Evening, the setting of the sun as all of the day's troubles are cast away as the moon rises, sometimes unseen and sometimes not. It was during this period that Twilight asked her mentor the question that had been niggling at her the whole day, a question that would enlighten her on how all of her recent victories had been accomplished. “Tia, who is Ser Fireheart Deathclaw?” Celestia started, not having heard that name for the longest time.

“He was my arch-mage, back before the nightmare era, both me and my sister forced him out of the role. Before then, he was one of the greatest mages of his time, discovering the magic of telekinesis. After that, he began to grow so pale and paranoid, I still do not know what he could have been studying to bring him to that state, but it ended in a confrontation after he threw a knife at the Griffon Ambassador thinking he was a spy. That action is what led to the tension that still lasts today between the races,” Celestia paused, allowing her friend to catch up “We removed his Ser status and I believe he changed his name, to what though I can’t remember. Either way, from there he made a brief visit to where Ponyville now stands and then, well, vanished. Completely. I nor my spies could find any trace of him. That’s all there is to it, really.”

Twilight took a while to mull over that information, so the study of mind magic drove him mad? He must have placed the book when he visited Ponyville, terribly good foresight, how could he have possibly known a town would grow there? Unless he didn’t and I just got lucky. It was at this point that a shadow detached itself from a corner, before charging Twilight, teleporting them both as soon as contact was made. Rolling for a while, Twilight came to a stop, climbing shakily onto her hooves, bringing her to look at the stallion that bought them there. A grey unicorn, barely more than a skeleton stood with straight, staring right at her.

He opened his mouth, dust emerging as he begun “Good evening, I have been watching you for sometime, I already took the book, you no longer needed it. As I’m sure you can now deduce, I am, or rather, I was Fireheart Deathclaw, a silly name now that I look back on it. No, I much prefer the name Mentis Ageto, a name I took when I travelled the world. Now, I’m sure you have questions, but I’m not answering, so instead I’ll make it clear. You have two options, release your friends and enjoy life, knowing that they have their free will and hopefully their trust. Or continue to make them your puppets and have a life, possibly filled with shame and/or regret. The choice is yours. As for the book, I think that I’ll destroy it. Goodbye, Miss Sparkle, out meeting was sudden and short, but I hope that you make the right choice.”

With that, he teleported Twilight back to the castle, leaving a thoroughly confused Twilight, who now noticed that the room was full, her friends, Spike, the Princesses, her parents and Cadence all staring up at her. Twilight began to realise that now was the time for decision and that choice was simple. She smiled, called them friend and proceeded to rule from behind the scenes for several years.

Author's Note

Its over, after two years and a long hiatus, that was actually a cancellation, The Twilight Corruption is now completed. Firstly, I would like to thank my current prereader, Jamin P Rose, and then my old editor Angel Grace. I look forward to ending some of the other series I have open. Oh and if anyone would like to make a sequel based off Twilights years as shadow leader, then go right ahead, because I’m not continuing this. Thank you for reading and Goodbye.