“Do you feel something-“

The crowds horrified gasp drowned out her words just as the pressure popped sending the filly reeling. 

“SHE’S GONE!” Somepony cried as all around her chaos erupted. 

Ponies panicked, screeching and crying for the missing Princess as Trixie bellowed to make herself heard while Mayor Mare tried to calm the crowd and organize a search party at the same time. Twilight barely heard any of it. The small filly was hunched over, face pressed into the floor as she scraped at her ears trying to block out the echoing voice suddenly ringing in her head. 

“LETMEOUTLETMEOUTLETMEOUT! 

“Twilight!” Spike cried yanking at her mane. “Twilight snap out of it!  Something happening!” 

She rose wobbly, eyes focusing slowly on the swirling mass of starlight gathering at the center of the room. 

“That’s not good.” she thought distantly. 

Stardust dipped and compressed together before exploding outward revealing a massive black coated alicorn. Twilight gasped quickly backing away from the stage.

“Its Nightmare Moon.” she whispered Spike sinking into her mane with a whimper. The black alicorn stared down at the frozen crowd with serpent-like eyes, lips pulling back into a wicked smirk.

“Oh, my beloved subjects. It's been so long since I've seen your precious little sun-loving faces.” She hissed, flaring her wings. 

“What have you done with the Princess!” Trixie yelled shoving her way to the front, horn lit and sparking. “Trixie demands you release her imposer!” 

Nightmare Moon drew back, eyes alight with amusement. 

“Imposer.” she chuckled “Why, am I not royal enough for you? Don't you know who I am?” she purred dissolving into mist. The black shadow like nebula flowed through the room like a viper ponies rearing in terror as it oozed through their legs. 

“Does my crown no longer count now that I have been imprisoned for a thousand years? She hissed delighting in the terror rising from the crowd. The mist twisted around Trixie a low chuckled sounding as the blue mare yelped. 

“Did you not recall the legend? Did you not see the signs?” Mist condensed back on stage the dark mare stepping through and holding them all with her gaze. 

“You.r..” 

Nightmare head snapped toward the trembling voice, Spike shrinking back as the full force of her gaze fell upon him. 

“Your N..nightmare moon.” He squeaked out. 

The dark alicorn raised a brow, lips pulling back into a fanged smirk. 

“Well well well, someone who remembers me. Then you also know why I'm here.” She chuckled flaring her wings as she looked upon her subjects. 

“Remember this day, little ponies, for it was your last. From this moment forth, the night will last forever!”

Lighting flashed, thunder rumbled in the distant as Nightmare laughed before her terrified subjects head held high in victory. Hearing the mad crackle snapped Trixie out of her sober and she snarled, charging forward with her horn blazing.

“Stand back! The Great and Powerful Trixie will defeat this imposer and bring back the real princess!” she cried leaping forward. 

Nightmare narrowed her eyes and with a twist of her head the whirling star studded mane snapped out, slamming the blue mare into the wall with a sickening crack. Trixie cried out falling to the ground as Twilight cowered away. She clutched Spike close to her as ponies began screaming and panicking once the blue mare fell.

“Seize her!” The mayor voice ordered. “Only she knows where the Princess is!” 

The guards shot into the air, wing blades gleaming but Nightmare only snarled. 

“Stand back you fools!” she reared lightning flashing as the Pegasus where shot out of the sky, slamming into the ground with bone shattering force. 

She tsked wings drooping slightly. “Still not at full power..” she muttered angrily. The fact that the guards still lived was proof enough of that.  At her peak they would have been nothing more then ash. Leaping into the air she dissolved into mist streaking toward the Everfree like a comet. Celestia was gone and the ponies were nothing but to ensure her rule there was still one more threat to be dealt with…




Hours had pasted since Nightmare releases and Twilight wondered how long it would take for them all to die. 

She raised her head slightly looking around the shattered hall. Trixie and the guards had been treated and taken away and though the mayor had made a halfhearted attempt no pony had left the false safely of town hall. Lost and frighten the herd had huddled together drawing what comfort they could from friends and family as they waited fearfully for their new Queen to return. 

Twilight wondered distantly if they noticed how much they were shaking, how unnatural it was. A tiny whimper drew her attention and she looked down to the tiny ball of scales huddled into her side. 

He was shivering badly. She had been casting a heat spell for over an hour now and he was still shivering. She tightens her hold looking up at a moon which was never meant to rule the sky alone, a moon that couldn’t do it alone. 

“One by day, one by night.” She muttered. 

Eternal day would bath them all in fire, but eternal night would have the world freeze. Nightmare moon had sentenced them to death and Twilight doubted their new overlord would care till she was ruler over a lifeless husk. 

Your tried rest now

Twilight laid her head down pulling the shivering Spike closer. Half lidded eyes trailed around the room noticing the increased trembling in the smallest ponies.

“The youngest will go first.” She thought distantly. 

Sun should have been raised hours ago and without its light and magic the planet was rapidly cooling. Foals would be the first to go, their small bodies too weak to survive long in the cold, the elderly would go next with the rest of the planet not far behind. Purple ears flicked and she curled a little tighter. It wouldn’t be long for her either. She had always been small for her age and she could already feel the chill seeping into her bones.



It’s over, just sleep



She closed her eyes feeling..relieved. It was all over now. She could just-

“Twi..light” 

She blinked turning toward the trembling voice. Spike was shivering, his scales worriedly pale as his inner fire struggled to keep him warm.

“I’m c..old.” he whispered huddling closer “I’ve never been so c..cold before.” 

“Because I never let you.” She thought ears falling back as shame filled her heart. The tiny embers of her soul ignited flickering weakly as her mind went back, back to a time with a small purple filly had hatched a dragons egg. Emerald green eyes had looked to her first. Had sought her out and rejected all other. He had been hers the moment a bright eyed bade had laid his little claws upon her face. Eyes shining  with innocence and absolute trust.  

“I’ll protect you.”  

Wasn’t that what she’d promised when he’d been placed in her care? So small and helpless and needing her so much. And when he needed her the most here she was just giving up.

I just want to rest.

Spike needed her. She was all he had. She was supposed to keep him safe. She was the only one who could. Nightmare moon was trying to hurt him and was she just going to sit back and let her just like-

 I’m so tried.

She had to keep him safe she promised, and she knew just where to start. 

“Hold on Spike I’ll fix this.” She said weakly pulling herself stiffly to her hooves. She picked him up by the tail, tossing him onto her back. Giving one last look around she galloped out into the night.



“What are we looking for?” Spike’s muffled voice asked from the mountain of blankets and throws. Twilight hummed as she searched through the library shelves, eyes darting from one cover to the next. 

“The element of harmony.” She said finally flicking her tail. “I read that they were used by Celestia to seal Nightmare away the first time. If we can find them I’m sure we can do it again.” 

“And just what are the Elements of Harmony!? “ A brash voice suddenly yelled,  rainbow blur flying into her face.

“And how did you know about Nightmare Moon, huh? Are you a spy?” 

Twilight yelped and scrambled back, knocking into the bookcase just as Applejack gripped the other filly’s rainbow tail pulling her back. 

“ Whoa there sally, Twi ain’t no spy.” She said releasing the restless flyer. She then gave Twilight a gentle smile stepping a little closer. “But you do know what’s going on around here, don’t ya sugercube.” 

Twilight’s eyes flicked rapidly  from filly to filly as Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy joined them in a circle. Chewing on her lip she  bite back the rolling panic at the thought that they had her cornered, letting lose a careless shrug as she brushed past them. She debated silently on telling them anything then decided it really wouldn’t matter one way or another. 

“I read all about the prediction of Nightmare Moon while I was in Canterlot. Some mysterious objects called the Elements of Harmony are the only things that can stop her, but I don't know what they are, where to find them; I don't even know what they do!” she snorted in frustration stalking over to the bookcase.



“The Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide.”



“What!” Twilight whirled around snatching the book from the perky earth pony. “How did you find this!” 



“It was under E!” Pinkie sing-songed hopping away. Twilight rolled her eyes flipping through the pages. 

“Alright let’s see. There are six Elements of Harmony, but only five are known: Kindness, Laughter, Generosity, Honesty and Loyalty. The sixth is a complete mystery. It is said, the last known location of the five elements was in the ancient castle of the royal pony sisters. It is located in what is now called the Everfree forest.” She read, tapping her chin in thought. 

“The Everfree forest!” the other five yelped crowding close to hug each other. 

“That place ain’t natural.” Applejack paled.  

“plus its full of m..m..monsters!” Fluttershy squeaked hiding behind her mane. 

“Yeah well its also the place where the Elements are located so nothing to it.” Twilight deadpanned tossing the book aside as she went to collect Spike. Wrapping a blanket around the baby dragon she settled him onto her back before heading out the door. 

“Now just wait a minute! Hold up there Twilight!” Applejack yelled running to step in her path. “You can’t expect to go galloping off to fight that black alicorn by yourself you’ll die out there!” she said voice heavy with concern for the smaller pony.

“I agree darling. Why don’t we simply past this information to the guards and lets them collect these Element or what not.” Rarity added coming up on her other side. 

“yeah isn’t it like their job to fight crazy ponies from the moon anyway.” Rainbow chimed in flying above her. “Let them earn their paycheck for once.” Twilight sneered shoving past the protesting fillies with a huff. 

“I didn’t ask any of you what you thought, and I frankly don’t even care. The guards are freakin useless anyway so if you scarcity cats don’t mind I got stuff to do.” She grumbled walking away with a dismissive lash of her tail 

“Hey I ain’t scared!” Rainbow yelled streaking after her with the others hot on her heels. 

“Well uh I’m kinda scared.” Fluttershy muttered inching back before she was gripped by a solid pink hoof. “C’mon flutters lets go!” Pinkie cheered, the poor Pegasus only having a second to meep before she was dragged along.



“So this is the Everfree forest huh.” Twilight hummed as the group stood at the edge of the path leading to the looming trees. 

“Whee lets go!” Pinkie cheered bouncing forward. Twilight gave her a scathing glare.

“You know you idiots don’t have to come with me I’ll be fine on my own.” She growled wanting no part of the tag along group. 

“No can do, sugarcube. We sure ain't lettin' any friend of ours go into that creepy place alone. We're stickin' to you like caramel on a candy apple.” Applejack huffed marching forward with the others right behind her. Twilight just groaned following them in. 

“so where exactly are these Element at anyway.” Rainbow asked, eyes darting around. “Are we just going to stumble upon them or what?”

“ The Elements of Harmony are located within the castle of the two sister which shouldn’t be to far.” Twilight said absently face buried in the map. She lifted her head turning to give them all a raised eyebrow. 

“You telling me you’ve lived here your whole life and none of you have ever been in here?”

“Well can you blame us darling really!” Rarity shivered looking around fearfully. “Its positively dreadful!” 

Applejack nodded her head in agreement keeping a wary eye on their surroundings. 

“It don’t work the same as Equestria. My family has a bit of a pact with the place but even we don’t tread lightly into here.” She shook her head ears flicking slightly. “my folks say the forest doesn’t take kindly to little fillies who get a little too full of themselves and act disrespectful.”  

Twilight’s eyebrow lifted higher interested despite herself. “what’s that supposed to mean?” Applejack cut her eyes to the side seeing she had everyone attention. Shrugging her shoulders, she opened her mouth. 

“Well—” whatever she was gonna say was cut off with a scream as the ground suddenly crumpled beneath their hooves plunging the ponies to the darkness below. 

“Fluttershy quick!” Rainbow yelled as the two pegasus dove for their friends. 

“Oh my goodness oh my goodness.” The yellow mare muttered breathlessly struggling to chase after her falling friends.

With her speed the blue filly reached Rarity first, Rainbow getting a mouth grip on her tail with Fluttership wheezing as she griped Pinkie around the waist. Applejack was lucky enough to snag a protruding root, but Twilight was falling to fast. Her small weight and slimmer figure sending her streaking down like a comet. Coming closer to the rock face the small unicorn slammed into the side of the cliff, hooves straining to get purchase, knocking Spike lose in the process as she tried to slow her fall. 

“Spike!” she yelled as the baby dragon went screaming into the abyss. 

Uncaring about her own safely she threw herself forward pulling her legs close and making herself as small as possible in order to stream through the air. Coming up fast on the baby dragon she reached out and grabbed his tail. Gritting her teeth she twisted driving her body into the cliff wall ,digging her hooves into rock and stone as they slid toward the edge. 

“Hang on Twi I’m a-comin! “Applejack cried, letting go of her root to slid gingerly toward them. Reaching out she gripped the smaller fillies’ hooves and tried to pull her up but the awkward angle and crumbling slope made it impossible. 

“Applejack!” Twilight ground out struggling to lift her head as her back hooves scrapped helplessly against the rock. “Take him.” 

She leaned up dragging the trembling Spike up toward the yellow filly. Applejack quickly snagged him up, tossing the baby dragon onto the safety of her own back before gripping the scrambling unicorn once more. 

“Hold on Twi I’m gonna-“she stopped as she spied something below. “Twilight its gonna be ok I need you to let go!” 

“Have you lost your mind!” 

Twilight snarled digging her hooves deeper into the crumbling gravel. “No!  I just need you to trust me. I’m tellin-“ 

“Hello kinda falling to my death here. I really don’t have time for vague promises.” Twilight hissed somehow able to still look annoyed even when hanging off a cliff. 

“Just listen, Fluttershy and Rainbow are flyin below you. They’ll catch you as soon as you let go.” Applejack explained loosening her grip.  Twilight stared at her in disbelief, but her ears swerved back hearing the sound of wings. Taking a deep breath, she let go and dropped squeezing her eyes shut. Seconds later she was caught in the embrace of two pairs of hooves, the blue and yellow flyers gently easing her to the ground. 

She trembled faintly when her hooves touched the ground, letting out a harsh snort. 

“Thanks.” She muttered walking it off. 

Everypony looked up as Applejack hoped down the mountain side Spike clinging to her neck with all four claws as he trembled violently. Twilight rushed to meet her. 

“Are you ok?” she asked anxiously. 

The farm filly gave herself a full body shake before tipping her hat. 

“I’m fine nothing but a few bruises thank ya kindly.”  

“Not you.” She deadpanned shoving her aside to get to Spike.

The little dragon wobbled gripping the fur of her muzzle when she lowered her head to nuzzle him. 

“Twilight.” He whined before bursting into harsh sobs burying his face in her fur. “I was so scared!” 

She pulled him close, muffling his cries in her chest as she soothed him. “Hush Spike don’t cry. Never let ponies see your tears.” She whispered nuzzling him tenderly. The baby dragon hiccupped trying his best to quiet his sobs. He knew he wasn’t supposed to cry. A noise had them both looking up. The others had moved closer looking at him in open concern and he hurriedly bit back his cries, scrubbing at his face so they wouldn’t see his tears.

“Goodness the poor dears practically traumatized.” Rarity said moving closer with a small frown. 

“Yeah falling like that without wings must be really scary.” Fluttershy muttered peering at the infant with one blue green eye. 

“I thought it was fun!” Pinkie giggled hopping around them. “We were all like whsoo, boom, wheeeee” 

Rainbow rolled her eyes at the party pony’s antics coming to a land in the center of the group. “Ignoring Pinkie I just thought of this but should that kid even be here?” she asked pointing at Spike who was climbing up onto Twilight’s back.

“This is the Everfree forest, you know full of monsters, quicksand and whatever. It’s bad enough that we’re here but isn’t he like two.” She frowned. The thought finally hitting her that they had willingly brought a baby to the Everfree forest. 

“We should have left him back in ponyville.” 

The rest of the girls muttered and nodded their agreement none of them having really given it any thought when Twilight had bought the little dragon along. Twilight’s eyes narrowed into slits and she snorted harshly stamping a hoof. Silencing the others. 

“He’s not going back to Ponyville. I’m not leaving him! I don’t trust you ponies to breath on your own let alone keep him safe. So he stays.” The lavender filly said firmly, daring anypony to challenge her. When no one met her eyes she snorted tossing her head, tail lashing through the air as she turned away. 

“Now come on that fall knocked us off the path so were going to have to go the long way. Let’s go.” Without waiting for answer she set off into the forest, the others exchanging looks before following her.

“-So Twilight’s screaming her head off thinking she’s falling to her death before BOOM!” Rainbow shot up in the air flying above the groaning group of ponies. 

“I whipped around with my super speed, barreling through the air and—” 

“Oh for Celestia’s sake shut up Rainbow.” Twilight hissed, fed up with hearing the peguase toot her own horn. The rainbow maned filly had been recounting her daring rescue since they’d started walking. Each retelling warping the story till the line between reality and ego filled delusion got increasingly vague. Rainbow scowled dropping to land beside the smaller unicorn. 

“Hey that’s no way to talk to somepony who saved your life you know.”  Twilight rolled her eyes with a scoff. 

“It wasn’t just you. Fluttershy was there as well idiot.” She sneered the yellow Pegues meeping at her name. 

“Oh no its fine Twilight really. Rainbow did most of the work anyway. I’m not used to carrying anything heavier than a bunny.” She said softly shrinking in on herself. Twilight rolled her eyes seconds away from slamming her head into the smug pegease face with a quiet cough interrupted her murderous thoughts. 

“Oh so sorry to interrupt darling but I do believe we may have strayed off the path a bit. “Rarity said looking a little nervous. That brought everypony to a halt as the group finally started paying attention to their surroundings. 

“Uh Twilight shouldn’t we have been back on the path by now?” Applejack asked moving a little closer to the others. 

The small unicorn shook her head grabbing the map Spike handed her with her magic. 

“I don’t understand even with that fall it shouldn’t have taken us long to get back on the path to the castle.” She muttered eyes darting across the map. 

As the group of fillies continued to look around nervously none of them noticed the forest begin to release a wispy blue fog, which began to slowly swirl around there hooves. Pinkie’s tail twisted and she shook her head ears flapping. 

“oh I wonder what that was?!” she giggled bouncing forward, her feet scattering strands of mist as she hit the ground. She blinked curious about the new additions. 

“What are these?” she wondered leading down. The moment she got close strands of mist swarm forth, quickly darting up her nose and into her lungs. She yelped rearing back and pawing at her face but it was too late. The mist worked quickly, spreading throughout her system like a virus even as her actions caught the attention of the others. 

“Pinkie?” Fluttershy asked slowly approaching the earth pony who seemed frozen in place. “Are you ok?” 

She reached out a tentative hoof, trying to touch her shoulder only to jump back when the pink filly’s eyes suddenly snapped open and she let out a blood curling scream, tripping and falling over her hoofs as she tried to get away. 

“Pinkie!” the others cried rushing toward the screaming mare. There pounding hoofs stirred up more of the blue fog which quickly invaded each of them. Within seconds seven screaming voices were feeding the night. Adrenalin flooded their system. Panic turned to fear which bleed into terror as the fillies jumped and ran from shadows real and imagined. There was no method to their madness, no reason for the terror filling their heart and invading their minds but fear needed no logic.

With every passing second and beat of their heart the mindless terror began to grow till every shadow became a viper and every friend a foe, over pounding hearts willingly speeding toward the false safety of the final darkness. 

Scream bubbling like blood in her throat Applejack burst through the underbrush adrenalin-soaked nerves barely noticing as she slammed through trees and forest. 

Get away, get away, get away. 

The mantra flooded her mind drowning out all reason till nothing remained but the mindless desire to flee from some great terror. She barrowed forward with no heed for her own safety nor life letting out another sobbing scream as she tripped over a tree root falling down a small hole to land with a splash in the small pond inside. 

Like a nightmare dispelling under the light of day the unholy fear was washed away from her mind as the water flowed over her. She blinked shaken and confused as her overtaxed mind tried to piece together what had happened to her, the sudden absent of fear almost as jarring as its onset. 

Blinking slowly she lifted her hoof watching in distant fascination as the mists of blue smoke fled from the drops that flowed over her fur. The sight tickled the back of her mind and she shook her head trying to bring her scrambled thoughts to some type of order. 

Screamed sounded behind her, cutting the process short as her head whipped around searching for her friends and spotting them instantly. Twilight and the others were still trapped within the forest and now without the influence of the fear clouding her mind she could easily see the blue fog that filled the clearing and clung like leeches to their coats.

“Girls hold on I’m em comin!”  she leapt to her hoofs staring down at the pool of water she stood in. 

It wasn’t hard to put two and two together and figure out that the water had freed her from the vaper and would most likely do the same for the others. Distantly she also wondered where the hole and little pond had come from as she didn’t remember them being there earlier before dismissing it as unimportant. Knowing the mist would recapture her if she tried to return to the clearing, she raked her brain for a way to pull them down to her level. 

“I got it!” she exclaimed stamping her hooves. Reaching under her hat she pulled out her lassos quickly making a knot. Gripping the rope in her teeth she narrowed her eyes trying to zero in on her screaming friends. Luckily, they all seemed to be trapped in the clearing which made it easier. Seeing a blur of rainbow shot by she tighten her grip and let the lasso fly, just barely snagging the fraying tail. Rainbow cried out as the rope closed on her redoubling her efforts to escape. While Rainbow was definably strong Applejack was an earth pony and with a heave of her head she pulled the screaming pegasus from the sky. Rainbow yowled as she landed in the pool of water, gasping and sputtering as she tried to right herself. Standing back slightly Applejack watched a haze of blue surged away from the water, pulling away from the pegasus fur and returning to the clearing and its other victims. 

“Wha..what happened?” Rainbow croaked her throat on fire as she blinked blurry eyes. 

“No time to explain Rainbow! I know your hurtin but I need your help to free the others!” Applejack said nosing the filly to her hooves.  

Rainbow shook her head ears going back as she was blasted with the sounds of her friends terror. 

“What you want me to do!” she said getting into the air. 

“help me rope em. That weird mist is what’s causing this but the water clears it up. We need to get them over here! “Applejack instructed getting her rope ready again. Before the two could do make their move they were suddenly knocked off their hooves as an explosion of purple energy filled the clearing. Crying out the two fell back as the energy hit them sending them crashing into the ground with painful force. Struggling to her hooves Applejack grunted as another body slammed into hers. Opening her eyes she pulled herself out from underneath her blue friend just in time to see Pinkie, Rarity and Fluttershy come tumbling down the hill. They all landed in the water freeing them of the mist, but Applejack barely gave them a second thought, as wide horrified green eyes stared at the milestone of magic tearing through the forest. 

“Twilight.” She muttered quietly somehow knowing the little unicorn was at the center of the storm. 

“Twilight!” she yelled tearing up the hill recklessly force. She ignored her friends shouts from below heading straight for whipping dome of magic. Reaching the clearing she was immediacy blasted by whirling threads of dark purple energy, which slammed into her with bruising force. Gritting her teeth against the urge to scream she called froth her own magic and dug it into the ground anchoring herself to the land as she pushed forward. 

Peering through the howeling wind she was just barely able to make out Twilight, horn aglow and eyes faded to white, mouth locked in a silent scream as the magic flowed around her like lava. 

“Twilight!” she cried fighting to get closer. “Twilight your magic, you gotta stop your magic! Its not real!” 

Twilight’s eyes grew brighter at her words, but the little unicorn was beyond listening. The mist had burned through her mind like a plague leaving terror in its wake that distorted the earth pony’s words into a lie, a trick to lead her to her end and the loosed magic grew fiercer in respond to her desperation. 

“Stay Away!” Twilight yelled sending out a blast of power that slammed into the approaching filly like a spear. Magic sliced into flesh and fur causing Applejack to cry out but Twilight was too far gone to hear the others pain. Hunkering down and she pulled the trembling Spike tight, the only thing real in an ocean of fear. She knew the danger of listening to honeyed words…  

“Applejack its not working she gonna kill you!” Rainbow cried as the weaken form of her friend pulled herself to her hooves. “Get out of there we’ll figure something else out!” 

The earth pony shook her head, chin set with determination. 

“No, that thing, that parasite its like big lie. It burrows into your brains twists your thinking, makes you afraid, so afraid you can’t tell the truth from the lies, can’t see a light in the darkness.” She dug her heels in, set her jaw, and pushed back against whirling magic.

“that thing is a lie.” She declared to the world eyes suddenly glowing with all the colors of the rainbow. “the truth will set you free.” 

Miles away in the decayed ruins of an ancient castle a muted stone suddenly began rock and glow with an orange light.

Applejack felt a surge of strength and pushed forward determined to reach her friend. 

“Twilight listen I need you to hear me ok. Don’t listen to the fear listen to my voice.” She said firmly trying to reach the filly trapped within the darkness. 

“I promise what I’m telling you is the honest truth come with me and you’ll be safe.” She dropped her voice let it dip into a comforting caress that wrapped around the little unicorn like a blanket. 

Twilight shivered ears pressed flat against her head. Fear ate at her mind distorting the comforting words into a mocking sneer. It urged her to strike back, to hurt the one who would hurt her first but deep inside a tiny ember lite reaching out to the one reaching for her. The tiny light ,so small and fragile, allowed Twilight the strength to hold on standing there lost and shivering.

“I’m right here sugarcube. I’ll never lie to ya I promise. I know we only just met. I know you got no reason to trust me but I promise everything I’m telling you is nothing but the honest truth.” She reached out her hooves glowing rainbow eyes pouring their warmth into burning white. Letting her see the honestly and for one moment believe it was true.

” Come with me and you’ll be safe.” 

Twilight’s lip trembled and she hugged Spike closer but slowly oh so slowly a trembling foreleg reached out. 

“Applejack..” she whimpered her eyes losing some of their glow. Not wasting a second Applejack closed the distance between them hugging the unicorn close. The water in her fur seemed to all but jump to the smaller body, driving out the fog that had burrowed within her mind and dispelling the terror. Twilight collapsed like a puppet with its strings cut going limp in Applejack hold. The farm filly just pulled her tighter neither moving even as the pegasus joined them. Gently lifting and taking them to the pond with the others.

“are you ok?” Fluttershy asked lowly. 

Twilight took a deep breath moving back slightly to look down at Spike. The baby dragon looked back at her with wide clear green eyes and she nuzzled him. 

“Yeah.” She answered words barely above a whisper.  She looked toward Applejack, the one who’s voice had lead her out of the darkness and something warm glowed in her chest.

“Thank you”

Applejack grinned weakly giving her a small nuzzle on top her head, energy spend. Twilight smiled back before sighing tiredly and closing her eyes as the others pressed in close, giving and seeking comfort.

For once she didn’t begrudge them the contact.
> Into the Woods
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time pasted as the six fillies and one baby dragon huddled together in the dark. Each soaking in the comforting presence of the others as the remaining terror fled and dispelled like smoke. Finally feeling her strength return Applejack broke the silence. 

“Is everypony aright?” 

Mumbled affirmatives and quiet yes’s answered her question and the group began to untangle themselves.

“What was that?” Rainbow asked shuddering slightly. Her tail lashing through the air.

“Bête Noire.” Twilight said quietly forcing trembling limbs to hold her weight. She gave herself a brisk shake before turning to check on Spike. “Otherwise known as the fear forest.”

“I wonder how it got that name.” Rarity muttered distastefully, flicking mud out of her mane with a grimmer. 

Twilight simply shook her head, lips tight leaning down to nudge Spike onto her back.

“I’ve read about it before, trees that release a toxic pollen that inductions fear and hallucinations. First time I’ve even seen it in pony though.” Her ears went back eyes darkening as her mind seemed to drift.

“Never thought it would be so potent.”  She muttered softly, her tail curling between her legs.

Rarity shuddered in agreement shaking her head.

“Yes that was just ghastly. Applejack darling I can’t thank you enough for getting us out of there.”

“Yeah how’d you know that water would have broken the curse or whatever?” Rainbow asked giving a full body shake before taking to the air. 

Applejack tipped her hat humming in thought.

“I don’t righty know really. One moment I was running around screaming my head off the next I was soaked and mind clear. It wasn’t hard to put two and two together and herd everypony else but..” she tapped her chin brow creased in thought. 

“I was kinda wondering where that pond came from. I was sure it wasn’t there when we walked by before.” She wondered absently. 

“Well I’m super-duper glad you found it!” Pinkie cried bouncing in circles. “It was like really dark and super scary!” she slowed down looking thoughtful and slightly sad. “I was all alone and I couldn’t find anypony. I’ve never been so afraid..” 

In the back of the group Twilight suddenly stiffen, her pupils dilating. Afraid… 

“Pssf.” Rainbow scoffed rolling her eyes while pointedly ignoring the slight tremble in her wings. “It wasn’t that bad. I wasn’t even really scared. I was just screaming cause you guys were and I didn’t want you to feel bad.” She lied trying to look nonchalant. 

“Yeah right!” Applejack snorted throwing the rainbow filly a grin. “Says the filly who screamed like a murder victim when I grabbed her tail!” 

Rainbow squeaked as the others laughed and the flood gates opened wide, each girl sharing their experience within the terror filled mist. With each word spoked burden were lifted from weary withers and shared among those who were happy to help carry the load. 

As excited chatter filled the air Twilight was silent, head slowly sinking to the ground as her eyes glazed over with memory. Spike watched her worriedly laying a claw on her neck as the unicorn began to tremble slightly.

A small purple filly 

Twilight

Too thin face soaked with tears. 

Twilight

Small body pressed into the corner shoulders shaking with near silent sobs

“Twilight!

Light spilled fore, the small body shaking harder as hoofstep..

 TWLIGHT!”

Twilight eyes flew open and she jerked throwing herself away from the concerned shout. Rarity startled at the violent reaction pulling back slightly. 

“Twilight are you..” she hesitated noting the smaller unicorns wide eyes and heaving breaths. A white hoof reached out.  

“Are you ok?” 

Twilight eyes were wide, her breath coming too fast, her heart feeling like it was going to beat out of her chest as treacherous tears pricked her eyes. The others were looking at her and she couldn’t breathe her eyes darting from one concerned face to another. 

It was too much; they were too close. The warm fur that had once brought comfort now making her feel trapped.

Fast working lungs heaved in a breath as her body swayed, vision going fuzzy as she couldn’t get enough oxygen to her brain. It was too much, the mist had torn through her mind, left it raw and bleeding, echoing with memories best left forgotten. 

Rarity was saying something, getting closer. Twilight watched her mouth moving but couldn’t heard anything. Her body was frozen, but her soul was screaming.

The others were moving now, were coming closer, closer. They had to get away she needed to center, to rebuild the walls that were thrown down. She was shaken. She was vulnerable. She needed them to get away.

She knew how to make ponies go away.

Her ears went straight, mouth settling into a vicious sneer as she slapped the offered hoof away. 

“I’m fine didn’t I tell you not to touch me you little pervert.” She hissed, stepping back subtly. Rarity gasped in outrage before her eyes narrowed with temper.

“I was only trying to help you don’t have to be rude!” She snapped back letting her hoof fall to the ground. Twilight sneered tail lashing. 

“I never asked for your help so keep your hoofs to yourself darling.” She mocked ignoring her pounding heart and short breath. 

Rarity scowled and Spike reached out gripping Twilight’s mane. 

“Twilight.” He whispered weakly “she didn’t mean it-“ 

“Shut up Spike!” she snarled jerking her head to force the little dragon back. “I didn’t tell you to talk.” 

Watching the little dragon cower Fluttershy stepped closer blue-green eyes lite with anger. “You shouldn’t talk to him like that.” She said softly sternly. “He’s just a baby.” 

“And its none of your business!” Twilight snapped immediately turning on the new target. “So why don’t you butt out!”

“Hey don’t you talk to her like that!” Rainbow snarled flying up into Twilight face. “Both of them were only trying to be nice to you and you didn’t have to bite their head off.” 

Twilight shrank back at the Pegues approach her heart jumping as the inner screaming grew louder. The flash of fear only made her more aggressive pushing forward to head butt the blue filly. 

“And you can get out of my face! What are you her mommy Rainbow Crash.” Rainbow snarled at the familiar nickname, wing bristling.

“Why you-!“ 

“Rainbow No!” Applejack tried to grab her, but Rainbow was too fast. She slammed into the small unicorn with brutal fury knocking her into the ground. Twilight cried out but used the filly’s momentum to plant her hindlegs into her stomach and buck her off. 

“Guys stop don’t fight!” 

Pinkie cried as the two fillies tore at each other with single minded fury. Rarity and Fluttershy backed away as Pinkie and Applejack rushed forward. The two earth ponies using their larger size and mass to force the two apart. 

“You two stop it! We got enough problems of our own without you two trying to kill each other!” Applejack commanded forcing Rainbow back. 

“She started it!” the blue filly yelled straining to get out of her hold. Twilight only snarled wiggling out of Pinkies grip on her scruff. She took a deep breath giving herself a full body shake. 

“As much as I hate to admit it the cowhick is right. Stopping enteral night or whatever is more important than the walking pride flags ego.” She snorted walking over to Spike, who with the grace of experience had rolled out of the way the moment Rainbow had started her charge, and gathering him up. 

The baby dragon happily reclaimed his spot on her back, glad the fighting was over. Making sure he was secure she trotted off into the forest without looking back. 

“I ain’t going nowhere with you!” Rainbow yelled defiantly.

“Then stay here and get eaten by monsters for all I care. I never wanted your help anyway.” Twilight called back over her shoulder, disappearing into the dark of the forest. 

The group watched her go with unease Fluttershy finally breaking the silence.  “Are we just goanna let her go out alone?” she asked unable to stop her worry. 

“Who cares! Let the ungrateful brat save the world on her own. She obviously don’t want our help. “ Rainbow said bitterly plopping onto the ground and crossing her hooves. 

Rarity blew out a harsh breath running a hoof through her mane. “I have to agree with Rainbow darling. Twilight made it quite clear she doesn’t want our company and truly now that our heroics have cooled, I don’t know what we were thinking in the first place. Running off after a mad alicorn really.” She shook her head at the thought of their foolishness the others unable to disagree when they really thought about it. 

They hadn’t really been thinking in that adrenaline pumped moment that seemed so long ago. Not about what they were truly getting into. They were a group of foals chasing a mad alicorn into one of the most dangerous forest in the world. This truly couldn’t have ended in anything but disaster. 

Pinkie bit her lip shaking her head as she stared at the darkness where Twilight had disappeared. “We can’t just give up now guys. Twilight needs us!” she implored tail twitching nervously. Twilight had been mean, her words sharp but Pinkie knew that look..

Applejack pawed the ground shaking her head. “Rarity right Pinkie, Twilight don’t want us so why should we-“ 

“ No!” Pinkie interrupted all but vibrating in place. “She needs us she was just hurting and didn’t know how to tell us! We can’t let her go off on her own.” She shouted before taking off into the bush.

“Pinkie!” the others cried galloping off after her. 

It didn’t take long for them to reach the fleeing earth pony who had caught up with Twilight and was now happily bouncing at her side. Exchanging looks the group grudgingly fell into step with the other fillies. Twilight didn’t acknowledge their joining, but her ears did perk slightly, and Spike gave them a happy wave.

The march deeper into the forest was filled with somber silent. Rainbow and Rarity were still fuming white Twilight was ignoring them all the tension so thick you could cut it with a knife. Muttering under her breath Rarity took a step forward before suddenly feeling a wave of weakness crash over her causing her to stumble. Fluttershy ,who was the closest, turned rushing over once she saw her friend on the ground. 

“Rarity! Are you ok?” she asked nosing her side. Rarity smiled weakly trying to pull herself to her hooves. 

“I’m fine darling just a little tried.” She said sitting up. Fluttershy moved closer wanting to help her up only to stumble herself.

“Sorry.” She muttered suddenly dizzy. The others had noticed them lagging and turned back for them. Rarity lifted her head weakly only to see a small purple horn thrust into her face. The horn sparked, tiny beams of magic hitting her in the snout making her yelp. Twilight hummed pulling back before repeating the process with Fluttershy. 

“Magical Exhaustion.” She declared ears flicking. “Or very close.  The forest must have been draining us while we were under its spell. You need food and rest.” She said sitting back. Rarity gave her a small glare still anger at the smaller unicorn.

“I’m fine.” She insisted standing quickly. “I just stumbled for a moment we can carry on.” 

“Hmm no.” Twilight declared bluntly. “More than likely everypony is just as drained and the effects are only catching up to us now. We’re resting.” Rarity grit her teeth angry at the other filly for giving her orders. 

Angry at her for being right. 

She could feel her legs shaking, exhaustion a cruel weight upon her withers. It had taken every ounce of strength she had just to get to her hooves, but she refused to admit weakness. Childish anger and pride had her jolting out her chin stubbornly even as her legs threaten to collapse under the force of her own weight. 

“I told you I’m fine. Didn’t you yourself say we must be on our way to retrieve the elements and save the day. A little weakness is no reason to stop our quest now.” She protested. Twilight simply ignored her moving a little way from the group and laying down pulling Spike into her forearms. Without looking at any of them she began to pointy groom Spike’s head fin saying without word that she wasn’t moving an inch. Rarity fumed at the little unicorn blatant dismission but before she could say anything a impatient voice yelled back 

“Hey what’s keeping you guys get a move on!” Rainbow huffed. 

“Magical Exhaustion.” Twilight yelled back before Rarity could. “From the forest. Stay still long enough and you’ll probably begin to feel it too. We’re stopping for a rest. The orange and pink one will go get food. We’ll need it if we want to keep going.” She commanded getting more comfortable. 

“And who died and made you princess.” Rainbow growled landing. The fact that, with fear and adrenaline gone she could now feel the tiredness creeping up on her only made her temper sharper. Twilight raised an eyebrow. 

“Well Miss fly by night if you want to go running off into the forest be my guest.” She snarked continuing to groom Spike’s head fins absently. “Cause obviously sending the earth ponies who can gain strength from, oh I don’t know the earth as well as the one who herself admitted to her family having some kind of pact with this place would be a really bad idea.” She said, the sarcasm dripping so deep as to create a puddle on the floor. Rainbow flushed but Applejack bumped her flank before she could snap out a comeback. 

“Chill RD you know she’s right. I see how you’ve been struggling to stay in the air even if you’re trying to hide it.” Applejack said giving Twilight a cool look. 

“You guys rest up we got this.” 

“Yeah!” Pinkie bounced forward, though even her endless energy seemed a bit drained. “We’ll be back licky-spit with lots of goodies!” 

Giving a cheerful wave the two earth ponies disappeared into the forest the rest forced to sit back and wait for their return. Rainbow opened her mouth but decided against it and just snorted plopping down where she stood. She was soon joined by Rarity and Fluttershy leaving Twilight the odd mare out, not that she seemed to mind. The smallest filly had her head down eyes closed as she curled away from them with Spike talking softly in her ear. The four were quiet until Pinkie and Applejack returned bearing a few vegetables and, it shouldn’t really have been a surprise, some apples. Applejack divided up the spoiled briskly before she and Pinkie joined the other girls leaving Twilight alone.

Rarity ate with barely repressed fury. At much as she hated to admit it Twilight had been right. Now that the adrenalin from their little adventure had worn off she could feel the weakness catching up with her. Her body was so bruised and drained she was almost sick with it.  The Everfree was just as dangerous as everypony said if this was what one of its creatures could do in only a few moments. She shivered at the thought of what could have been if Applejack hadn’t freed them when she did and she grudgingly admitted to herself a little admiration, and envy, of the little unicorn in their company. 

Twilight had been trapped within the forest the longest which mean not only had she been rapidly drained of magic, but she had been throwing around some serious power while doing so. Rarity knew her own limit and wouldn’t call it bragging to say she was comfortably above average, but Twilight was obliviously on a hold other level.  Munching slowly on an apple she cut her eyes at the other unicorn and blinked in surprise.

Twilight wasn’t eating. The purple unicorn had pushed her share of food to Spike, watching with a faint smile as the baby dragon ate with gusto.

Rarity ears flatten and she chided herself silently for having not thought of the youngest member of their group. Spike was just a baby and had been trapped with those monster plants same as them. The drain would have hit his system much harder than the older foals and he would need a lot of food to recover what he lost. She looked back to Twilight feeling a sense of grudging thankfulness. Truthfully, she had always been silently disgusted by the way Twilight treated the infant but had keep her peace with the everything going on but now she couldn’t help but wonder. Watching Twilight care for Spike so tenderly. 

She shuffled her hooves, thinking deeply. The little unicorn was rude there was no getting around that, her tongue as sharp as any blade but.. She looked down at her few pieces of fruit feeling a warm slowly built in her chest, her eyes slowly beginning to glow with rainbow light.

In the old castle a stone rocked once releasing a gentle purple light as it hummed softly.

She was still hungry, weak, hurt anger buzzing in the back of her mind but.. she stood up slowly making her way toward the younger filly. She could feel the eyes of the others on her back but she ignored them for the moment stopping in front of Twilight downed form. When purple eyes met her own, she dropped the apples at her feet. 

“Here.” she said softly. “You need to eat too.”  

Surprise lit the too thin face chasing away the ever-present scowl and glare. 

“Wha.what!” Twilight stuttered completely confused. She knew she’d hurt the other unicorn it was practically her special talent!  Finding just the right button to push to make others go away but here she was giving her food. Rarity pawed the ground nervously those rainbow lite eyes meeting hers shyly.

“You said it yourself did you not darling. We all need food and rest. I saw how you gave your share to young Spike without taking any for yourself sooo.” She nosed the apples closer and out of the eyeing dragons reach. “A gift from me to you.” 

Twilight blinked at her truly speechless. She knew the white filly was mad at her, had hear her anger mutters and seen the fury rise in her face and now she was giving her a gift. Her hooves shuttled restlessly, and she could feel a nervous tension rising in her chest. This wasn’t right, this..this wasn’t how things went and she didn’t know what to do, she didn’t- warm flowed through her, draw from though rainbow eyes, the flame Applejack had lit growing a little bigger as she reached out with her aura.

“I don’t eat much.”  She said quietly breaking the fruit in half. She gave Rarity the other pieces. “Thank you.” She stumbled over the unfamiliar word, her smile small and shaky but true. 

Rarity gift had broken the tension and Twilight quietly apologized to each of the girls for her earlier words. Forgiveness was given even if some of it was grudging and Twilight slowly, almost shyly, joined the rest of the group. 

“What will we do now.” Fluttershy asked quietly. Twilight closed her eyes, tail flicking up to cover her and Spike like a blanket.

“Rest.” she said “Sleep if you can. Eternal nights not going any where and we won’t be any use to anypony if we kill over from exhaustion.” Everypony could see the truth in her word so settled down for a short rest. Twilight tensed as Pinkie pressed against her side but didn’t snap at her, allowing the other filly close. Peace settled over the group, pounding hearts slowed and the fillies began to relax, regaining their strength for the fight ahead. 

The first hint of danger came from a shift in the wind. 

Rainbow twitched slightly, her wings rustling. She lifted her head ear perking straining to pick out any sounds in the sudden silence. 

“Guys.” She whispered, slowly rising to her hooves. “I think you need to get up.” 

The fillies grumbled pressing closer together and Rainbow reached out with a wing shoving them in the back. 

“Guys you really need to get up something out there.” She said urgently eyes darting around the dark. Ears straining she could hear the silence where the bird song used to sing and the tension in the forest. Her eyes scanned the trees trying to bend shadow into shapes. Something was stalking them. “Guys we really need to-“ with the force of a hurricane it exploded out of the underbrush charging at the sleeping ponies with sharp teeth and gapping jaws. Rainbow cried out kicking off the ground to streak into the air, but the others were too slow, reflexes lagged down by warm bodies and exhaustion, they wouldn’t make it in time. 

Rainbow reacted in a second.

Folding her wings she dived, racing at the charging beast with a snarl. “Hey ugly over here!” she screamed beating her wings furiously. The monster roared crouching as its thick tail came up slamming into the pegasus side to drive her out of the air. Rainbow flew into the trees hitting the bark with a sharp crack before slumping to the ground. The monster snarled taking a step toward its downed prey only for a tree to knock him off his feet.

“Rainbow!” Twilight cried ripping another tree from the ground and hitting the beast again. It snarled catching the tree in its jaws and smashing it into splinters before it roared. 

“Fluttershy get Rainbow out of there! We’ll hold it off!” She barked uprooting another tree. 

“What is that thing!” Spike yelped hiding in Twilight’s mane. “Not the time Spike and get down!” Twilight snapped swinging her tree like a club.

Pinkie and Applejack ran forward, rearing as one they slammed their hooves into the earth driving their magic into the soil. The ground rumbled and shook great crack opening under the beast’s feet trying to draw it in, but he jumped. With a slap of his tail, he flung himself off the ground landing beside the two fillies and batting them aside with a roar. Pinkie and Applejack cried out as they landed in the dirt their bodies skidding across the ground as the monster closed in on them. Twilight swing with another tree but the beast side stepped only to be hit in the eye with a branch. 

“Get back you brute! Get away from them!” Rarity yelled tossing branches, sticks and anything else she could get her magic on. 

The monster snarled stepping toward her only to be hit in the head with another tree. To the side Fluttershy nudged Rainbow to her feet the rainbow pegasus flinching as her wing bend the wrong way. Fluttershy gasped 

“Rainbow your wing..” 

“No time for that Fluttershy can’t you use your talent to stop that thing. You control animals or whatever don’t you.” Rainbow said urgently eyes on the battle raging on. Fluttershy shook her head ears folding back. 

“Not on something like this. It wouldn’t work. I’d need to-“ the conversation was interrupted by a pained yell as Applejack soared past them crashing through the dirt.

“Well we need to think of something quick.” Rainbow growled rushing toward her friend.  Swinging her tree again Twilight kept Spike firmly pressed against her back as her eyes darted about looking for another opening. Pinkie and Rarity were working together, the white unicorn detracting the beast while Pinkie would run in for a powerful buck but their effort seem to be doing nothing more than making the creature mad. Applejack was down with Rainbow and Fluttershy trying to get her out of the line of fire and her own effort weren’t yielding anything more than broken branches. Her heart sank as the realization set in. They wouldn’t be able to win this they were too young and nowhere near strong enough. They had to get out of here. 

“Pinkie, Rarity this way!” she tossed the tree like a spear the lefty foliage slamming into the breast side and knocking it to the forest floor. 

“I’’ll hold it off get into the trees!” she ordered gritting her teeth as her magic lanced forward to surround a massive boulder. Sweat poured down her face as she heaved the stone into the air chucking it at the monster the moment the two were clear. Not wasting time checking the damage she immediately turned and broke into a gallop the six of them clearing the tree line just as the breast let out a roar and erupted from the earth. Snarling it charged after them plowing through trees like they nothing in a single-minded determination to catch his prey. The fillies raced ahead pumping their legs harder than ever. Applejack was flung onto Pinkie’s back, the pink earth pony barely noticing the weight as she ran for her life. 

“Get to the river!” Twilight commanded hearing the tell tell rushing of water. The group followed her instructions without thinking soon coming upon the banks of a raging river. 

“Its too deep to cross!” Pinkie cried throwing a frantic glance at the rain of fury charging toward them. 

“Then we have to swim it.” Rainbow snarled shoving the cowering Fluttershy in before jumping in after her. Knowing they had no time to find another way across the group jumped in, the icy water like a shock to their system. 

“It’s so cold!” Fluttershy stuttered struggling to keep herself above water in the raging current. Bruised and ragged the icy water was rapidly draining what little strength the group had left as they struggled to make it to shore. 

“Keep going! Don’t give up now!” Twilight yelled Spike clinging tightly to her neck. The beast had made it to the river and snarled at the fleeing ponies. He paced at the edge but wouldn’t enter the water. Struggling against the current the group pushed their way across finally making it to the other side. Pinkie made it first. The earth pony heaving Applejack onto shore before turning to help Fluttershy. 

“Did everypony make it?”Applejack coughed trying to pull herself to her hooves. The group gathered themselves together and looked around. 

“Waits where-?!” 

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy screamed wings flaring. The soaked blue body was bobbing under rapidly the filly’s struggles growing weaker as the current carried her away. 

“Rainbow hold on!” Twilight cried running toward the edge. Froth foamed in the lavender coat as the unicorn’s horn sparked releasing a few harmless glows before going dark. Gritting her teeth, she pushed harder eyes glowing white as she delved into the delphs of her power and brought out whatever stores she had left. Her horn glowed magic lancing out to surround the fading blue body and pulling it to store. The moment Rainbow touched the dirt Twilight collapsed, breath harsh and labored. 

“Twilight!” Spike cried rushing forward. He ran his hands over the fast-heaving side claws taking fist full of the soaked fur. 

“Twilight get up.” He pleaded voice small and lost. 

“I’m fine, I’m fine.” She coughed pulling herself onto trembling hooves. Struggling to get her breathing under control she turned wobbly. “Rainbow, did I get her?” 

“I’m good.” Rainbow Dash hacked sitting up. She winced as she tried to fold one of her wings and everypony could see the bend, unnatural shape. Rarity gasped in horror, reaching out a hoof. 

“Oh darling your wing, its-“ a roar had all their heads turning. The monster on the other side of the bank pacing restlessly furious eyes locked on it prey. 

“We need to move away from here.” Applejack stated coming up to help Twilight stand. “We don’t want to give that thing any encouragement to get over here.” 

The others agreed limping there way deeper into the forest. The migration was quiet, the exhausted group eventually stumbling upon a deserted clearing, sinking into the soft grass. Using the last of her energy Twilight dragged herself into a small patch of moonlight before going still, her chest barely rising. Spike curled into her side and in the silence, it was easy to hear his soft weeping. 

Rainbow wing was shot. The hit from the monster as well as the pounding of the river had broken the bone and shredded the feathers. Fluttershy did the best she could, but she was no doctor and her soft reassurance fell on deaf ears. Rainbow’s face had gone blank, and it was clear she was only hearing the echoes of when dreams died. Applejack and Rarity had simply laid in the dirt the white unicorn too tried to even complain about the grime getting into her coat. Fluttershy pressed herself against an unmoving Rainbow, trying to offer comfort while Twilight simply lay unmoving. 

Pinkie watched them all sadly, ears falling limply. She hated seeing her friends looking so defeated. Unable to sit back and do nothing while they were hurting, she pulled herself to her hooves. Twilight didn’t move when she nosed her cheek, but she gave Spike a reassuring smile. Nuzzling away his tears and giving him a quick lick across his head fins. 

“She’ll be ok Spike.” She muttered softly giving the infant a few more tender licks. Nosing Twilight’s tail to curl around him she raised her head to check on her other friends. Applejack and Rarity were quiet, their faces wore and hollow, but her heart clenched when her eyes fell on Rainbow’s bowed back. Biting her lip, she trotted over to Rainbow Dash. 

“Hey Hey Rainbow knock knock.” She said putting a large grin on her face. The blue filly didn’t answer still staring off into space and Pinkie nudged her with a hoof. 

“Come on Rainbow knock knock. Knock knoc-“ 

“KNOCK IT OFF!”

Pinkie shrank back as Rainbow slapped her hoof away rounding on the other filly with a furious glare. 

“Nopony wants to hear your bucking jokes Pinkie! If you haven’t noticed Twilight half dead, we all look like we’ve been shot to hell and your over here trying to make bucking jokes!’ Pinkie dropped to her belly scrambling back as Rainbow advanced on her. “I just..I just wanted you to laugh-“

“DO I LOOK LIKE I NEED A LAUGH!” Rainbow screamed kicking and stomping the dirt. 

“The world is freaking ending and we’re in here running around like a bunch of idiots who really thought we could do something!”  She clenched her teeth, tail lashing through the air. 

“We’ve done nothing but get our butts kicked since we walked into this Celestia forsaken forest! We’ll never see the Sun again, we’ll never see our home or our families and I’ll never get in the Wonderbolts-“ she stopped biting her lip so hard it bleed as she turned away before the first tear fell. 

“Just shut up Pinkie.” She muttered softly walking away. Pinkie blinked back tears never moving from her spot on the forest floor as she looked pleadingly at her friends. Fluttershy wouldn’t look at her, mane hanging low over her face, Applejack and Rarity only watched silently and Twilight still hadn’t moved. Rainbow shuffled to the edge of the group, curling in on herself and Pinkie could see her shoulders shaking no matter how tightly she held them. 

She bit her lip swallowing back her own sob. The dark emotions swirling around the clearing seem to choke her, pressing down on her mind and urging her to give into despair. “No.” She thought to herself as her eyes began to glow with faint rainbow light. “Don’t be sad. Don’t give in.”

In the castle a petrified stone rocked and bounced happily before releasing a giggling laugh.

Eyes narrowed with determination Pinkie settled herself in the dirt brought her hooves up and began to clap. Then she began to sing.


“If your happy and you know it clap your hooves.”

Clap clap

“If your happy and you know it clap your hooves.”

Clap clap

“If your happy and you know and you really want to show it if your happy and you know it clap your hooves.”

Clap, Clap

As the song ended her only response was Rainbow’s anger snarling while the others just stared blankly. Eyes hollow and sad. Not giving up Pinkie began to sing again.

“If your happy and you know it clap your hooves.”

Clap clap

“If your happy and you know it clap your hoove-“

Clap clap

…clap clap.

Pinkie started her head shooting around to look for the source of the timid claps. Right at the edge she spotted Twilight sitting up slightly her eyes half closed while Spike, curled between her forelegs, timidly clapped his hands again. Green eyes brighten slightly by childish joy. Pinkies smile widen and the glow in her eyes grew brighter as she sat up and began to sing with more enthusiasm. 

“If your happy and you know it..”

Around the camp the other fillies tried to tune out Pinkie’s gleeful singing and Spikes stumbling attempts to sing along but it was a losing battle. Then Twilight joined in at Pinkie’s insisted probing, face as red as a cherry as she mumbled out the unfamiliar rhythm while her hooves clapped to the beat. Watching Twilight embarrassed stuttering the others couldn’t help but crack a smile and Pinkie zeroed in on the grins like a bear scenting prey. 

“Come on girls! Don’t just sit there join in!” she giggled bouncing over their backs. She leaned down to their ears and mock whispered. “Between you and me I think Twilight could use a little help. She not very good this at.” She chucked. 

Twilight growled glaring at the bouncing pink menace even as her face heated in another intense blush. Applejack broke first a little snicker leaving her lips. Twilight swung her head around, narrowed eyes all but daring her to laugh. It was too much Twilight glaring eyes and red face, Pinkies oh so innocent whistling as she trotted around them. The dam broke and helpless laughter spilled into the night. It was probably more than the scene deserved but after a night of terror and heartache it feel good to laugh. Rainbow glared at them all gritting her teeth as her broken wing ached.

“Why are you all laughing!” She shouted unable to take it. “We’re lost in this dumb forest, fighting some dumb god alicorn! We’re weak and beaten and my wing is broken-“ soft fur pressed against her side stealing her words. 

“We know.” Pinkie said softly, rainbow eyes soft. “Everything is dark and scary and seems really really bad right now but sometimes..” she looked up at the darken sky and gave a lopsided smile. “Sometimes when everything is dark you just need a little joy.” She giggled lightly nuzzling her cheek. 

“Sometimes it feels good to laugh.” She smiled gently bumped her hip careful of the wing. 

“Come on Dashie sing with us!” Then she was of again singing that stupid childish song. There was bouncing and faces and notes sang deliberately off key and.. they were laughing. They were all laughing, and it didn’t make everything better. Rainbow’s wing was still broken, some of the laughs were a bit too loud and everypony politely ignored the few tears. But they were here they were together and sometimes when the world was dark and lonely the only thing keeping the shadows away was the light of a little childish joy. 

Deep within the castle a dark alicorn watched the scene play out with an small frown before waving a wing to dismiss the image. Nightmare tapped a hoof absently thinking on what she’d just seen. They were no threat to her truly, merely foals playing at heroes and the Everfree would most likely take care of them long before they ever reached her doorstep. 

She hummed in thought, wings rustling at her side. They didn’t have a sliver of a chance but.. serpent eyes looked to the dormant elements and her eyes narrowed. She stomped a hoof bringing the image back, looked at the group of six.

“Mmm maybe I should take care of you personally.” She purred eyes glowing black.
> Onward to Nightmare
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Time passed slowly with the group drawing together after their burst of laugher and resting as best they could. Twilight shifted restlessly her face pained as she curled within herself. The night had grown dark, blacken clouds rolling in and blocking out the moon and stars zapping what little strength she had regained and leaving her weaken. Her breathing growing harsh, the purple unicorn eyes snapped open lifting slowly to the darken sky. Pulling herself to her hooves she winced as her bruised body protested sharply. Testing her horn, she felt her heart sink as a slight burning pain traveled throughout her body. 

“Magical burn.” She snorted weakly taking a few wobbly steps out of the pony pile. This was.. not good. She had been using too much magic to fast leaving her ley lines sore and swollen. Magic would be difficult for her now and.. she cut her eyes at the sky almost seeming to grow weaker as she confirmed what she already knew. No moon no stars, still up in the air if Sun would ever rise again leaving her cut off from recovering her energy. 

She made a quick decision. They didn’t have much time. 

“Get up we got to get moving.” She ordered nudging Spike into a stand. She roused the others quickly, ignoring the grumbles and protest.

“How close are we to the castle? Does anypony know?” Applejack asked eyes darting to each of them before landing on the little unicorn. 

“Twilight?” 

She shook her head lifting Spike onto her back, ignoring the jolt of pain that came with the movement. “No, I lost the map a while back and I couldn’t even tell you how to get back the way we came.” Her ears twitched and she gave the orange filly a slightly hopeful glance. 

“Unless you maybe..” 

Applejack shook her head before she could get her hopes up. “I’ve never been this far into the forest before, don’t know heads or tail of it.” 

The group’s face fell, and Twilight rolled her eyes up, thinking quickly. 

“Fluttershy!” she commanded making the pegasus jump. “Take to the air, see if you can see the castle from here.” The yellow filly blinked, blue-green eyes widening as she shot a look at the darken sky.

“Me, fly up there, alone, and so high. It’s-!“ there was a rustle behind her and she peeked over her shoulder catching a glimpse of Rainbow’s tight expression and her mangled wing. Her ears fell flat, and she immediately felt bad. Twilight wouldn’t have asked her if Rainbow wasn’t hurt, she probably wouldn’t have had to ask at all as Rainbow would’ve already been in the air. 

“I mean yes, yes! I can..I can do it.” She stammered out. 

Spreading her wings without looking at anypony she took to the sky, quickly flying above the tree line before she could think too hard on what she’d done. 

“Do you see anything!” Twilight yelled as the yellow filly turned her head too and froth. At first, she saw nothing but endless forest but out of the comer of her eyes she caught a glimpse of dark gray.

“I see it!” she called down gliding lower. “It’s back across the river some ways that way.” She tossed her muzzle the way they came. 

“Stay in the air!” Twilight shouted before she could touch the ground. “We don’t know if that monster is still waiting for us back there, so I need you to lead us farther down the river.”

She turned to face the others “Once we’re a good distance away we’ll cross and see if we can find another path to the castle.” The group of fillies nodded and set out with Fluttershy leading from the air.

Lagging slightly Twilight took small shallow breaths concentrating only on putting one hoof in front of the other and doing her best to ignore the pain that surged through her with every step. She knew Spike could sense it; the baby dragon was stroking her head subtlety, knowing better then to bring attention to her discomfort but trying to sooth her as best he could. 

“You doing ok back there Twilight?” Applejack called back seeing the little unicorn fall further behind. Twilight snorted shaking her head and stiffening her spine. 

“I’m fine.” She said curtly, pushing herself to catch up with the group. Applejack frowned. 

“Are you sure we can-“

“I said I’m fine Applesnack now get moving your falling behind.” Twilight said tartly quickly overtaking the larger filly. Applejack shook her head with a sharp whinny but didn’t say anything more, letting the small filly have her pride. The herd moved on and though Twilight continued to struggle to keep up any words of concern were met with a sharp resort and cold shoulder, so they eventually just let her be.

“I think it’s safe to cross here.” Fluttershy said landing quietly. Her wing motioned toward a line of forest where the rush of the river could clearly be heard.

“We’re far enough from the monster and I didn’t see anything from the air.” 

Making small sounds of agreement the group trotted through the leaves, soon coming upon the shallow riverway and with only a small amount of hesitation began to cross. Twilight stayed to the back, thin weaken legs struggling in the shallow water as she fought to keep her breathing under control. Halfway across she was hit by a wave of weakness, the surge sucking away what little strength she had and causing her to stumble, her knees buckling as she went crashing to the floor. The others turned as she struggled to pull herself up out of the water, Spike coughing up water beside her after tumbling from her back. The fillies exchanged looks and silently decided to shove Applejack forward. Giving the cowards a dirty look the farm filly creep forward slowly, wary of the unicorn’s sharp tongue. She opened her mouth ready to offer aid she knew would be ignored when suddenly great jaws leapt out of the water swallowing the purple unicorn whole.

“TWILIGHT!”

The group cried out as one terror saturating their voices as a great silver blue snake like creature rose above them, serpent tongue flicking rapidly as a small lump moved slowly down his throat. 

“It ate her!” Fluttershy screamed bursting into tears. Before the others could even process what had happened, the sea serpents throat began to glow. The beast hissed, a pained roar escaping as its body began to smoke, the light in its throat growing brighter. It began to thrash throwing its head from side to side with a screech of pain as the light grew to blinding levels. There was an audible crack of lancing light then its head exploded. 

Blood, meat, and bone flew in every direction as the massive body fell, a small mass of blood and puss escaping through the hole to land heavily within the curling river. Breaching the surface Twilight dragged herself free with a desperate gasp, Spike clinging to her mane with a death grip as she fought her way to shore. Snapping out of their paralysis Applejack and Pinkie rushed forward grabbing ahold of any part of the filly they could reach and hauling her out of the water.

“Keep running!” she gasped out not allowing them to stop. “There could be more, or it couldn’t be death just keep going!” 

Not pausing to argue the group took off at a gallop the earth ponies half supporting, half carrying Twilight between them as they ran blindly forward. Twilight instincts were correct as the group had made it barely a few feet away when a pulse of magic filled the air along with an ear-splitting roar. Terror adding speed to their legs the fillies didn’t stop running till the sound of the hydra and the river were long behind them. Collapsing in terror shaken heap the fillies heaved in deep gasping lung full of air, bodies shaking from the bust of adrenaline. Gasping Twilight pulled herself free of the others, shivering so hard her teeth chattered as she fought to control her breathing. 

“No weakness, no weakness, no weakness.” she chanted like a prayer willing her legs to hold her weight and her body not to shake. To process the fact that she had just been eaten was too hard, so she dealt with it like she did with every terrible thing that happen to her. Sliced it into pieces and shoved it deep into some dark corner of her mind to torment her later in her nightmares. Dealing with it by not dealing with it she wrapped herself in an armor of rage and hatred and was mostly calm and stable by the time the others had shakenly gotten to their hooves.

“So let’s keep moving. We don’t know what else is out here and I’d rather not find out.” She said grimly using mud and leaves to clean the blood off Spike. The baby dragon looked rightly traumatized, his eyes big and moist but the infant knew better then to cry. Twilight hard look helping him to force the tears back and shove all the pain down deep like she’d taught him. The others gave her wide eyed looks of disbelief obviously not ready to simply glance over her brush with death.  

“Twilight..darling that big serpent just..just ate you! How can you tell us to simple keep going after something like this!” Rarity cried, face pale

. “Yeah! If you hadn’t used your magic like that you would have been in his tummy! And then and then…” Pinkie shivered, her poofy mane seeming to lose some of its fluff as they watched but Twilight simply turned away, uncaring.

“Well I’m not dead as you can see so it doesn’t matter. We got stuff to do remember.” She snorted trying to walk away. Her legs, more honest than she was, gave way sending her to the ground with a hiss. 

“I’m fine!” she shouted before anypony could move. She was holding herself to together by a thread, but she firmed her lips and forced herself up. Spike did his best to support her, pressing against her side so she could lean against him. Twilight glanced at him briefly but didn’t say anything simply leaned a little more of her weight to his side as she tried to continue into the forest. Off to the side tried, shaken and frankly over the little unicorn’s attitude Rainbow shoved herself forward aggressively, her one wind flaring. 

“Fine!? This all started because you were shouting how fine you were when you weren’t! If you’ve just let us help you before you wouldn’t have fell and been snake food!” She shouted. 

Spike withered under the pegasus’s fury, but Twilight spine went straight, ears flatten as she bared her teeth. “I told you I didn’t need your help and I meant it! I just tripped on a rock so get your featherbrain out of my business! “Rainbow’s eyes narrowed, and she growled “Why you-!” 

“Rainbow stop! Guys don’t fight!” Fluttershy interrupted pushing herself between the two fillies. She gave Rainbow an imploring look and the blue filly reluctantly backed down with a grumble leaving her to face Twilight alone. The yellow pegasus gave her a hard look and Twilight tensed ready to snap and snarl and let everypony know she was not weak- 

“You shouldn’t call her that.” 

She blinked, chest deflating with a rush as the wind was knocked out of her sails by the soft rebuke. “W...what?” she mentally stumbled, once again things weren’t going as she expected, and she didn’t know how to redirect. Pushing the advantage Fluttershy trotted forward giving a hard tap to one of Twilight’s back legs. The unicorn hissed unable to stop herself from jerking back and only then did she notice the bleeding gash on her leg. Thrown more off her game by the wound Fluttershy continued to take control. Pulling a large leave from seemingly nowhere she took a couple smaller plants in hoof and squeezed, bright green juice dripping onto her makeshift bandages. 

“Featherbrain is very hurtful to a pegasus and you shouldn’t say things to hurt your friends.” She continued to scold as she flattens the leaf around the wound. Her touch was gentle but firm holding the unicorn still when she would have pulled away from the pain. Her matter of fact very brisk nature unnerved Twilight enough that she could do nothing but submit. 

The truth was it had been a very long time since anypony had ever scolded her. In the rare times she left the safety of her room, Canterlot had long learned to fear the sharpness of her tongue or the wrath of her power. Even Celestia tried not to push her youngest too far less she be forced to deal with the explosions, figurately and literally, that came with her temper. Finishing up Fluttershy stepped back with a nod giving her a small smile. 

“Does that feel better?” she asked softly pitching her voice low. Twilight glared wanting to snap but even she could admit the pain, more noticeable now because of its absent, was much more bearable. 

“It doesn’t hurt as much anymore.” She muttered looking away. Fluttershy easy care when she had been feeling so anxiety about showing weakness left her feeling foolish and unbalanced, she didn’t really know how to act. Fluttershy smiled keeping her voice low so only the two of them could hear. She knew Twilight wouldn’t appreciate an audience. 

“You shouldn’t hide it when you’re hurting it only prolongs the pain.” She said softly backing up. Twilight worked her jaw for a second but eventually just snorted, turning away. Spike, who had hidden under her belly, nuzzled her chest comfortingly sensing her troubled emotions. She looked down, giving him a small smile before wrapping her tail around him.

“We lost our path running from the monster.” She said deciding to ignore what just happened. “You should fly up and see if you can see the castle.” 

Fluttershy gives her a look but nodded taking to the air. Watching from the ground Rainbow face tighten. She rustles her wings flinching slightly as her broken wing ached. Turning away from the pegasus in the sky she tries to swallow back her bitterness. 

“Oh oh my.” Fluttershy stuttered eyes wide as she looked over the forest. 

“What ya see! What ya see!” Pinkie yelled upward as Fluttershy shot a panicked look back to her friends.

“The forest is gone.”

“What!” 

“What do you mean gone!” Rainbow asked sharply, her wing aching to fly. Fluttershy shook her head flying back down. “It’s all gone. I can see a path to the castle but everything else is just gone like it was never there at all.” She explained worriedly. Twilight’s eyes darted back and forth as her brain worked quickly. She had a feeling but just to be sure.. nudging Spike to the side she darted into the trees without a word only to appear moments later back on the path. Scowling she did it again receiving the same results and she growled. 

“Nightmare” she hissed glaring at the trees around them. Narrowing her eyes, she could make out thick layers of blue mist seeped into the trees and bushes. Nightmare Moon wasn’t even trying to be subtle in her blatant use of magic to trap them on the path. 

“It’s Nightmare Moon.” She said loud enough for the others to hear. “She wants us on this path and is using her magic to keep us here.” She waved a hoof at the blue tendril which weren’t even trying to hide. “We can go only where she wants us.” 

“Seriously this is obviously a trap you don’t just walk right into the jaw of the bad guy.” Applejack protested. Twilight shook her head. “We don’t have a choice. Nightmare could keep us all walking in circle forever if she wanted but she left the castle open so it’s either walk the path or sit here till something comes and eats us.” Personally, she wouldn’t have been surprised if the black alicorn send some monster to attack them if they took too long. The others looked nervous but knew they had no real choice but to keep moving forward. Nodding firmly Twilight turned and took a step only to hesitate. 

“My..my leg is still kinda sore.” She muttered barely above a whisper “Can we..slow it down just a bit.” 

Stunned silence answered her while Fluttershy beamed. “Wait weren’t you just-oaf!” Applejack elbowed Rainbow and gave her a look before smiling at the nervous unicorn. “Sure, thing Sugarcube ain’t no problem at all.” Twilight gave a tiny smile hidden by the wild tangle of her mane as Pinkie bounced up to support her. Feeling a calming warmth in her breast with Pinkie on one side and Spike on the other the group trotted toward the unknown together.



~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~****~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~



“So what exactly is our plan of action once we have reached the castle?” Rarity asked breaking the tense silence. Twilight blew out a harsh snort, ears flicking. 

“Truthfully hope we luck out and die early so we won’t have to freeze to death like every other pony or on some fat chance find the element light the spark or whatever and stop this nightmare.” She grunted uncaringly.

“Your hope and faith are just inspiring darling.” Rarity deadpanned giving her a small glare. The little unicorn just shrugged opening her mouth only to pause, her ears perking. 

“Do you hear that?” she asked eyes darting about. Was something moving.. The others stopped giving her curious looks.

“I don’t hear anything.” Pinkie said her own ears flicking, though she did begin to eye her surroundings suspiciously. They had been through enough that the group wasn’t taking any chances. Twilight didn’t answer her eyes darting about searching through the darkness surrounding them. Her eyes narrowed but no matter how hard she looked she could see nothing. Frowning she shook her head taking a step forward. 

“Its nothing. I thought I-“ A green vine suddenly snaked out of the shadows, the two leaves on the end morphing into a gaping row of razor-sharp teeth that sank into Twilight’s leg dragging her into the brushes before she could scream.

“Twilight!” Applejack yelled charging after her as Rainbow groaned. “Not again!”  just as hundreds of vines suddenly dropped from the trees mouths filled with sharpen teeth that roared at the fillies. 

“Run!” Rarity screamed rearing back as the monster plants surged forward. Flutttershy took to the air as Rainbow and Pinkie scrambled back from the snapping jaws, the four forced back-to-back as the vines circled them from all sides. 

“What about Twilight and Applejack!” Fluttershy cried shrieking as one of the vines snapped at wings driving her to the ground.

“We need to worry about us!” Rainbow snarled trampling a pair of teeth that got too close. Without warning a blast of purple energy craved a hole through their ranks, vaporing everything it touched. The vines released a keeling wail, pulling back from the searing light as Twilight and Applejack came tearing out of the woods. 

“Make way!” Twilight yelled losing another blast from her horn that craved great chucks from the earth scattering rocks and plants everywhere.  The vines hissed recoiling from her light but didn’t retreat circling around the edge growling. 

“We’re surrounded, there in all the bushes and trees.” Twilight snarled horn blazing. “I knew it was a trap!” Rainbow hissed as the fillies backed up, herding together as the living creepers circled them like sharks smelling blood. Hissing in greed, a vine lunged from overhead snatching Spike in its jaw before Twilight could react. The infant cried out and Rarity leap, sinking her teeth into hissing ivy and tearing it from the root. The creeper shirked releasing its prey to turn on the white filly and Twilight was there; teeth bared her horn boiling like lava as she released another searing blast straight through its green leaved face. Rainbow snatched Spike out of the air as Rarity tore at the body of her attacker, but the base only regrew two more head causing Rarity to scream and scramble back.

“They keep growing back!” she yelped. 

“Then let’s burn them all to ash.” Twilight snarled eyes bleeding to white. Her horn lite up a storm of magical energy gathering around her before it ignited engulfing the forest in flames. The monster vines screamed as the purple/white energy vaporized their numbers Twilight rearing and charging froward as her magic cut a path through there attacker. 

“This way!” she shouted over her shoulder as the other fillies raced to keep up. Refusing to lose their prey so easily the vines roared and gave chase. Every burned stump that fell to Twilight’s light burst into new life two heads replacing one till the very sky seemed filled with snapping snarling mouths of green 

“Twilight darling, I hate to criticize your efforts, but I don’t think that helping!” Rarity shrieked as one of the vines snapped at her heels. Twilight tossed her head her horn winking out and with a trumpeted roar, the vines swarmed in to fill the void. 

“We’re surrounded!” Pinkie cried as the living ivy dropped to cut off their path forcing them to come to a halt. “Again!”

“And this time there more of them.” Fluttershy whimpered tearfully. The fillies backed together eyes wide and fearful. 

“We can’t burn them out they’ll just regrow.” Twilight growled in frustration.

“Not like we can fight our way out either. They’ll tear us apart the moment we try.” Applejack added eyes darting back and forth. 

“They’re overgrown houseplant can’t we just tear out their roots or something.” Rainbow growled, Spike limply hanging from her jaws. Applejacks eyes widened as realization struck. 

“The Roots..” she whispered sharing a look with Pinkie Pie as the second earth pony came to the same conclusion. 

“Everypony get back.” Pinkie cried jumping to the front. “What are you doing?” Rarity asked scampering back. 

“Just watch.”

As one she and Applejack reared their hooves slamming into the earth with a sound of a shock wave. The earth pulsed like a heartbeat before to everyponies amazement it began to die. The ground turned molted black, grass decayed and rotted, a putrid wave of black death radiating out from the fillies’ hooves and killing everything green it encountered. It took only seconds for the death magic to reach the vine monster who all began to howl in pain as their bodies blacken and withered. 

“What’s happening?” Twilight whispered watching in awe as the ripple of dark magic continued to spread to every plant around them. 

“Death.” Pinkie Pie gasped, mane and tail completely flat. Both fillies were shaking violently, froth forming in thick waves in their fur as they gasped for breath. 

“I’m gonna be sick.” 

Without warning her knees buckled the pink pony crashing to the ground. Applejack wasn’t far behind the magic cutting off as the earth ponies fell. Fluttershy and Rarity raced to their side Twilight and Rainbow keeping a wary eye on the monsters. They hadn’t been able to kill all the vines though they had destroyed a fair bit. Luckily the monsters were reconsidering their attack. Between Twilight show of power and the earth ponies’ wave of death the vines had decided that the fillies weren’t worth the trouble, retreating into the woods and trees. Listening for a moment Twilight kept her ears perked but when all was quiet, she relaxed. 

“I think there gone.” She said at last looking back at the others who were helping Applejack and Pinkie to their hooves. “Are you ok.” She asked awkwardly coming closer. Applejack shook her head leaning heavily against Fluttershy. 

“We will be gotta catch ma breath,” she wheezed out still trembling slightly.

“What was that?” Rarity asked softly voice hushed. “I didn’t even know earth ponies could do that.”

Pinkies sat up painfully giving the unicorn a grateful look as she leaned against her. “We don’t like to talk about it.” She said slowly gaining control of her breathing. “Earth ponies are of the earth our magic brings life but that is..” 

“Death.” Applejack whispered solemnly. “It’s death. Death of everything. They say a strong earth pony could turn a city into a desert.” 

Pinkie Pie shuddered shaking herself briskly. “Doesn’t feel good though. It turns our magic upside down.” She stuck out her tongue. “Makes us sick.” 

“It also takes a lot of magic. My pa could have taken out all those fang face vermin quick as a flash but..” Applejack shrugged making a little face at herself. “Still growing and all that.” 

“Well, what you could do was good enough to save our tails.” Twilight said checking on Spike. The young drake was mostly unharmed, only a few faint wounds from the beasts’ fangs. She had cleaned them as best she could with her tongue before siting him on her back, where he’d curled his body in tight. Twilight could feel him slightly shaking. She threw him a worried look but decided not to say anything. She knew what it was like to hang on by a thread and she wouldn’t ruin that for him. She’ll wait till they were alone to deal with it.

“We should keep moving best not to chance them things coming back.” She said quietly ear flicking. The other fillies muttered their agreement helping Applejack and Pinkie Pie regain their hooves so the group could move on.

Limping forward warily the group made their way cautiously through the forest eyes and ears straining to search for anymore hidden danger. The blue mist was still guiding their path giving them no other choice but to follow where it led so the group trudged on an audible sigh of relief sounding out when they saw a break in the trees. 

“I think we’re at the end.” Twilight breathed wearily hurrying her battered body as best she can. “Bout freakin time.” Rainbow groaned peeking a look at her broken wing. 

“Wait.” Rarity said freezing, eyes suddenly darting about. “Isn’t this too easy. The path is clear, the exit right in front of us after dealing with though nasty creeps. Could it really be that simple.” Her tail lashed, ears flicking back “I for one find that highly suspicious.” 

“Ain’t much we can do even if there was a flashing sign saying trap in bold letters Rares.’ Applejack signed waving a hoof at the blue mist surrounding them. “Nightmare got us running down the reel like a beast to slaughter.”

Rarity face fell and Fluttershy let out a fearful sob. Pinkie came up and leaned against her in comfort giving Applejack a dirty look. The farm filly only shrugged muttering a “its true.’ under her breath. 

“Enough.” Twilight signed tiredly “We don’t have time for this. What will be will be lets go.”  She pushed ahead stopping any further conversation as the others rushed to follow her. Trotting toward the opening the group didn’t even jump when a low growling sounded just before they reached the exit.

“Knew it.” Rarity muttered bitterly. The fillies bunched together searching the darkness for the threat. Not wanting to be caught unaware they slowly began walking toward the exit ears straining to catch any sound in the wind. The growl sounded again, closer, and Twilight was about to call a halt when Fluttershy gave a started yelp. Everyone spin toward her seeing the yellow pegasus slowly stepping toward something hidden in the shadows. 

“Fluttershy what is it?” Pinkie whispered creeping slowly behind her. Fluttershy didn’t answer instead lifting a wing to push back the brush to get a closer look. They all gasped. Laid out before them taking up a large span of the ground was the monster that had chased them earlier. Its prone form, leashed and pined to the ground, gave them the chance to examine it without the film of terror clouding their eyes. It was massive, easily 20ft high standing on all fours, a reptile creature with six legs and a long tail. Spikes flowed down its back and jagged teeth jolted from the bottom jaw. Its four eyes with half lidded but glowed faintly in the dark. The growl sounded again, and the fillies were able to see that the monster had been tied down by the creeper vines, the greenish teeth sinking into flesh as the vines worked to break through the beast tough skin. It was clear that it was being eaten alive. 

“Is that..?” the words trail off leaving Rarity looking confused and concerned. “Yeah! It’s that thing the one who broke my wing!” Rainbow snarled the unbroken one snapping out. She suddenly smirked viciously turning to kick dirt on the trapped beast. 

“Well it got what it deserved. That’s karma baby ha!” the blue filly walked off with a spring in her step obviously happy with the turn around. 

“Come on guys let’s let the grass buzzards do their thing!” Rarity and Pinkie looked unsure but eventually followed Rainbow while Applejack snorted roughly tossing her head as she followed her friends. Twilight didn’t care either way. As far as she was concerned if the beast was trapped by the ivy, it meant neither one was coming after them. She flicked her tail and turned to follow the others when she noticed Fluttershy wasn’t with the group. 

“Fluttershy come on. Let’s go.” She said impatiently. The yellow pegasus didn’t move staring at the trapped monster with unreadable eyes. 

“We can’t just leave her.” she whispered not moving. Twilight nose twisted in surprise raising an eyebrow. “What..?” 

“WHAT!” Rainbow roared whipping back to glare with furious red eyes. “You did not just say you want to free that thing!” she growled stomping toward the cowering pegasus. “Did you forget how that thing tried to kill us. What it did to my wing!” she screamed in her face.

Fluttershy struggled to stammer out an respond as the angry filly advanced on her backing her into the trees.  

“Hey knock it off RD no need to bite her head off.” Applejack said knocking the smaller filly back. Rainbow snorted muttering angrily to herself as she stalked off. Applejack shook her head turning to the cowering filly. 

“RD was outta line Flutters but she’s right. Ain’t no reason for us to involve ourselves in this mess of nature.” She glared at the pinned monster. “And I ain’t gonna lie and say I don’t feel all nice and tingly inside when I see the thing that tried to eat us be on somepony else’s dinner plate.” She huffed before walking off. Fluttershy shook and trembled looking pleadingly at the others, but Rarity and Pinkie only shook their heads turning away though Pinkie did give her a sad look. Twilight watched them all go mutely before flicking her tail at the other filly expecting her to follow. She didn’t get more than one step before a quiet “Twilight!” stopped her. She looked back, Fluttershy was staring at her with large watery eyes.

“Could you help me free her?” she whispered quietly looking at the ground. “I can’t do it by myself.” 

Twilight watched her, aware of the others glaze on her back. She was about to keep going, herd instinct would force Fluttershy to follow and leave this madness behind but for some reason she couldn’t. She was trapped in rainbow gaze of her eyes.

“Fine.” She grumbled trying to ignore the strange warm in her breast. Making sure Spike was secured to her back just in case she trotted closer. Flicking her ears at Fluttershy they approached the bounded monster, the beast watching their every move with one of its many glowing eyes. 

“Can you cut along here?” Fluttershy asking motioning toward one thick hind leg. The creepers hissed as they came close but recoiled as Twilight lite her horn a beam of purple light flowing out to slice through the ivy’s belly. It was quick work. The vines had already felt the wrath of Twilight magic before and retreated the moment the purple light came close. In no time at all the monster was free, the ponies scrambling back the moment the last vine was cut. They weren’t that trusting. The beast regarded them with unblinking eyes not moving from its prone position and the ponies backed away under its stare, Twilight all but dragging Fluttershy away.

“Get better soon.” Fluttershy called submitting to Twilight probing and trotting away to rejoin the others. None of them said anything but Fluttershy still withered under Rainbows radiating fury dropping back to walk at the back of the herd. As the fillies continued moving forward Twilight was silent, lost in thought as she chewed over what had happened. Without thinking she dropped back coming up to trot beside the lonely pegasus. 

“Why did you do it?” she asked bluntly wanting to understand. While it was true to say she didn’t care about what happened to the monster one way or another she also knew she wasn’t above taking satisfaction in seeing it helpless and defeated. The beast had hurt them, almost killed them she didn’t understand why the other filly wanted to help so badly. Fluttershy peeked at her from under her mane the one visible eye steady despite her hunched position. 

“Everyone deserves a little kindness.” She whispered the rainbow once more lighting up her eyes before she turned away. Twilight frowned looked over her shoulder one last time before they rounded the corner and were gone. Only once the last of the hoof steps had faded and the Grieveling could no longer smell their scent did she rise weakly on spend legs. The vines had trapped her for some time and wounds from sharp teeth littered her body, but she would heal. Rumbling softly in her throat she turned to the small hollow she had been protecting. Moving slowly a tiny infant came tumbling out, chirping in distress as it saw her bloodied stated. Growing in reassertion the Grieveling nuzzled her young, holding the infant close as she looked to where the ponies had disappeared and thought about kindness.

The herd was quiet as they made their way out of the trees and the world seemed to match their mood. No birds sang and no insects rustled and before anypony could realize how unnatural it was the night was already upon them.

“You got farther than I expected.” Nightmare Moon hummed casually walking among the broken bodies who had been devastated by her attack. “Little foals playing hero. I was sure my flowers would have made short work of you.” She stopped wings rustling as she looked down at Twilight spalled at her feet. The filly had attempted to protect Spike and had taken the full brunt of the attack, her body smoking slightly. Nightmare’s lips quirked, a fang peeking out. “But it seems I was wrong.” 

“You..!” 

Dark ears perked and the Nightmare turned lazily, serpent eyes landing on Rainbow Dash who struggled to her feet. “You..you leave them alone!” she hissed; teeth gritted as she forced her protesting body to stand. Trembling, bruised, blood seeping from wounds large and small she glared defiantly, doing her best to keep her body between the dark mare and her friends. Nightmare Moon lips curved, and she chuckled lowly, eyes gleaming darkly. 

“Ah the little pegasus. So much fire you have not like your little spineless friend here.” She glanced at the yellow filly behind her and with the most casual of movements kicked out a hind leg. Hooves slammed into Fluttershy’s ribs with a thunderous crack, the filly’s eyes flew open blood and bile flinging from her mouth as she flew through the air before slamming into the tree with an ominous crunch, where she slid and went still. 

“Fluttershy!” Rainbow screamed trying to run to her side. Pain shot up her side the moment she moved, the blue filly falling to the floor with a wheezing gasp. 

“Oh do try not to hurt yourself to much dear.” Nightmare said with a viper’s smile. “I rather my new toys be as undamaged as possible.” She chuckled, once more walking lazily through the downed little bodies.

“It was adorable really. Six little infant barely weaned from their dam’s teat believing they could stop me.” She stopped in front of Applejack reaching out to almost tenderly stroke the farm filly cheek. 

“So adorable.” She tapped the filly’s face and Rainbow could almost feel the impact of each deceptively light touch as she watched the bruising begin to spread across orange fur. “So cute, so funny.” She cooed, swift as lighting her hoof came up slamming into the earth pony foreleg. The limb cracked like glass, blacken, and died with the impact as glowing teal eyes, cold and death as the void in space glared into her soul. 

“So funny I forgot to laugh.” She whispers as sobbing screams fed her night. She began to walk again, and Rainbow felt like every step was another nail in her coffin as the towering Alicorn came to loom over her. 

“But you Rainbows Dash you impressed me.” She said with a fanged grin. “Such strength, such will, it really shouldn’t go to waste.” She leaned down, cold star lite eyes glaring into her own as the alicorn leaned in close. 

“You are all going to die tonight.” She said it calmly with no emotion, telling the world an undeniable statement of fact and daring it to disagree with her. Rainbow stopped breathing. 

“Quickly, painfully whatever strikes my fancy really but you Rain-bow.” She drew out her name with a low silky hiss, forked tongue flicking out to lick her face.

“You do not have to die with this little band of would-be heroes.” She stood up taking a few short steps till she stood in the center of her little massacre.  “Talent shouldn’t be wasted, and I will have need of fresh new talent in the empire I will build but I also need loyalty. “She smiled sweet as pie and poisonous as a black widow’s bite. 

“I wouldn’t dare force you to join me of course. Slaves and the unwilling tend to get such silly ideas like revolution and revolt, so I’ll give you a choice.” She spread her wings though cold viper eyes boring into Rainbows own. 

“Join me or die here with your friends.” She smiled, eyes dancing as if telling some inside joke. Rainbow felt like her breath had frozen in her lungs. Her heart was beating too fast, pain wreaked every corner of her body, and every instinct she had was screaming at her run as far and fast as she could, but she couldn’t move. Couldn’t look away from though cold, empty eyes. 

“Abandon ..my..friends.” she gasped out lips frozen by terror. Nightmare Moon chuckled stepping closer, fangs gleaming in the moonlight. 

“It is not so hard to accept really. Your quest was doomed from the start so why waste such promising potential fighting the inevitable.” Her teeth snapped on the last word, fangs coming together in a crescent smile.

“We both know there is only one real choice..” she purred.

No, Rainbow thought, she was wrong. To run away, to leave her friends even to save her own life. No there wasn’t one choice cause to Rainbow Dash there was never a choice at all. 

“Never.” 

Nightmare eyebrow raised and she frowned. “What?!”

“Never!” the filly forced out as rainbow light began to build in her eyes. A new strength suddenly filled her, and she surged to her hooves glaring fearlessly at the towering alicorn.

“I’ll never abandon my friends so you can take your offer and shove it up your fat plot!” she screamed in denial. 

Filled with new strength a stone in the castle flared to life almost seeming to release a war cry as it glowed brightly. 

“Save your lies for somepony who cares you rat winged timberwolf!” She shouted rearing up. Her wings snapped out, bones grinding in her broken limb sending jagged streaks of agony singing through her veins, but she barely felt it facing down the alicorn with a snarl of righteous fury. 

“If you want them, you’ll have to get through me! Come at me then!” she roared at the night rainbow eyes blazing bright. Nightmare Moon mask of cool mockery shattered as her face contorted in rage, teeth bared in a fiercesome snarl as she sneered. 

“Then so be it! Die along with your pitiful friends!” she lunged forward inky black darkness coming forth to swallow the light of the snarling filly before her. There was a desperate shout. A flash of purple light materializing into a white eyes purple unicorn with horn blazing braced in front of her friend. Seizing Dash and the rest in her magic Twilight pushed, cracks of white lightening sparking from her eyes as her horn gave one last desperate surge as the darkness closed in and they were gone.
> Darkest before Dawn
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

A flash of purple light and the sickening smell of burn hair deposited the fillies in the castle courtyard. Twilight choked, horn burned and smoking as with a wretched cry she threw up blood onto the blacken grass. 

“Twilight!?” Spike whimpered softly curling into himself with a weak sob. The infant’s body was badly singed from the sloppy teleport, soft scales red and blistered. Twilight’s heart lunged at the sight, but she shook her head, her vision fading slightly before she forced it to focus. They didn’t have much time.

“Get..get up!” 

She coughed up more blood, stumbling forward to nose the other fillies’ downed bodies. The others were rousing slowly their bodies also burned and smoking adding on to the already long list of injuries. Applejack and Fluttershy were completely still.

“We have to go she’ll be here soon.” 

Twilight pleaded, her pulse roaring in her ears. She tried to push, to call for strength from a body long past it limit and came up with nothing but more pain and blood.

“Guys get up!” 

There was swirl of darkness and a thunderous crack as Nightmare Moon materialized behind her. Smiling wickedly, she seized the little unicorn in her magic. 

“I think you will come with me.” She said before teleporting away leaving the others to their fate. They appeared again in the castle throne room Nightmare tossing Twilight to the ground with bruising force. Ignoring the filly’s pained cry, the black mare strutted with casual grace up the ramp to the dark midnight throne. Sitting delicately, she looked down at the beaten filly before her, serpent eyes glowing eerily. 

“It seems you keep surprising me.” She hummed, ears flicking mildly. “Such a long-distance teleport when you were already so drained of magic.” Her fangs flashed in a crescent smile. “But then what else would you expect from Celestia’s little student.” 

Twilight couldn’t help her look of surprise and Nightmare laughed. “Oh yes I know more about Equestria then dear sister believes and more still about what she’s been plotting. But truly to send her mistake to face me.” Her laugh was low and mocking. “I expected better from her and truly wonder how much you disgust her to send a filly to face an alicorn.” 

Twilight flinched, the sharp words cutting deep into her most hidden fears and sending wounds that only pretended to heal into gushing agony. She knew she was a mistake; knew how Celestia felt about the student who caused more trouble than she was worth, Nightmare didn’t have to rub it in her face. 

The dark mare smiled in sadist glee, her eyes dancing as she watched her words cut deep. Standing up she stalked toward her, every heavy hoof fall echoing in the empty chamber.

“Does it hurt?” she cooed circling like a shark. “To know that the mare you love so much sees you as nothing. An unwanted burden thrusted upon her by duty and responsible, the black smudge upon her pristine life.” Every word was a hammered blow to an already damaged psyche, cutting deep with deathly accuracy and Nightmare relished every flinch every, hushed whimper. Her smile growing larger with every bite of pain she caused. 

“Poor little Twilight. Too dangerous to be left alone but too worthless to deserve even a spic of true attention.” She stopped inches from her face, the trembling filly unable to stop herself from pulling back.

“I will kill you Twilight. “She hissed suddenly furious. “But first I will break you. Then again--” she laughed lowly bending down to whisper in her ear. “How can I do anything more to disgusting damaged goods.” Twilights eyes widen and the warm in her heart threatened to cool and die when-- 

Twilight!. 

Her eyes widened at the shout, both mares turning as shadows appeared on the far wall, a multitude of voice calling out.

“Twilight!” 

“We’re here!” 

“Hang on!”

 Limping, beaten and bruised, the five fillies came rushing as fast as they could around the corner, Spike in the lead as they raced to be with their friend. 

“Twilight!” Spike cried seeing her on the ground. He ran toward her, throwing his body on top of hers as he stared fearfully up at the mistress of the dark. Nightmare only looked amused as the battered filles limped toward her. Applejack was hobbling on three legs, the third mangled and held to her chest. Fluttershy looked like she could barely breath, her chest dented oddly and blood on her lip as she was held up and half dragged by Pinkie. Rainbow’s wing hung limply and Rarity white coat couldn’t be seen under the blood and bruises, but they came slowly, steadily to surround the downed purple filly. 

“Well look at here the gangs all back together.” Nightmare said with amusement. “I admit Twilight I had quite looked forward to parading your mangled corpse before them but maybe this is better.” Her eyes narrowed and she sneered viciously. 

“Now I can kill you all together and show Equestria what happen to thoughs who don’t fear the dark.” Spike trembled violently at her cold words burying himself deeper in Twilight side. 

“T…the el.elements!” he stuttered griping her fur tightly in his fist. “The element will stop you.” 

“The elements!” Nightmare laughed cruelly, her horn flashing an inky black. “Do you mean these worthless hunks of rock.” She said, the stones orbs popping into the air above her head only to be shattered under her magical might. 

“Was that your plan little drake? To come here and plead for mercy from useless stones and all for what.” She grinned manically, eyes glowing a bottomless black. 

“The Elements are death little one and so is your sun. From this day froth the night shall last forever!”

She reared, roaring her triumph to the heavens as the fillies cowered before her. Twilight bit her lip unable to believe that it was all over, not after everything they’d done, all they’d been through. Fur brushed against hers and Twilight looked up in surprise. The fillies were pressed close, shielding her body with their own as they faced down the alicorn for what could be their last moments. 

Their bodies trembled violently, eyes wide and panicked but none of them broke or even pleaded for their life, with her even at the end. She stared at them, these fillies who had willingly followed an angry, bitter unicorn into danger when she herself had been more than happy to let the world freeze. 

Memories raced behind her eyes, their desperate trek through the forest, the many near death experiences and even her own misplaced cruelty. They had stuck with her through it all, keeping close even when she done her best to drive them away. Realization hit and she gasped, a spark ignited and the warmth that had been growing in her chest blazed into an inferno. 

“You think..” she coughed shakenly, pulling herself to her hooves. She faced the nightmare with a glare, a rainbow beginning to form in her eyes.

“You think you can destroy the elements! Well, you’re wrong because the true Elements of Harmony are right here!”  She thrust her chest out as she stood firm within the circle of her friends. Nightmare eyes widening as the shattered pieces of stone began to glow.

“Applejack who’s heartfelt truth lead me out of the forest of lies represents the spirt of..Honesty!” the orange stones shot forth to circle around the farm filly and her broken leg tingled. 

“Fluttershy who gave compassion to a fallen enemy represents the spirt of..Kindness!” pink stone supported the dazed pegasus holding her up.

“Pinkie Pie who sparked joy when we needed it most represents the spirt of..Laughter!” With a whoop and a giggle, the stones circled the pink filly bringing life back to her eyes. 

“Rarity who’s selfless gift healed a rift broken by pain represents the spirt of..Generosity!” the green stone glowed around the white filly stealing away some of her pain.

“And Rainbow Dash who refused to give into fear and wouldn’t abandon her friends even at the cost of her own life represents the spirt of..Loyalty!” the circling stone seem to rumble like thunder and Rainbow felt her wings warm. 

Twilight glared up at Nightmare the rainbow glowing in her eyes. “We may have been beaten; we may have been bruised but we’re not broken! These five ponies got us through everything you throw at us!” 

“But you don’t have the last element! “ Nightmare yelled a trace of fear lacing her tone. She backed up looking wildly at the glowing stones. “The spark didn’t work.” 

Twilight took a deep breath, and her eyes soften bending down to give Spike a gentle nuzzle before turning to look at the other fillies. 

“But it did work.” She said tenderly tears misting her eyes. “When I realized how happy I was to see you, to hear you. When I realized how much I cared about you. “She span bared her teeth and shouted her truth to the world.

“When I knew they were my friends!”

Blinding light exploded from above a whirlwind of colors blending together to form a glowing stone branded with a five-pointed star. 

“And when I lit my spark.”  She whispered closing her eyes “It released the sixth element Magic!” The fillies closed their eyes as the glow of the stones grew blinding. Magic swirled around them, the broken shards of the elements lifting them into the air as each one formed into golden necklaces upon their neck. Magic glowed the brightest forming itself into a gleaming tiara that set delicately upon Twilight crown. 

“No!” Nightmare cried backing up as the magic surged six colors joining together to form a massive rainbow. It swirled around its bearers rising to the ceiling and gaining power with every past till it shot forward to blanket the dark goddess. Nightmare reared back wings flapping as she scrambled to escape, her entire being consumed by fear.

“Nooooo! Not again! I won’t be beaten by some pathetic fillies!” Her horn lit desperately, the darken magic rushing out to meet the oncoming wave but the rainbow power could not be stopped not even by a goddess. 

Nightmare screamed in fury as her spell was shattered, the rainbow blast washing over her with no mercy. “No! Noooooooo!" she cried out in denial, rearing back in one last futile attempt to escape as she was overwhelmed. Magic filled the castle saturating the air as it pulsed like a heartbeat spreading out all across Equestria in a super charged wave. 

Twilight could feel the magic in the air, her body surrounded in a sea of warmth as the harmony magic swirled around, cocooning her in an embrace of silence till suddenly.

The sounds of crying

“Tia..”

Twilight opened her eyes.

“Where am I?” she asked looking around. The Nightmare, her friends, they were all gone, it was completely dark and echoing around her was the sound of crying. 

“Hello!” she cried, not immune to the heart-breaking sound. The crying continued, the sound soft and broken, the pony too upset to be quiet but also filled with the shattering clarity that no one would come to ease their pain. Unable to stop herself, Twilight plunged into the dark trying to find the source of the haunted sound. There was a moment of warmth and a tingle of bells then slowly a blue lite path appeared in front of her, leading farther into the dark. Having nowhere else to go she followed. Her trot breaking into a gallop as the crying seemed to grow closer the moment she stepped onto the path. 

An odd sense of desperation suffocated her, an urge to hurry pushing her on and she pumped her legs faster till her breath grew short and her heart hammered in her chest. Suddenly all at once the feeling disappeared and she came to a stop breathing heavily. 

There at the very end of the path, as if she’d been there all along, was a pony, an alicorn of light blue fur, thin shoulders shaking with hopeless sobs. Twilight hesitated but urged on by unknown forces she crossed the last few inches between them. 

“Hello.” she said softly, keeping her voice low. The little alicorn gasped, turning slowly as if every movement hurt. Teary, red rimmed blue eye peeked at her through a tangled mane “Why are you crying?”  Twilight asked awkwardly. She had only very recently awakened her more tender emotions and she was still trying them on for size.

The little alicorn didn’t answer, hunching low to wrap her wings around herself as she stared at Twilight with large, haunted eyes. Twilight shifted nervously, feeling uncomfortable under the forlorn glaze. Eyes were a window to the soul and the mare poured out her pain for all to see, the well of her heart so full she couldn’t have hidden it if she tried. Feeling compelled Twilight stepped a little closer an odd feeling clenching her chest when the alicorn cowered back with a weak cry. Eyes softening, she reached out touching her back, all at once she was consumed by a vision.

She was younger and so much smaller, prowling the castle at night to get some fresh air as she had finally gotten Spike to sleep. The few ponies moving about kept their distance and she had no desire to interact with them. Rounding a corner she stopped, eyes locking on sullen sight a little way down the hall. Celestia, mane dim and eyes focused on the moon stood as still as death at the end of the path. She was unmoving, looked to be barely breathing and as the small filly stared into her eyes she noticed there was something..shattered about her glaze. Feeling like she was seeing something she wasn’t supposed to, she backed away quietly but not before she heard a small whisper past the alicorns lips. 

Luna…

“Luna.” Twilight muttered. The little alicorn started at the call of her name looking up quickly. “Your names Luna right? Celestia’s sister?” Twilight said in realization. It all made sense now, the prophecy, Celestia’s actions, everything.

“No.” the voice was small and raspy, throat destroyed by years of torment and tears. “I have no sister. I have nothing.” Fresh tears sprang to her eyes and the little alicorn turned away with a dejected cry.

“That’s not true!” Twilight said strongly placing a hoof on one shaking shoulder. “You do have something! You have a sister! One who’s been waiting for you for a long time.” Luna shook her head mutely, pulling away and moving further into the darkness. 

“Nopony wants me. I am nothing please just leave me.” 

“Come with me.” Twilight ordered abruptly suddenly afraid. The darkness seemed to coil clinging to the broken alicorn as she moved back. She didn’t know how but Twilight was suddenly sure something bad would happen if she allowed Luna to be taken by the shadows. Moving aggressively, she yanked the alicorn to her hooves. The light blue mare stumbled, weakened legs struggling to hold her weight. 

“You don’t need to stay here anymore. Come with me.” The little alicorn’s lips trembled, all four knees threatening to give out as the purple filly urged her onto the blue path.

“No! I can’t go back. I can’t.” she shouted, resisting even as Twilight pushed her on. “Just leave me here. There is nothing out there for me! There never was!” She let out a hollow sob and her form seemed to darken slightly, mending into the gloom. “Just leave this place. Let me stay with the shadows, there all I ever had.”

“And I told you that’s not true!” Twilight yelled rearing up to headbutt the alicorn in the rump. Luna, shocked, yelped at the feel of the sharp horn her legs skittling forward, breaking free of the tangle of darkness. 

“It doesn’t matter how you feel because you have somepony waiting for you and she’ll forgive all of that.” She declared loudly. “She’ll give you a place even if you don’t want it. Even if you don’t deserve it.”

Generosity 

A green light suddenly appeared in the darkness.

“Why are you doing this?” Luna whimpered even as Twilight continued to press her forward, the alicorn taking slow, unsteady steps. “You don’t know what I’ve done. Who I am. I- ” 

“I don’t.” Twilight huffed shoving at her back legs. The alicorn was finally starting to pick up pace. “I don’t know anything about you at all, but that doesn’t matter because somepony showed me that everyone deserves a little kindness.”

Kindness 

A pink light joined its sister.

“I don’t.” Luna whimpered. “I betrayed her, betrayed our nation and everything we fought for. I don’t deserve your kindness nor your effort. Just leave me.” 

“I’m getting really sick of you saying that!” Twilight grit her teeth, refusing to give up. “If you’re looking for some great speech about how great it is out there filled with joy and laughter and all that good stuff then I..” She swallowed thickly, thought of her own hopelessness, the continuing desire to simply lay down and rest.  Forever. Of the darkness that even now lurked in her heart ready to consume her. 

“I can’t because I.. I don’t even think I believe it. Not really, not yet.” She thought of bouncing pink curls, silly songs and laughing till she cried and her heart warmed. “But sometimes when all you know is darkness you just need to somepony to show you the light.”

Laughter

A blue light flicker into place

“How do you know!” Luna cried suddenly, the burst of emotion taking them both by surprise. It was too late now the dam had burst, a thousand years of guilt and grief pouring out. “You don’t know if she’ll be there not after what I’ve done! How I hurt her!” her wings snapped out with her cry, thin body trembling with agony as the darkness rushed forth, attaching to the shaking feathers, trying to pull her back. “I destroyed everything! Any hope I killed it! I shattered our bond with my own hooves. My sins cannot be forgiven! “

“But she will, she has!” Twilight yelled back her shout dispelling the creeping darkness. “I know she has cause she’s been waiting a thousand  years! She waited and waited and kept on waiting, all for you! And now your back and she’s not gonna have to wait anymore!” The filly yelled headbutting her again. The alicorn was now moving on her own. Shaky legs accelerating.

Loyalty

A red light burst out of the darkness.

“But I-“ Luna stuttered pushing her legs forward even as desperate hope warred with her despair. She swallowed thickly, wanting so desperately to believe even when she was so afraid she was already dammed. 

“You..you cannot know that! That she is waiting for me, not after so long. There –“ she broke off in a sob even as she kept running because to hope was torment and nopony deserved torment more than her. 

“I don’t even know if you’re real! If any of this is real! It could all be some cruel trick just to hurt me and it should because I deserve it and-!” 

“It’s not a trick! It’s not a lie!” Twilight interrupted nipping her hocks.

Honesty 

An orange light completed the ring.

“Everything is real! Me, you, everything and we’re gonna get out of here! I’m gonna take you home! It doesn’t matter what you did, who you hurt or anything! Cause you have somepony waiting on you and I..” she thought of the five fillies who had followed her into a nightmare, of the little dragon who was always by her side.

“And I have somepony waiting for me too.” She finished softly. Purple eyes narrowed in determination. “So I’ll get us out! I’ll make sure we get home and if you can’t move forward, if you can’t even crawl then I’ll carry you!”

Magic 

A bright purple light exploded in the sky connecting all the lights into a blazing ring of color. They shot forth, merging to form a rainbow of radiance that seared through the darkness, wrapping the mares in a well of gleaming color. Luna’s eyes widened, her heart skipping a beat as the light engulfed her, seeping into every pore and vein, burning away the festering blackness that had corrupted her heart and soul. There was a hissing screech, a scream of denial as the light cleansed her, clearing her mind of hate and fear till in a split second of rapture she truly believed that she could go home. 

A second was all it took and a spark lite, connected and the rainbow surged forth blazing like the sun as the mare galloped. Hooves pounded the trail as the two fillies ran out of the darkness and into the light.



******************************************************************************



“Twilight, Twilight!”

Purple eyes cracked open, hazy and unfocused. The filly moaned while her body, deciding she was now properly awake, immediately began to tell her everywhere it hurt. There was a sobbing sign of relief then Spike tear-stained face came swimming into view. 

“Oh, Sun and Moon Twilight I was so scared! Are you ok?” he asked quickly wiping his face. Twilight only groaned, doing her best to pull herself to her hooves. 

“Wha-what happened?” she asked, looking around in a daze. “Did..did we win?” she had hazy memories of fear and darkness but they were already fading, dispelling like wisps on the wind. Her ears flicked as other groans echoed around the room and she looked up to see her friends stirring. 

“Did anypony get the name of the cart that hit me?” Rainbow moaned rubbing her head with a wing. There was a sharp gasp and then Fluttershy was there, forehooves delicately cradling the blue wing. 

“Rainbow your wing!” Rainbow Dash looked confused for a second before looking down at her undamaged wing. The wing that not so long ago had been broken and shattered. It took a second for it to click then she gasped, eyes widening. 

“My wing. My WING!” she screeched snapping both healed and whole appendages out before leaping into the air. “My wing is back and better than ever! Ah yeah baby!” The pegasus cheered twirling and looping through the air. 

“Wait!” she said as she suddenly hit the brakes.  “Fluttershy your injuries! I heard something crack when that Nightmare attacked you and--“ she whipped her head around looking at the others. 

“Applejack! Your leg its-“ 

“Fine!” the earth pony said in dazed awe shaking the undamaged legs mutely. “Check it out not even a mark!” Cries rang out from the others, all the fillies noticing that their injuries and pain had completely vanished into mist. Twilight gave Spike a thorough once over all but dizzy with relief when she confirmed the dragon was heal and whole.

“Hey, look at this look at this!” Pinkie cried suddenly hopping excitedly as she puffed out her chest. Gleaming brightly around her neck was a golden necklace with a light blue balloon shaped gem at its center. 

“Oh wow Pinkie it looks just like your cutie mark.” Fluttershy said coming closer. 

“They all do!” Pinkie cheered tapping the butterfly necklace on Fluttershy’s throat. “No fair though why does Twilight get a crown?” Rainbow complained pointing with a wing.

Twilight looked up giving a small oof as the starred crown, slightly oversized, fell over her eyes. The other laughed and Applejack stepped forward giving the purple filly a quick nuzzle before she could react. “You know Twilight, I thought you were sprouting a whole lot of hooey, but I guess we really do represent the element of harmony.”

“Indeed you do!”

Golden light suddenly pieced the dark, the fillies closing their eyes as the sun rose as last. A bright burst of white light flew from its surface condensing into the brilliant form of Princess Celestia. Gasping they all immediately threw themselves into a bow except Twilight who froze staring up at her mentor with mounding dread. 

The purple filly’s ears flattened, and she shrank back moving quickly to hide behind the reassuring bulk of Applejack. 

“Twilight Sparkle.” Celestia voice called out, carefully neutral. “Come stand before me.” Twilight flinched shrinking lower.

“Please” 

Feeling she had no choice the filly skittered from behind her worried looking friend head hanging as she inched her way toward the Sun Princess and sank down to her haunches.

“What?” she muttered already hearing the lecture ringing in her ears. Celestia looked at her, face unreadable. “I didn’t expect to see you here.” She said quietly “Not for this.” 

“What, were you expecting Trixie?” Twilight snorted bitterly. 

“Well..” She hesitated then just sighed. Twilight had been through so much, done what she’d never thought possible, the truth was the least of what she deserved.  “Actually, yes.” She said at last her shoulders slumping as she slowly sank to her haunches. “I knew of Nightmare Moon return Twilight. I’ve known for years, and that the element were the only way to stop her.” She looked down at the foal's hanging head. 

“Trixie was my chosen champion and I’ve been training her since I took her on as my student to face my sister.” She took another deep breath and shook her head, ears flicking. The look she gave Twilight was impossible sad. 

“I never mean for you to face the Nightmare Twilight not when you’re so young and untrained.” She said softly wishing Twilight would look at her while also fearing to meet her eyes.

“You have a habit of not being where I expect you, but I believed I knew you well. I thought..” she trailed off, closing her eyes and looking away. “You’re not the friendliest pony Twilight nor do you even try to pretend. I knew Nightmare would seek me out first and I couldn’t take the risk of her finding you. So I send you here. Dropped in a new town I expected you would simply hole yourself up in the library and let the events pass you by. I would pick you up after it was all over and we would go home but you..” she trailed off gave herself a brisk shake before taking a deep breath. Opening her eyes, she stood to her full height wings spread as she towered over the small foal. 

“Twilight Sparkle.” She decaled boldly. “You saw the signs of Nightmare Moon’s return and acted when nopony else could. You gathered the elements, braved the Everfree forest and returned the Sun to the heavens. You have without a doubt saved the world.” She suddenly smiled softly, a large white wing snaking down to gently lift her foal’s head. 

“More than that my Twilight you’ve done something I was beginning to lose hope for.” She leaned down and touched noses. 

“You made friends.”  

Twilight eyes widened and she stared at the alicorn in surprise. “What!” she stammered, backing away. Celestia giggled giving her a quick lick. “As I said Twilight you have never been a friendly pony. The walls around your heart were so tall and strong I was afraid nopony could ever reach you.” Her eyes grew warm, her wing extending to draw the foal close. 

“The element can only be wheeled by though who have opened their heart to true friendship. You made friends Twilight and through them you saved the world.” Her eyes shimmered as she leaned down wrapping her neck around the trembling foal and nuzzling her close. 

“I’m so proud of you.” 

Twilight stiffens, her expression dazed as tears clouded her vision. Feeling a hitch in her throat she released a trembling sign, closing her eyes and burying her face in Celestia’s chest. Long held back tears going unnoticed as they glided down her cheeks. 

“Now..” Celestia whispered giving the filly one last nuzzle and a lick behind the ears. She took a deep breath and only Twilight pressed so close could feel how she trembled as the white alicorn lifted her head, purple eyes finally laying upon her sister for the first time in a thousand years. Gingerly stepping around Twilight Celestia walked toward the trembling mass of blue fur and feathers, weighted hoof steps echoing in the silence. 

“Princess Luna.” She spoke stopping short of the filly like alicorn, “It has been a thousand years since I’ve seen you like this.”  Luna eyes snapped opened at the equally longed for and dreaded voice. Swinging her head around she locked eyes with her sister. Electricity seemed to arch between them, light purple clashing with dark blue. 

“Luna..” Celestia whispered taking a step forward, she wanted to say more but Luna gasped lowly skirting back. She scrambled to escape all but belly crawling back till her butt hit the wall where she pushed up to her haunches. Trembling like a leaf, she closed her eyes turning away and pulling her wings up to cover her face with a keeling whine. 

Celestia swallowed thickly wanting to say something, anything but a hard lump had formed in her throat, a fierce burning building behind her eyes as she watched her sister cower from her. Anxiety beat in her breast, her wing falling like dead weight as she took another step forward, needing to make this right. Luna kneeled again as if able to sense her sister’s nearness and pressed herself further into the wall, her body shaking so badly she vibrated the stones around her. Celestia flinched hurriedly scrambling back to give the smaller alicorn space, feeling desperately helpless and lost.

Twilight, who had been coaxed back to stand with her new friends, watched the reunion intently. Her heart broke for Luna as the little alicorn cowered against the wall kneeling in fear every time her sister tried to get closer, but the unicorn also felt for her mentor. The solar alicorn hold body had collapsed at her sister’s rejection, the flow of her mane and tail stilling till they fell limp at her side, head hanging low. Frowning Twilight stamped a hoof gaining Celestia’s attention. Their eyes met and something flashed within their depts as the unicorn tossed her head toward the beaten alicorn.

“Don’t give up.” She whispered, “She needs you.” 

Celestia turned back breathing shakenly but stepped forward Luna flinching and letting out a small whimper at the sound of her hoof steps grew closer. Celestia winced at the sound her heart warring between her own self loathing and guilt, wanting to stay away as to not give the smaller alicorn anything more to fear and her own selfish desire to have the other half of her heart back. The two desires clashed within her locking her in a standstill till suddenly magic rose and filled the air.

Her fur stood on end as the magic build and flowed through her washing away the overwhelming flood of emotion and calming her heart. Breathing it in the magic continued to condense and rise tugging and caressing the very core of hersoul  till she could do nothing but follow where it lead.

“Heart beats fast..” She sang quietly feeling the flow of magic guide her along. She slowly lifted her head the anxiety fading. 

“Colors and promises.” Luna’s ears perked at the soft lyric. A quiet breeze began to blow, carrying music on the wind. 

“How to be brave. How can I love when I’m afraid.” 

And she was afraid. Afraid to get it wrong, afraid to say the wrong thing, afraid that one wrong move would cause her to lose her sister forever after thousand years locked in the agony of waiting. 

“To fall. Watching you stand alone.”

 Another step closer. How long had Luna been alone even when she was supposed to have her sister beside her. How often had Luna been pushed to the shadows, denied even a scrap of attention as the solar alicorn busied herself with everything she had placed above the one who mattered most.

“All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow.” 

Luna head lifted, light blue wing rustling as it fell away from her face allowing her to watch her sister clearly. She still trembled at the larger alicorn approach, but her ears were perked forward, and she was listening intently. Celestia released a shaky breath, her hearts seeming to tremble with ever step. 

“One step closer.” 

 Then she was upon her all four knees collapsing to bring her to the ground and keep the lunar alicorn out of her shadow. Her body seems to almost vibrate in place, barely a hair width away from the one she loved more than her own life. Feeling her throat hitch she just drank her in, eyes locked on that beloved face. 

Luna lips trembled and a soft sob broke free unable to hold back the tears as a part of her long thought dead suddenly roared back to life. A thousand years of darkness, pain and loneliness were washed away as the sisters came together and the bonds that had always been between them flared to blazing life once more. 

“I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don’t be afraid I have loved for thousand years. I’ll love you for a thousand more.”  

The two collided, Celestia nuzzling in close and never wanting to let go. Tears bled into fur, made damp trails down their cheeks as pressed their forehead together staring into each other eyes. Luna broke away first with a watery sob, burying her face in Celestia’s chest. 

“I’m sorry.” Luna cried “I’m so sorry big sister.” 

“I waited for you!” Celestia broke in with her own breathless sob. “I never stopped. I never gave up.” She wrapped her wings around her, nosing into her mane as she tucked her in tight. 

“All alone I believed I would fine you. Time has brought your heart to me I have loved you for a thousand years.” 

She nuzzled light blue fur, unable to stop, never wanting too and Luna nuzzled right back trying to get as close as possible. Two halves of the same whole, one once more.

“I messed up Tia! I messed up so bad.” She whimpered burrowing till it felt like they were one skin. “I thought I couldn’t come back, that you hated me.” 

“Never.” Celestia said fiercely, pulling her that much closer. “Not even for a second.” She whispered nuzzling into her mane. “Every moment of my life for the last thousand years was spend with one goal in mind getting you back because--“

“I have died everyday waiting for you. Darling don’t be afraid I have loved you for thousand years.”

She wrapped herself more fully around the lost alicorn filly warm tears streaming down her face to soak into Luna, pressed so close. The light blue filly tears soaking her fur in turn. “I missed you so much Lalu.”

“I’ll love you for a thousand more..”

Off to the side the bearers brushed away their own tears, happy laughs shared between them as the sisters were finally reunited. Wanting to share in the happy moment the fillies gathered close as the sisters separated, at least physically, and Celestia gave them all a bright watery smile. 

“Thank you.” She said with feeling leaning down to nuzzle Luna, wrapped beneath her wing. “You have no idea what this means to me.” The fillies shared excited glances, their faces flush with pride as they puffed out their chests. 

“No problems at all Princess.” 

“It was our pleasure darling really.” 

“Oh yeah!”

“Woohoo! New Princess!” They talked over each other, voices high and excited. And if they talked just a little too loud or if their voices cracked and a few stubborn tears were desperately scrubbed away nopony said anything because it was over. They’d done it. Six fillies and a baby dragon had defeated the Nightmare and saved the world. Twilight released a trembling breath feeling the weight of the world slid from her withers like hot butter in the summer sun. Feeling tiny arms wrap around her leg she leaned down to nuzzle Spike head fin, breathing him in and letting it settle in her heart that they were safe it was finally, truly over.  

“Twilight.” She looked up at the soft hesitant voice, seeing Princess Luna stepping toward her with an encouraging nudge from Celestia. She blinked owlishly reminded of memories from another time and place and tried to smile at the young princess, but her face didn’t seem to be working right. 

“Twilight!” 

Voices were calling her, but it all seemed so distance. Black swirled in front of her vision and her last thoughts was to wonder why the princess looked so distressed before the darkness closed in and she knew no more.
> Dawn of a New Day
> --------------------------------------------------------------------------

When Twilight opened her eyes, it was dark.

For a brief hazy moment, she drifted in a sea of semi consciousness and wondered if it had all been a dream, a last mercy from a body dying of cold. Memory came back slowly thunderous snoring filling her ears as if from far away and she awoke fully blinking owlishly. Rolling over she mewed softly when rough claws bit into her side. Twisting, she looked down to see Spike curled into a small purple ball in the small of her back, his claws clutching her fur as he muttered to himself pulling her closer sleepily. She blinked dully, her brain still processing the fact that despite everything she’d gone through she was somehow still alive.

She didn’t know how she felt about that.

She shook her head, purple ears flopping before glancing around her surroundings. She was in the library’s bedroom, sheets crumbled around her hooves and a small light glowing dimly on the nightstand. Bandages were wrapped around her horn and ribs with a small bowl of green tinted liquid sitting on the floor with a washcloth inside. Barely gleamed in the dark were her five new friends, all sleeping in various uncomfortable looking positions around the room. Rainbow was the one snoring. 

She blinked again, eyes softening as she watched them sleep. These fillies had gone through hell with her and somehow, they’d all come out on the other side. Come out as..friends. Twilight curled her tail around Spike and laid her head down, content to simply watch them sleep. She’d never had friends before. 

“You’re awake.”

She nearly jumped at the soft voice, twisting around till she saw Celestia, eyes glowing like mini suns, curled up in the far corner. Squinting she could just barely make out a hint of Luna’s light blue coat hidden under the larger alicorns wing.

“How long was I asleep?” she asked softly, testing her limbs while dismissing her previous thoughts. She had faced a dark goddess and survived. She was still trying to decide if it was a good thing or not. 

“Twenty-four hours. All spend laying there with barely a twitch” Her lips quirked with mocking amusement.  “You missed Pinkie’s “We saved the world and Princess Luna not evil anymore!” Party.”

Twilight rolled her eyes but was surprised to find she did feel slightly bad for having missed the party. She still had no desire to interact with other ponies, but she still would have gone if for no other reason than she didn’t want Pinkie to be upset with her. Before she could exam the unknown feeling Celestia cleared her throat. 

“Twilight..” she said and paused looking more uncertain then Twilight had ever seen her. “How are you feeling?” she finished lamely ears flat. Twilight didn’t notice as she lit her horn testing her magic. 

“A little sore but mostly ok.” 

“That’s good.” Celestia whispered looking away, her tail lashing slightly. “That’s very good.” 

A heavy silence fell over the room, weighed down with things left unsaid. Finally, Celestia took a deep breath and looked up. 

“Twilight can we..talk?” she asked softly. Twilight tensed but slowly forced herself to relax. 

“About what?” she said lowly, looking away. “There nothing to talk about.” Her tail lashed once before she forced it to go still. Celestia jaw tensed, her glaze boring into the filly’s turned head. 

“You must have questions.” She took a deep breath. “And I have much to answer for. For one I know it was you who sent me the letter about Nightmare Moon’s return not Trixie. I-“ 

“Are you gonna lecture me about that?! It all worked out, so it doesn’t matter. You should just forget about it. I was right anyway.” Twilight interrupted harshly. A fire had lit in her chest, hot and burning, making her temper sharp. She grit her teeth trying to push it down and gain some control.

A flash of temper lit though violet eyes but was gone just as fast. The white alicorn sighed, her hold body seeming to sag inward like it was pressed upon by some unimaginable weight. 

“Twilight please.” She stood slowly giving Luna a little nuzzle when the blue filly whined at the loss of her heat. Tip toeing around the sleeping fillies she beckoned Twilight with a wing.

“Come, walk with me.”  Twilight frowned, sighed but eventually hoped off the bed and followed her outside.



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They were walking under an unscared Moon in a town that had long ago gone quiet, and they weren’t talking. Twilight lifted her eyes only briefly catching a glimpse of the rainbow tail flowing in front of her. She had lagged behind unable to keep up with the alicorn longer strides and the distance between them only seemed to grow with the silence.  

“You know I have played this conversation over and over again in my head for months.” Celestia said suddenly breaking the still air as she slowed her pace to walk beside her student. Twilight met her eyes in surprise, and she gave her a weak smile. 

“Every word, every argument, every..” her head dipped, and she sighed sadly. “Excuse.” 

Twilight watched her feeling a sudden spark of irritation as the soft words washed over her. She’d felt.. strange since she’d woken up. Raw and exposed like never before her emotions balancing on a razor-sharp edge that threatened to overwhelm her. She shook her head trying to push the rolling wave back down into cage they’d come from before focusing on the downtrodden alicorn. 

She’d associated many things with her mentor but valuable had never been one of them. But in this moment no other word could fit as solar alicorn lacked any of her normal confidence and grace. She had even forgone her regalia, the marks of royalty no longer available for her to hide behind. 

“What did you want to say?” she asked softly trying to tamper her feelings. 

“Nothing that shouldn’t have been said long ago.” Celestia took another deep breath, looked over and down meeting the foal eyes head on. “Before anything else is said Twilight I don’t want you to think this is only because you returned my sister to me. That is a gift I will never be able to replay you for but this…this is long overdue.” 

“What?” Twilight interrupted sharply, the strange irritation igniting into anger in her chest. She didn’t know this valuable Celestia, the one who looked at her with sad eyes and talked in a small trembling voice, but she knew it was wrong.  Twilight’s relationship with her mentor was unstable, enraging and if somepony paid close enough attention they may even call it toxic, but it was also predictable. 

In four years, they had fallen into a vicious cycle of hurting each other but even at their worst somewhere deep inside Twilight took twisted comfort from knowing where they stood. Now things were different, Celestia was different. The normally proud and distant alicorn was humbled before her, head hanging low and large body seeming so very small. She felt that strange anger bubble up as she watched her. Emotions twisting and churning like waves slamming against a rock. The high of the elements rapture had worn off leaving her lost, shaken and scrambling for familiar ground. 

The dam of her emotion had worn away allowing things once buried to surge to the surface. Her breath caught, her heart speeding up as she watched Celestia struggle for words.  Hearing her sounding so meek and sorry and pathetic was pissing her off in ways she couldn’t understand, didn’t want to understand. 

Feeling put out of her element Twilight did was she always did when she’d lost her balance. She attacked. 

“Are you finally gonna get rid of me now that I got your precious sister back for you. Use and shove me aside again!” She snarled, pain and insecurity were choking her and she forged them into her weapons of attack. Celestia, startled, looked wide eyed. 

“Twilight that’s-!” 

“I’m not stupid! I know you wanted Trixie to face the Nightmare are you gonna punish me because I messed up your stupid plan for that two-bit magician. Afraid of what everypony will think when they find out your pet monster had to clean up your mistakes!?”  Emotion swirled in her chest pounded in her ears like a roaring wave. She didn’t know where this anger came from, the words surging up from some dark ugly part of her, but she took them gladly.  Wrapped the anger around her like a shield and forged her pain into a sharpened blade meant to stab and hurt. 

“Or where you waiting for this all this time! Maybe you wanted me to go after Nightmare why else would you have dumped me off here! Did you want her to kill me so you could finally get rid of me and playhouse with your stupid real student!” 

“Twilight that enough I would never-!” Celestia started furiously, her own temper starting to flare. Twilight fed off her anger, used it to fan the flames of her own.

“Yes you would! You think I don’t know you don’t want me, that you think of me as a problem you need to fix! Why don’t you save yourself the headache and send me to the moon now that there a spot open or where you gonna throw your sister back into the sky once nopony was looking!” she screamed.

Celestia face twisted in rage, glowing flame jumping to life around her horn. The temperature spiked and Twilight flinched even as she steeled herself. This is how it was meant to be, how it always went. The words she’d thrown out had been new, but the results were all the same. Them screaming at each other or Celestia yelling at a filly who had long ago tuned her out. A small grim smile quirked her lips as she felt the heat of Celestia’s rage scorch her coat. 

A loud stomp suddenly broke through her petty triumph, Twilight looking down to see a large molten crater formed by gold covered hoofs. Celestia’s eyes were shut tight, teeth gritted as she took a deep breath. 

“No, not this time not tonight.” She stomped again, harder, forcing back the raging emotion that she had let run wild for far too long. She opened her eyes and the emotion swimming within her dark glaze straggled her.  Sadness, rage, fear but most of all a deep well of shame. 

“I’m sorry Twilight.” She said softly breaking eye contact and looking at the ground. Twilight fell to her haunches the wind knocked out of her sails by the terrible sadness in her voice.  She wanted to rally to put things back on familiar ground, but Celestia silenced her with a single look.

“Please Twilight just..let me talk.” Twilight swallowed thickly, her ears pining back but eventually she nodded. Celestia closed her eyes taking another deep breath. 

“Thank you.” She breathed sinking down beside the filly. They were quiet for a time, but eventually Celestia sighed and looked at the sky, at the unscared moon. 

“I tell myself I have an excuse.” she muttered quietly. “A thousand years waiting for one moment, one chance and on the most longed for day of my life everything would be..worth it. Every manipulation, every excuse, every..mistake. I would have her back and then I could just fix everything that no matter what it was all justified.” Her eyes closed; face twisted in pain. 

“But it’s just that an excuse.” She gave a mirthless chuckle “Excuses are nice aren’t they? They help you not think about things too closely, make wrong into right and turn a mare into a monster who takes her pain out on a too small filly with an attitude.” Twilight snorted looking away and Celestia smiled bitterly. 

“You deserve the truth Twilight not some sugar-coated fairy tale made to make me look good. You owed that and more.” She couldn’t look at her, not as she bared the ugly truth of her soul.

“And here is the truth. A thousand years ago my sister gave into her jealousy and loneliness and became Nightmare Moon. I used the elements to banish her to the moon and for a thousand years after every second, every moment of my life was spent working to get her back. I knew only the elements would be able to free her from her madness, but they wouldn’t heed my call after what I’d done so I had to find new bearers.” Her voice was soft, eyes distant and downcast but Twilight couldn’t help but feel something was wrong. Her jaw clenched as she kept listening. 

“Trixie was my magic, the one who would draw the other element to her and who I planned to use to free my sister. She became my student when she was six years old and in the last fifteen years I’ve trained her with one goal in mind, bringing Luna back to me. I poured into her everything I knew, all my hope, everything. The time of Nightmare’s return was coming fast, and I was out of option out of time. I was desperate for this to work and then..” she broke off looked back in time to the moment seared in her mind forever. 

“Then a filly with more power in her small body then any unicorn I’d seen in centuries demolished half my school and grew a dragon through the roof.”  She stared at the ground blankly and any loathing in her glaze was directed only at herself. 

“A filly with power and no control. Nopony in Equestia could tame that power nopony but me, you needed me and I...didn’t want that problem.” Her eyes closed as the shame welled, threatened to engulf her. Twilight had been more powerful than anything she’d ever seen but she was also uncontrollable, temperamental, and needing more care and guidance than she’d been willing to give with her sisters return so close.  

“You know the rest.” She whispered, unable to say more. Twilight had needed her more than anypony, but she couldn’t spare the time, not when Trixie still wasn’t ready and there was so little time left.  In the end she’d chosen her sister and set her hoofs firmly on the path of their destruction. 

She took Twilight on as a student in name only, sealed the bulk of her powers and pacified her with half-hearted lesson while the bulk of her attention had been given to preparing Trixie.  She shuddered, the guilt of her actions burning her to the core. 

“I’m sorry Twilight so so sorry. The way I neglected you is inexcusable but please..” she looked at the filly pleadingly, her wing trembling. “Could your ever find it in your heart to forgive me.” 

Twilight stared at her blankly feeling nothing as the alicorn gave her a hopeful half smile. She felt numb, almost dead, the words sinking into her skin to burn like acid as years of pain flashed before her eyes. 

The rage came hard and fast.  

“Sorry!?  You’re sorry! You treated me like a second-class citizen for the last four years because you wanted your stupid psycho sister back!” Twilight roared refusing to acknowledge the anger tears in her eyes. 

“You never gave me the time of day! You pushed me aside every time I needed you and whatever drop of attention you gave it was only so you could yell at me! And what do you want me to just get over it!? Just forgive you like the last four years of my miserable life never happened because of some sob story!” 

“Twilight please I’m sor-“ 

“No” the filly screamed; horn blazing as crushed violet eyes bore into sorrowful violet. 

“This time you listen! You were never there! Even when you gave me your half-baked lessons you were never fully there, your mind was always somewhere else! And you didn’t even try to hide it! The only time you ever truly saw me was when you were yelling at me! Did you even think it was strange how many buildings I blow up or how much trouble I got into when you left me alone!? Getting in trouble was the only way you’d even look at me! The only time I ever had your eyes was when I messed up and you were screaming at me!” Great billowing sobs echoed around them, the filly crying so hard it hurt. 

“Is that supposed to all go away now! Do you want me to feel bad for you! Oh pour Celestia she misses her sister so much let me sit in a corner and rot so I don’t get in the way of her precious plan that she never even told anypony about!” She screamed shrilly, her voice cracking with her pain. Celestia looked shattered, her eyes streaming tears as she tried to reach out. 

“Twilight please I never meant to hurt you..” 

Twilight slapped her hoof away. 

“But you did! Over and over and over but it’s worth it right?! Cause you got your sister back and I’m supposed to be the good little filly who should be happy with whatever scrap of an apology you throw my way and everything is supposed to be all better now! Like nothing ever happened, like you never hurt me at all.” She was crying so hard she could barely breathe but still the words came screaming into the night. Pulled from some deep, jagged pit of pain that had only grown deeper with every sharp word, and heartbreaking rejection.

“You’re not even really sorry you just feel guilty cause your failure of a student brought your sister back when you thought she was just a waste of space!” Celestia reared back as if she’d been slapped, her face a mask of agony and Twilight couldn’t even find it within herself to care. Not when her heart was screaming.

“I hate you! You stupid, stuck up, selfish BITCH!” unable to stand it anymore Twilight broke with sob, galloping off into the night.





When Celestia finally caught up with her the filly was hidden under bushes and branches on the far reaches of town. Her purple coat blended into the dark night and the white mare only found her by following the sounds of the muffled sobs. Celestia stopped just outside of the shaking greenery, her breath heaving and traces of froth damping her coat. She didn’t speak, not at first, she just stood there catching her breath, her ears filled with the sound of a filly’s heart breaking. 

“You’re right.” she said dully. Twilight didn’t react to her words, just curled tighter. “I didn’t see you; I didn’t even try to look. I was so busy looking forward that I never saw you tugging at my hooves. Twilight please..” The filly let out a hollow sob burying her face in her hooves. 

“I was so happy.” She mumbled, pain and fatigue birthing long hidden words into the night. “I hadn’t been so happy in a long time. I was gonna learn magic, I was gonna be your student, but you just pushed me away. “

She remembered starkly what should have been the happiest day of her life. The earning of her cutie mark. Celestia claiming her as her student. Leaving her good for nothing family to live in the castle. Caring for Spike. She buried herself deeper as the memories turned dark.

Celestia sealing her magic till she could barely feel the violent swirl within her. 

Trixie’s arrogance and disdain.  

Celestia’s coldness and indifferent neglect. 

Hours spent all alone. 

“I just wanted you to want me.” She whispered. 

Celestia choked feeling her heart shatter at the quiet words. She fell heavily to her haunches and kept on going till her belly hit the ground. 

“I couldn’t!” she cried harshly, and the words were wretched from her chest. “Not with Luna gone, not when I was so close! I couldn't see your pain because I was too busy drowning in my own.” 

Her own grief overwhelmed her, the shame so deep she felt, it like a physical weight in her chest. For a thousand years she had lived waiting for Luna’s return. When Twilight had come into her life, she had only four years left and everything had been going wrong. Trixie wasn’t even close to ready; she had exhausted every other lead and every option and had been no closer to finding her magic than when she started. Her time was running out and she was desperate. Her one chance to bring her sister back was going to fail before it could even start, and she had been all but losing her mind at the thought. 

Then Twilight had dropped into her life like a bomb. Even sealed her magic was formidable, her temper legendary. Her tantrum destroyed buildings; her sharp tongues ruined relationships that Celestia had to desperately fix. She was unruly, she was powerful, she was unmanageable, she..she 

She needed her.  

Twilight needed time, attention and instruction and Celestia…just wanted her sister. She hadn’t been able to give Twilight what she needed and in her heart of hearts she knew she didn’t want too. Ripping away the denial and taking a true hard look at herself the guilt almost destroyed her. 

She had resented the child. Had seen her as an unwanted burden thrust upon her when she needed to focus the most. She hadn’t been kind, hadn’t been patient and Twilight temperamental attitude had only rubbed against already raw and bleeding nerves. She’d know she was wrong on some deep level not filled with anger and bitterness. Twilight was a filly, a child no matter how she acted, and she should have taken care of her, but she just couldn’t. Not then when everything felt so fragile and what she wanted most had seemed to be slipping through her hooves. 

Her guilt had built over the years, ruthlessly shoved down under desperate denial and justification as she convinced herself that it all would be worth it in the end, that she could fix it. Luna would be returned to her and when it was all over, she would apologize. Give Twilight everything she should have from the start, and they could start fresh.

Bile rose in her throat, her selfishness and cruelty disgusting her. Twilight had every right to hate her. She had used and abused this brokenhearted filly all for her own selfish desire and then had the nerves to ask for forgiveness expecting her to sweep it all under the rug just to ease her aching conscious. Truly her arrogance knew no bounds.  

“I can’t say sorry.” She whispered lowly. “Sorry is just a word. Sorry won’t do anything. It won’t turn back time. It won’t dry any tear you shed or stop the pain in your heart.” She swallowed; her eyes shattered. “I hurt you over and over again. I used my pain as an excuse and became the monster in your nightmares.” Unseen Twilight stiffened and repressed a shiver. 

“I can’t apology, I can’t even beg cause no amount of pleading will be enough to undo the damage I’ve done to you.” She closed her eyes. “And in the end there just useless words to make me feel better and you deserve so much more.” She whispered softly. 

Her head dipped, pressed into the ground as she dug her face into the dirt. “Please I can’t ask you to forgive me, it was selfish of me to even try, but please let me make this right, let me be the mentor you deserve. Let me make myself worthy in your eyes.” 

“You’re only saying that cause I brought back your sister.” Twight sniffed wiping her eyes.

“No!” Celestia declared and her eyes were fierce. “If you had done nothing but sit and watch the world burn, I would still be here begging your forgiveness.” 

She pressed herself as low to the ground as she could peeking under the bush till she found the trembling purple form. “If you never forgive me, it will be more than I deserve. If you hate me forever, I’ll bare it gladly but please just this once let me come through for you, the way that I should have from the beginning.” 

Twilight sniffed keeping herself turned away from her mentor pleading. Her emotions were a jumbled mess, anger, sadness and fear tearing at her heart and clouding her mind. The angry part of her urged her to reject Celestia just as the alicorn had rejected her for so long but another part, the one who had found joy watching the solar goddess raise the sun longed to bury herself in her arms. The tangle of emotion had her once again wanting to strike out, but she didn’t even have the energy to do that. She didn’t have the energy for anything, she was so tried… 

And did it even really matter what she thought? In the end Celestia was her guardian she had all the power, and everything would be as she said while Twilight had-

Nothing, she had nothing, she was weak and powerless and always, always so helpless..

She shivered, buried the thoughts deep behind newly build walls and slowly crawled out of the bushes. Pushing her head through the last few leaves she beheld her fallen mentor. Celestia looked nothing like the proud princess of the sun. Her coat was stained with mud, her eyes blotchy and red from tears while her make-up made dark runny trails down her face. Her wings were sprawled and disheveled even her mane had stopped flowing, the now pink hair laying like a tangled mop across her back. 

Dimly seeing the solar goddess look as wretched as she felt soothed some injured part of her and helped give her the courage to close the last few inches. 

“No more yelling.” she said with a small glare. 

Celestia lifted her head nodding slowly. “I promise.” She swore seriously. 

“And, and you have to teach me magic, real magic.” Another nod. “Even if I blow stuff up or cause the air to explode like that one time that totally wasn’t my fault.” This nod took a little longer and was a little less sure. 

“And you have to promise.” She whispered softly, eyes dim. “Promise no matter what you won’t..you won’t throw me away.” 

“Oh Twilight never!” Celestia pulled herself up hesitated before trembling wings reached out pulling the filly into her hoofs. Twilight closed her eyes, felt herself encased in feathered warmth and snuggled into the alicorn’s belly, her warmth sinking into her skin. 

“I can’t change the past.” Celestia whispered her head coming down to rest on the filly’s back. “But I’ll make the future better. I promise.” 

Twilight didn’t say anything, just snuggled closer and somewhere deep inside the flame still burned.



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“We will be leaving for Canterlot a little after dawn.” Celestia said quietly swiping her tongue across Twilight face. The emotional mild storm had left them exhausted, both filly and mare had collapsed where they stood. Celestia pulled Twilight into the crook of her wing and set to giving her a thorough grooming ignoring her own disheveled state. 

“Luna will need time to get settled especially as I’d like to introduce her to the public as soon as possible to start getting them use to the Diarchy being whole again.” Another firm lick which slicked her mane upward and a sign. 

“We also will need to deal with the fallout from almost two days of nights. I promise I will not repeat the mistakes of the past, but I will be quite busy for a time as we iron everything out, so I ask that you give me some time for things to settle down.” Twilight nodded weakly too tried to protest, closing her eyes as Celestia tongue licked at the nape of her neck. She was halfway to sleep when something Celestia said gave her pause. 

“We?” she asked warily, a feeling of dread clutching her heart. Celestia paused, giving her an odd look. 

“Yes.” She said resuming her grooming. “I have already spoken to Trixie as well as the mayor. Nightmare Moon has been dispelled and my sister returned to me. It is time for all of us go home.” Twilight grew quiet brooding under Celestia attention and the white alicorn noticed. Pulling back, she gave her a small knowing smile. 

“What’s the matter my little one. The day has been saved and the air between us cleared. Things will also be much different once we go back to Canterlot aren’t you happy.” Twilight looked down shuffling her hooves feeling horribly, terribly vulnerable under though purple eyes but for once she pressed through her instinctive desire to cover the emotion with anger. 

“Yes I am but..” her ears pressed against her head and she turned to bury her face in Celestia chest. 

“I made friends.” She whispered, “And I don’t want to leave them.”

Celestia smiled huffing out a laugh as she gave the filly two quick licks across the ears. “And you won’t have too.” She said warmly “As much as I would love for you to come back with me to the castle I think a little bit of..space would do us both good. To help get us get a fresh start to things.” Twilight mulled this over and decided her teacher was right. The castle and Canterlot held nothing but bad memories for both of them. Relocating to Ponyville would give them a fresh environment to start over. 

“But what about my lessons? You said you weren’t gonna leave me! You promised-?!” 

“And I won’t.” Celestia interrupted her panic with a soft nuzzle. “Give me a month or so to get Luna and everything in Canterlot settled then I will be coming down here five times a week to continue your education and to check up on you.” And before Twilight could celebrate any form of freedom

“But as a young filly cannot live alone, I will be assigning you a temporary guardian to take care of you when I’m not here.” Twilight immediately scowled. 

“Seriously a babysitter? I’m fourteen not five I can take care of myself!”

“I’m sure you can but it would put this old mare heart at ease to know somepony would be here for you if something happened. Just in case.” she said soothingly, not wanting to fight. Twilight still scowled but decided not to argue, she was getting a lot after all. Celestia smiled and gave her another few licks under the chin before declaring her done. 

“Now I would like to give you an assignment. I want you to spend time with your new friends and discover more about the magic of friendship. You will write to me about your finding from your new home in Ponyville.” Twilight gave a small smile her chest filling with warmth at the thought of staying with her new friends and Celestia nuzzled her. It was a heartwarming moment, the sunlight coming out at the end of a storm.

And Twilight ruined it immediately. 

“Wait you want me to write to you about friendship? That’s stupid I’m not doing it.” 

“Twilight..”

“Is that even a real subject, there no way that’s real because its dumb.”

“Twilight.”

“Seriously I’m not doing that.”