Prologue: The Shattered truth
A lavender alicorn watched the carnage from a top the tower, the spell nearly ready. The cries of her soldiers were easily heard from within the large room, each one the signal of a live lost. The last of the Free Ponies and her had come to an agreement that they could not win. So they would buy her the time she would need to cast a spell that could return to them the chance of survival. Her own brother was at the door, his ward keeping any from entering. The circle was nearly complete when a familiar roar of pain caught her of guard. Tears sprang to her eyes as she watched a great purple dragon fall from the sky.
"Spike, NOOO!!" Twilight Sparkle cried out, anguish permeating her voice. She watched the dragon she had raised from an egg fall to the sea of death, and get taken by the tide. She collapsed. It was all to much. The first victim of the forces that she now faced had been a dear friend. One by one she had had to watch them fall, her power simply not enough. Shining Armor walked up to his little sister and helped her to her feet.
"Come on Twi," he consoled her. "You gotta finish this spell. Otherwise it will all be for not." She got to her feet, jaw set and eyes tearing. She went back to the circle, her rage and sadness adding popwer to the spell. The circle was near;y complete, the final incantation on her lips, when it happened. Her brother's barrior took a beating unseen since Sombra, and shattered. Shining Armor ran for the door, but was blasted back by the force of the door being ripped off. A familiar blue magic shield deflected pieces of the door away from the unicorn that stepped through. Her black coat was an interesting addition, but she was otherwise the same as the day she was struck down.
"You really should see about getting stronger soldiers dearie," the unicorn sneered. "one blast was more than enough for this weakling." She walked over to Shining Armor's unconscious body, and stomped on his head.
"Hello Rarity," Twilight glowered. "Long time. Last time I saw you was right before He killed you."
"Oh, I'm not that weak little mare, Rarity. I'm her true face. I'm Cruelty," the dark unicorn said. "Surprise."
"I liked Rarity a lot better," the dejected alicorn sighed.
"Than you'll hate me!" a nightmarish earth pony walked in. The coat was soaked in blood, but the puffy pinkie mane was still evident.
"PINKIE!? But I just saw you die!" Twilight exclaimed, the anguish at the idea of betrayal etched into her face.
"I'm not that low grade, no fun party flop," the newcomer said. "I really know how to party. I'm Deadly Pie, and my parties are to die for." The mare removed the goggles covering her eyes to reveal pure black orbs.
"I take it that you are not the only ones to succumb to him?" Twilight asked, though she knew the answer.
"Nope, sugarcube," a flame colored earth pony said walking in, fires sprouting from each hoof print.
"He got us all eventually," a pegaseus wearing a shadowbolts outfit said, flying in.
"You are the last," the dark five said in unison. Suddenly the temperature dropped. The light from the fires seemed to dim and the sun eclipsed. Even the magic of the circle seemed to lose clarity. But Twilight felt like bursting into flames. The Dark Five bowed to the black alicorn that walked in. His wings of flame folded to fis sides and his mane and tail held at a steady size. He gazed at the glowering alicorn before him and laughed.
"And now my collection will be complete," He said. "Are you surprised? Don't be. You always knew that I would come for you. It was only a matter of time." He sneered at Twilight, the idea that it had taken this long angering him. The ponies at his feet rose and grinned evilly at Twilight. Victory was finally in their grasp, ultimate power finally theirs. Twilight could only hang her head.
Within her depression, though, she remembered a piece of advice given to her years ago. If the Darkness is to win, return to the Light. She raised her head, and let her anger flood her magic. "Chaos, how dare you," the alicorn said, pressure building behind her voice. "How DARE YOU!!" She rage shifted with her last word, releasing a pulse of magic powerful enough to launch the Dark versions of her friends flying through the walls and even making Chaos take a few steps back. Returning to normal, she finished the spell, opening a portal to the past. Chaos saw her start to step through and fired a blast of dark fire after her, barely making it in time.
"I will have you, either dead or be my side,"the evil alicorn said. The protal to the past closed.
Twilight stepped out of the portal, into a very familiar study. An ancient unicorn gazed at her and sughed.
"So it begins," the wizard said. "I must call Fate Wing." He looked once more on the princess that had completed his final spell, and sighed once more. Suddenly the dark fire appeared and consumed Twilight Sparkle. Her screams, still permeated with magic, echoed off of the hollow's walls and through the the magic network. Her screams echoed within a certain princess's dreams, waking her.
A much younger Twilight started from her bed. Spike, her baby dragon, looked up at her with worry.
"What is it Twilight?" the young dragon asked.
"I don't know Spike," she said. "I don't know."
