Who was I?

"SURRENDER NOW SOMBRA!" snarled Celestia as she shot another beam of magic to Sombra.

"NEVER!" snarled the shadow unicorn back. He just gave a sinister laugh.

They continued shooting beams of magic at each other, with the occasional hoof to hoof combat for good measure. Celestia then levitated a blade that was hanging on the wall as decoration. She also gave Sombra a blade. "Now fight me like a REAL pony!"

The shadow smiled at the challenge and quickly reverted to his normal form, complete with his armor, cape and crown. "With pleasure!" he hissed as he took of those three things.

Using their magic, they both began to fight each other with the blades. Each making and blocking the blows.

The fight soon dragged on for what felt like an hour. "Look at us Celestia, two immortals fighting an endless battle, why don't you save the effort and retreat!" spat Sombra.

"NEVER!" screamed Celestia as she used the blade at Sombra, the stallion was pushed back as he felt a sharp pain long his side. Sombra looked to see a large gash on his side, slowly dripping blood.

"It looks like you're not as immortal as you think!" smirked the princess.

Sombra just gave an angry yell as he shot a beam of magic at the ceiling. A piece immediately fell in front of the princess as the stallion used the distraction to make his escape.

Once the dust cleared, Celestia saw that Sombra was gone...but left behind a trail of blood. "You're not getting away with this!" she snarled.

It was night at the Royal Palace, as Twilight was at her balcony outside of her chambers. She looked up at the sky and gave an exhausted sigh. She wasn't sure how long she can take being a princess, or whether or not she's actually ready for the job. She secretly hoped that things went back to the way they were.

"Twilight?" said a soft, soothing voice.

Twilight turned around to see Fluttershy standing behind her. Twilight immediately put on a straight face. "Oh, Fluttershy, what brings you here?"

"Just checking up on you. I-I was really worried because you seemed...well...if you don't mind me saying...distant all day." nervously stated the shy pegasus.

The unicorn just couldn't hide it anymore and wrapped her pegasus friend into a tight hug. "Five weeks! I've been princess for five weeks already and I STILL detest this job!" admitted Twilight. "I thought it was going to get better and easier...but it still hasn't! I don't have time for a social life, the duties are mind numbing and I HATE these stupid wings!" everything that she bottled up since the coronation was being released.

Fluttershy did what any good friend would do by staying quiet and listening. "Let it all out Twi."

"I just want to go back in time and take it all back! I want to be Twilight Sparkle, scholar, librarian and faithful friend again! I'm don't WANT to be Princess! I thought it was something I wanted...but I guess I was wrong."

"Why don't you tell Celestia that you don't want to be a princess anymore?" offered the pegasus. "I'm sure she'll understand."

"NO SHE WON'T!" snapped Twilight. "She said it was my destiny to be a princess! I'm 'Her Royal Highness, Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Friendship' remember?! Nothing can change that!"

"So...you would rather do what is expected of you and be miserable than find happiness?"

Twilight didn't know what to say. "I shouldn't have said anything." Twilight immediately back away from the pegasus, ran towards the balcony railing and jumped off.

Fluttershy gasped, only to see Twilight fly back up. "Don't tell anyone or bother looking for me...I'll be back before dawn." and with that, the purple alicorn flew into the night sky. Fluttershy was stunned.

At a small pub in Canterlot, the mysterious stallion, now calling himself Kage, was sitting at the bar drinking some hard cider.

"Give me another cider please." said the slightly tipsy Kage.

The barkeep came up to him. "So...drinking to forget I'm guessing?" he smirked.

"No...drinking to remember." stated the black stallion.

"Oh really?"

Kage gave the barkeep an annoyed look. "Just give me another cider."

The barkeep quietly did as told.

"So...what's your name?" asked a heavily accented female voice. Kage turned to see a blue coated mare with short white mane, designer sunglasses and a fashionable dress sitting next to him.

"Kage...and you are?"

"My name is Photo Finish...fashion photographer extraordinaire! It's my job to capture ze magiks!" she explained. "And you my friend has ze magiks I'm looking for!"

"Uh...thanks..."

"Look at you! You would make the perfect cover colt for Playmare magazine! Or be a page-three colt across countless magazines across Equestria! Now tell me...how do you get into such great shape? I'm guessing mostly cardio with you."

"Uh...maybe...I guess I do." Kage had no idea actually.

"And so humble too! You're perfect!" Photo Finish swooned. She then gave Kage a card. "Meet me at my photography studio tomorrow at noon on ze dot! Don't be late!"

As quickly as she appeared...she left.

Kage was stunned. "Okay...well...I could REALLY use the money." He just chugged another cider as he thought about the offer.

At the Crystal Empire, a crystal pony mare was happily washing the dishes in her home. As she was washing the last dirty plate, she immediately looked at her hooves to see a horrific sight.

"WHAT THE-?!" she exclaimed as she dropped the plate in shock, causing it to shatter on the floor. The crystal mare looked at her hooves to see that her coat no longer sparkling as it should, in fact, her coat looks like that of a regular pony. She was too stunned to move as her eyes stayed on them.

"What's happening?"

As soon as she said that, her coat began sparkling again as it should as if nothing happened.

She just stood there in complete shock.

TO BE CONTINUED...