From Beyond

“Princess? Where are you?” Twilight asked, into the darkness. She couldn’t remember how she got here, but she was alone.

“Poor Twilight, all alone.” A voice whispered from behind her.

She spun around, hoping to see who spoke. Instead of the cavern, there was only a light in the far off darkness. She decided it was best to walk towards the light, since it was the only thing for her to focus on.

“You always work so hard, do so much for others. Yet what do they give you in return? Pain, heartache, trouble. Why bother to help others, when they don’t bother to help you?” The whispering voice spoke up again.

Images flashed across her vision, her friends when they were discorded. All the work she did, just to give up in the end. It flashed to the wedding, when she confronted Cadance the first time and said she was a changeling, just to be laughed out.

Wake up Twilight.

She shook her head, trying to clear away the images and kept walking. It was definitely closer, but she couldn’t venture a guess to how close in this darkness.

“Everyone holds demons inside them. Each of your friends have their own demons, always fighting for control.” The voice whispered again. This time her friends appeared in the light.

“Girls, what are you doing here?” Twilight called out, but they didn’t respond. Something was off about them all. Pinkie’s hair was straight, and she had a tray of cupcakes in her hands. Rarity was holding a large knife behind her back. Rainbow was soaked and filthy, like she had been staying in an alley. Applejack was crying, a bottle of alcohol in her hands. Fluttershy was covered in blood.

Twilight’s eyes shrunk at the sight, each of her friends looking so destitute and broken, yet they were talking and smiling like nothing was wrong.

“You see, they hide their demons, afraid of what would happen if they ever gave in. But you. You hold a very powerful demon within you as well.”

Twilight, wake up!

A pillar of fire erupted around her friends, burning them as they still smiled and laughed. As they burned, a sixth pony joined them. She walked into the pillar, unharmed by the flames. She laughed and smiled, as tears flooded her face.

“No.” Twilight said, unbelieving. She would never do such a thing.

“Yes. You hold within you a flame, brighter even than Celestia’s. You could take over this world if you so wanted, but you have been raised to suppress this fire. So for once, LET IT BURN!” The voice screamed, as she caught fire.

“AAAH, PUT IT OUT! PUT IT OUT!” Twilight screamed, trying to put out the flames.

“TWILIGHT WAKE UP!” Celestia shouted. Twilight opened her eyes this time. She started flailing around screaming, trying to put out the flames that were consuming her.

“Twilight, you’re ok. Nothing is happening.” Celestia said, holding on to Twilight to prevent her from hurting herself. She ran her hands through Twilight’s mane, calming her student. “It’s ok. Nothing is happening to you.”

Twilight’s breathing slowed, as she realized that she wasn’t actually burning. She looked up at Celestia, and started crying. “What was that?” She asked through her tears.

“We don’t know what to call it. Its different every time, but the first is always the hardest. No matter what spells we try to create in defense, it always comes through.” Celestia said, wiping away Twilight’s tears. “We have tried nearly everything to stop the images, and nothing has worked. So we sealed them behind this gate, alongside everything else we have ever found.” She said as a light came on high above them.

Twilight looked around, finally able to see what was in the room. It was a massive cave, filled with assorted relics and ruins. “Princess, where are we?”

“This is the Black Cavern. This is where we lock away things that are too dangerous to hide behind just one or two shields.” Celestia said standing up and helping Twilight stand.

“How dangerous are the things in here?” Twilight asked, looking around. There were weapons everywhere, a bookshelf filled with tomes that leaked cold magics, and the ruins of buildings.

“There is a reason that they are so heavily protected. These are things that, should anyone get their hands on just one, would cause untold amounts of destruction before we could stop them.” Celestia said, as she started walking down the aisles. She would stop every few steps, reaching a hand enveloped in her magic out to renew the shielding on a few objects.

“So these are the most dangerous objects in Equestria. So why am I here?” Twilight asked, her eyes running across the objects. Voices whispered in the back of her head, begging her to reach out and touch one.

“Because one of the things has recently become active.” Celestia said, walking around the end of the aisle. “Perhaps the single most dangerous object in this cavern. It is entirely immune to all magics, even mine and Luna’s. The immunity goes so far as to prevent us from even scanning it with magic.”

Twilight walked around the corner behind Celestia, but froze when her eyes locked on to what was in the center of the space. “Princess, what is this?” She asked, her eyes traveling across the object floating in front of them both. It was perfectly round, but looked like it was made of molten metal, constantly flowing. What was most surprising was how large it was, easily as tall as Celestia.

Welcome, little flame.

“Who was that?” Twilight asked, turning around to try to find the voice.

“Twilight, there is no one but us in here.” Celestia said, a look of concern crossing her face. “It would be impossible for another being to even enter.”

She cannot hear me as you can. But turn back to me, I want to see your face.

Twilight shuddered as she turned back around. She could see her reflection in it, but a few things were off. Her eyes were a deep red, and her mane looked like it was burning. No, her mane was actually fire.

Suddenly, her reflection waved at her.

So beautiful. I can see the power within you, waiting to be released. I can help you do so.

Twilight watched as her reflection raised her hand, reaching out towards Twilight. The edge of the orb stretched out with it, reaching for Twilight. Against her better judgement, her own hand raised to meet it.

Give yourself over to the flame within you, and the world shall be yours.

“Twilight, what are you doing?” Celestia asked, worry evident in her voice. Her voice shattered the hold that the orb had on Twilight. She quickly pulled her hand back, away from the orb. She could still see her reflection, but now it had a look of sadness on its face.

I see. Maybe next time you will accept my offer.

The tendril of metal retracted back into the orb, before her reflection disappeared entirely.

“Twilight, how did you get it to do that? That’s the first time the orb has done anything but sit there.” Celestia asked, looking at Twilight with a hint of fear in her eyes.

“It spoke to me. Called me little flame.” Twilight said, cringing as she spoke. “Just what is this thing?” She asked, turning to Celestia. She could see fear flash across her eyes.

“I don’t know. We found it a year ago, in the middle of a crater in the Everfree after a meteor shower. Since then, we have hidden it here. Away from prying eyes, and those who would try to use it as a weapon against us.” Celestia said, kneeling down. Her magic enveloped her hands again, as she renewed the barrier around the orb.

“So why show it to me?” Twilight asked. She would have preferred to have never followed her down here.

“Because you and your friends are to study it. You are the most powerful ponies, save myself and Luna. Since neither of us can put aside time in our schedule necessary to do so, we are entrusting the task to you.” Celestia said, as she stood back up. She turned around and started walking back towards the gate. “We have a few minutes left before they close us in here. We must leave.”

“I understand Princess. If you believe we are the right ones to do this, then we will accomplish the task.” Twilight said, following after her. Before she walked around the corner, she turned to look at the orb one last time.

I can’t wait for us to play again. Maybe next time, you’ll accept my offer. I’ll even let your friends join in on the fun.

Twilight shuddered, before rushing off after her Princess.