Elemental

Twilight had always wanted to be the best. The best at magic, the best at her studies, the best friend. So when she waved to those ponies from the balcony, she thought I've done it. I'm finally there. But as she would find out, that wasn't enough. As soon as Celestia gave her the first list of menial tasks, she decided to be the best at those too. But not for the reasons anypony thought. No, she would only do these to cover up her real work: the practice and study of dark magic.

"Well done, Twilight," proclaimed Princess Celestia as she pored over the numerous transcripts and reports her top student had turned in. "Exceptional work."

Twilight smirked. "Thank you, Princess. It was nothing." Literally nothing, she thought. For a while, she had done her royal duties. But when the call of magic proved too strong, she forced her friends one by one to secretly take over for her. Rarity had done this particular stack. She, oddly, had proven one of the strongest to break. But Twilight had done it in the end. She always did.

That night, funnily enough, Twilight wanted to write a report, just for herself, on how she became interested in dark magic in the first place. She remembered waking up and feeling very refreshed one rainy morning. Like she had just woken up from a long sleep. And that rainy day, she had been feeling a little bit insecure, a little more susceptible to insults than usual. Like someone was whispering all the things she had ever done wrong in her ear. So she looked for ways to make herself stronger.

That was one of the best choices of her life. She had found so many books, so much glorious information on dark magic. And that little voice in her head, the one that had been telling her she just wasn't good enough, was finally happy.

Happy...it had been a long time since she had laughed. Or smiled, for that matter. That must just be the side effects of all the dark spells she had been practicing. It had to be worth it, though. It had to be the best, for all of Equestria. Everyone had to benefit.
And everyone-everyone in Equestria-would think, would know that she was exceptional.