Sparkyll and Hyde

Act I: Chapter Six:

Hyde

      Twilight came to the front steps of her Canterlot home, looking about cautiously, as did Applejack and Rarity, the latter whom had her horn lit in a sapphire-blue alongside the doctor's hot-pink. Fluttershy trembled with each step, clinging desperately to Pinkie Pie, who was surprisingly more sleepy-eyed than energetic, therefore accepting the role of protecting the pegasus. Rainbow Dash kept her distance behind them to be the first to spot danger, should any kind of it appear.

    The streets were well-lit, and plenty of guards wandered about in protecting their citizens and princesses, but that didn't disarm Twilight's wariness. As some ponies used Luna's night as a weapon, she learned it was better to put caution before haste and have one of the guards accompany her home--as that was the majority of their work on the night shifts--or in her current example, travel with a group.

     And considering her reputation with some of the more nasty, pompous nobleponies, she had taken the practice to heart ever since she was a filly, even so far as bonding with one such guard, Phalanx, who was Shining Armor's friend in the Academy. On her trips home from a learning session, they'd often practice defense methods for when it came time she could walk home herself. It was clear she was no fighter like her brother, but in time she had found blocking punches an easy task to handle.

     But then there was Octavia to consider. Neither was she a fighter, but she had plenty of connections to those who were, or knew a few tricks of sabotage. Her journal, for example, contained all vital information to what her work was: what she'd learned about the natures of Goodness and Evil, the ingredients of the TS8 Formula, and what said formula was meant to do. The information therein would require several weeks to fully recover in the event of losing or damaging the journal.

Maybe it was a good thing I sent Spike home after all. If anypony, I trust him with my journal and Formula more than I trust myself. Octavia would know better not to break into my home, rather than pickpocket me at the Altrotta.

   If she'd kept her saddlebag with her, Twilight was certain that's what would have happened during her encounter with the cellist.

     Having withdrawn her key from Rarity's cloak, which she still wore, she glanced up, reminiscing of times past.

     The detached two story building had a pale lavender coat, similar to her own, and two horizontal strips of flowers were planted under the front windows on either side of her. Two more were placed in the same positions on the second floor and were accessorized with shutters; closed, of course. The front door in which she was about to unlock had a yellow arch standing above her, and further up, the cutie marks of both her parents.

     She had no idea how many times she'd thanked her father for not erasing her mother's mark in not knowing when she would return. Soon, Mother, she promised mentally. I made a vow, and the risk I have to take will be worth fulfilling it.

     The door was unlocked with a swift turn of the key. She opened the door ahead for her friends. "Make yourselves comfortable while I take care of things." By 'taking care of things', she really meant admitting her actual plan concerning tonight and the near-future, although she'd decided long after leaving the Altrotta to omit the part about who she was testing the Formula on. Even without that particular bit information, she knew she was testing her friends' faith in her by outright lying to them and keeping Spike in as part of the deception.

     She just hoped they'd forgive her.

     Each of the girls had seated themselves in the living room to the left; on the right was a kitchen where, despite Spike's habits, the drake was nowhere to be found sneaking jammie dodgers. The hallway in front of her had a staircase leading up to the second floor, both her and Shining Armor's old bedrooms. Twilight ignored the kitchen and hall and went to the living room.

     Her family was considered one of the well-to-do families in Canterlot, but the humble lack of glitzy furniture or accessories would have scared ponies like Hoity Toity or Fleur de Lis away, since her parents found it impractical to drip the room with needless things. There was velvet seating--a three-pony couch against the left wall, and two single seats on the right--and bookshelves made from the finest wood; one for each of the four corners. Everything else was simplistic.

     Instead of tiles the flooring was wood; walnut flooring that was made as reminiscent to her mother's life growing up in Trottingham, and mingled with the lavender walls splendidly. Fluttershy, Applejack, and Rainbow took the sofa, and Pinkie and a sleeping Spike had the two seats. Rarity sat behind them, warming herself by a fireplace in between the seats. The fire looked like it had been smoldering for nearly an hour.

     Twilight spotted her saddlebag peeking out from behind Spike's seat, and breathed a sigh of relief. He was faithful when it came to important tasks such as this, but it looked like he'd been more focused on reading the huge book he had laying beside him before he'd fallen asleep.  He did his job, though, she reminded herself, after checking the bag and finding everything still there.

     Applejack, seeing the relief on her face, then spoke up. "Good t' know the Amulet's still there. Now we just gotta keep watch over it 'till the Princess comes t' pick it up, lock it up for good."

     The doctor hesitated, stepping by Spike and stroking the spines along his back. Applejack assumed she'd only brought the Amulet to keep tabs on it, not to temporarily store it in her study. "I'm not going back to Ponyville, girls."

     The surprise that mingled amongst her friends' faces didn't show on Applejack's.

     "Darling, whatever do you mean?" Rarity laughed, thinking she was joking. Next to her, Pinkie, her mane slightly deflating, eyed Twilight like a saddened puppy.

     "It's not permanent, Pinkie Pie," Twilight responded, to which the earth pony lightened up a bit. " I just need to finish my work, now that I've found the answers I need. With this breakthrough, I can't waste any more time."

     "So you lied t' us," Applejack grimaced. "And played us for fools." Twilight's gaze descended back to Spike, avoiding eye-contact with her.

     "But . . . why would you do that? You trust us, don't you?"

     She could feel Fluttershy's teal eyes weighing on her. Shifting her hooves and locking eyes with all of them, she answered, "I do trust you. All of you. But I know that while you support me, some of you don't fully understand, or believe in, my work. What I've told you about the two natures that thrive within us is a lot to take in; it's an unprecedented curiosity." Applejack raised her eyebrows as if showing impatience. "I didn't want to tell you because it would have only made you worry, or worse, think I was crazy."

     "Look, Twi," said Rainbow, sliding off her seat. "You're right about one thing: I don't believe in this potion baloney. But I'm still right behind you, even if this formula thingie does work to save your mom." She approached her and stared close at her. "But that was cheap, lying to us like that. That's not what friendship is, and so help me, I'll drag you back to Celestia's hooves if you pull that sorta stunt again."

     Twilight swallowed tightly. "Yes, of course. And I really am sorry, Rainbow Dash. But I'm following what I think is the best path. That's all I'm asking you to understand."

     "Fine. Still can't say it was cool of you, though." She heard the others speak assent as well as she sat at the fireplace by Rarity, who spoke next.

     "So," she examined her fetlock, "Confessing vile deceptions aside, when you say you have found an important piece to the proverbial puzzle, do you mean you have found a way to test your Formula, a path that will not, in any way, violate the Governors' ruling?" Twilight nodded. "Oh, dear, please do not tell me you are meaning to enlist the help of that scoundrel, Soarin, or one of his circus companions?"

     Twilight stepped back, her heartbeat jolting. "What? No!" Her shout startled Spike awake, knocking the book over with a loud thump.

     "Aah!" His claws tightened on the chair's arm as he looked around, confused. When his breathing slowed to a normal pace, he asked Twilight, "Wha . . . what happened?"

     "I'm sorry, Spike," she answered, taking him in a tight hug. " The girls and I were just . . . talking."

    Spike caught on to her tone and realized. "Oh, the paraspite's outta the bag, huh?"

     "Yes, you could say." Her hoof bumped into the book, prompting her to look at it. " 'The Foal's Guide to Crossbows: How to be a Sharpshooter Extraordinaire'? Spike, what is this?"

     "I . . . uh, was going to make a crossbow to practice with? Y'know, just like Mistress Marevelous!" He pulled out an issue of Power Ponies, with a snarling Mistress Marevelous on the front cover, using the said weapon.

     Twilight was about to object, but Rainbow cut in. "He's got something going there. How else is he going to defend himself when more monsters appear?" Putting a hoof up to her mouth to prevent Spike hearing, she added, "And he can't always depend on slingshot princesses to save his hide all the time, can't he?"

     "That's my sister-in-law you're talking about," Twilight deadpanned.

     Rainbow shrugged. "So? If you're keeping him here while finishing your work, he's gotta have something to do."

     Picking up the book, Spike said, "I'll bring it back to the library tomorrow if you want." The book was heavy in his arms, so Twilight helped levitate it back to the shelf she'd made for his collection by the hearth. Then she went to give him the comic book, but looked at the cover again.

     Her knowledge of the Power Ponies was lacking, but she was told on multiple occasions that Mistress Marevelous depended more on her weapons than her powers, amongst other trivia concerning the earth pony. This trait of hers made sense as to why Spike suddenly took an interest in crossbows; He was just a fan displaying his passion for what he loved.

     "No, that won't be necessary, Spike. Just come to me whenever you finish your crossbow, and I'll help you with target practice."

     "Really? O-okay, thanks, Twi." Spike accepted the comic book from her with a shy smile and sat down to read.

     With one task out of the way, she levitated her saddlebag, but when she tightened the straps against her barrel, Applejack stepped in front of her. "You're not going to scold me too, are you?" the doctor groaned.

     The farm-pony's expression remained stoic. "Nope. Got nothin' more t' say, sugarcube. Rainbow Dash done covered most of it. I know at the end a' the day, you mean well for your Mother, so I'm forgivin' you for right now. All I want is for you t' be careful. You've been stretchin' yourself all over with all this work of yours, and t'ain't healthy.

     "You really need to have more faith in her, AJ," said Spike, setting the comic book down. "Twilight can take on any test that's thrown at her! I bet by this time next week, there'll be TS8s stacked on every shelf in the hospital! Those Governors'll fall flat on their knees, eating their own words!"

     "I'm sure, Spike," the farmpony replied. Twilight had walked towards Rarity to give her cloak back when she heard her say to him, "Make sure she goes straight to bed. If she's really goin' t' work t'night, she should have all the rest she needs."

     "I'll give it a shot," she heard Spike say, "But she's almost as stubborn as you."

     Twilight ignored them both for the moment and went to Rarity, bundling the cloak. "Thanks for letting me borrow this, Rarity."

     Rarity turned to her, scoffing. "Please, dearie. Keep it. If I take that dreadful thing back with me, the newspapers shall become more scandalous than that Gabby Gums incident. You look like you need it more, anyway." At that instant, Pinkie started rubbing her knees, uneasiness filling her face. "Is everything alright, Pinkie Pie?"

     The earth pony blinked, as if not hearing the question, then looked at Rarity. "What? Oh! Everything's super-duper! Just a silly false alarm! I hope . . ." She started to trot out first, looked worriedly at Twilight, then slipped outside. Each of the girls all gave their own goodbyes before leaving, with Rarity being the last.

     "I'll see you soon, my little Spikey," she cooed to the dragon, then looked at the doctor. "I wish the most fortuitous of luck to you, Twilight." She stepped out with the others as she watched them through the window.

    Spike had climbed up next to her, his eyes sighing. "Golly, isn't she something?" He slid down, grabbing a broom next to one of the bookshelves and quickly swept up the dirt.

     Putting the cloak back on under the saddlebag, Twilight trotted to an obscure door frame at the far right corner, which led to her parents' bedrooms. "Is Father already in bed?"

    He set the broom back, next to his shelf. "Oh, right. He told me that he's spending the night at the observatory. One of those giant comets are coming back, so he had to go study it." He paused, thinking, then said, "Why don't you settle in? I'll heat some cider for you."

    He started for the kitchen, but Twilight already knew this was his attempt to have her dawdle for the night. "That sounds nice, Spike, but I'd like to pass tonight." Spike stopped and glanced back at her. Both of them knew when she was ready to work or study, there would be no convincing her otherwise, unless it was a discussion between her and her mentor.

     "Eh, you can't blame me for trying. Is there anything you want me to do before you go?"

     Twilight pointed to the fireplace. "Throw another log on and stir the fire. Tonight's going to be the coldest of Autumn." Spike obeyed, going to a box in the kitchen to take one, then blowing a small flame until the wood caught. Meanwhile, Twilight sat in one of the chairs, mind wandering, and spent no longer than a few seconds on each thought.

     Spike nestled into the other chair, pulling that same Power Ponies comic. "Well, goodnight, Twi. I'll have breakfast ready for you around eight," he said, opening back to where he'd left off.

     Twilight began to walk away, but something gnawed at her. "Spike?"

     He closed the comic book. "What's up, Twi?"

     "D-do you . . . remember Mother at all? Before what happened?"

     Spike had to think for a moment before answering. "I think so? I'd just hatched before it happened, but I definitely remember she had blue eyes, like Rarity's. Oh, and that she was awfully nice.  Like any mother should be." He stared quizzically at her. "Why do you ask?"

     Hesitantly, she answered, "I want so badly to do the right thing for Mother, but everypony thinks I'm a madmare; solely because they don't understand the philosophy of my work. I just . . .don't know if I'm doing what's right."

     Spike placed his clawed hand on her hoof. "Then they're idiots. What do they care about? How much gold's in their safe, and what tea they drink? They really don't understand your work because they don't see our dedication towards family. If you were the one in a coma instead, I'd be doing the same thing and taking the same risks to help you. That's what family's about; I definitely remember Mom saying that."

     Twilight closed her eyes, processing this. Her Mother believed in the loyalties of family, so certainly she said that.

     She wasn't fully aware when she whispered it: "I have to do it for her sake."

     Spike had looked away for a moment, but then turned his head back. "Huh? Did you say something, Twi?"

     Twilight quickly covered it up, not wanting her plan to scare him. "Nothing, Spike. Just thinking out loud." She stroked behind his ear flap. "Thank you for listening. I have to go, but don't worry about me, okay?"

     "Sure. So long as you promise not to forget about me up there," Spike chuckled, slowly nestling with his comic in his arms.

     She patiently waited for him to fall back asleep before setting a blanket snugly over him and standing up. She stepped away from the chair, towards the small bookcase where Spike's book was. There were three books on the shelf above his, all written by the young doctor. She did not have her Mother's talent of weaving stories together in books, but these books were exceptions, as they all contained secrets of pony magic, unicorn, pegasus, and earth pony alike.

     By being the first to open her mind to the fusion of magic and science, many secrets in both natures were unveiled and recorded in these books, mainly to help fund her main project, but also to help increase the capabilities of magic.

     Among the many secrets of pegasus and earth pony magic lost after the Pre-Celestian Age were arts of defense created by Star Swirl the Bearded. One of these, the very spell that Twilight was most proud to have found, was a reservoir spell; unicorns could use the subconscious part of their brain to store a massive supply of magic simply by adding a little bit each day. When desperate times came, they could use it to survive for days without food or water, or, in the case of battle, unleash a devastating attack that would otherwise be impossible.

     Soon after she had recorded it in her book, Twilight had herself begun building up her own supply, with Princess Celestia's permission.

     Leaving the bookshelf, she sat down in the unoccupied seat across from Spike, staring at the photos hanging above the fireplace. Each had one of her family, including both her parents, Cadence, Shining Armor, and herself and Spike. "I promise, Spike," she whispered,  "I'll bring this family together again. I'll make everything better. The Governors will see the truth for certain."

     The Governors had stood in her way far too many times, choosing class over reason and riches before kindness. She had to admit, she was impressed by how hard they tried to stop her, even with their recent ruling against her using a pony from the hospital.

     But it was just another obstacle that was nothing once she'd overcame it, thanks to Soarin. She considered him a friend, but the favor he did for her was something that could no amount of friendship could ever pay the debt back for what would come of it.

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"Now there is no choice

I must conquer all

The fears I've kept inside

They've no place to hide . . .

"So it comes to this

My final moment

That will decide my fate

When everything I've fought for is at stake

To bring a change that I alone can make . . ."

     She stood from her seat and went to dim the lights, leaving only a small glow for Spike to safely walk through. After enabling the lock, she weaved around the front door and closed it tightly. As she faced her study tower to the right, nearby the palace, she tightened her cloak's clasp against her neck, and trotted to her destination.

"This is the moment,

This is the night

When all those doubts that kept me back face my might

"Every endeavor,

I have made, ever

Is coming into play,

It's here and now, today!"

     She reached the foot of the tower and began climbing the staircase. As she ascended, she conjured several images of light that each had a bittersweet memory; some included her mother's laughter, a filly of herself scribbling in her journal, she and Zecora mixing potions.

"This is the moment,

This is the time,

When the momentum and my magic are aligned . . ."

     Reaching the zenith of the stairs, she dissolved the images, setting her hooves onto the rail, and looked up to the stars and heavens, remembering the legends of the Alicorns Above.

"Give me this moment,

This precious chance . . .

"I've gathered up my past,

Now a future's all I ask!"

     She spun around, thrusting the doors open and teleporting to the second floor, rather than blindly stumbling on the staircase, as the only light in the room was on the other side.

"This is the moment,

When all I've done

All of the dreaming, scheming, and screaming become one!

"This is my time,

Watch it glimmer and shine!

When all I've lived for becomes mine!

"Through all these years,

I've faced my fears alone!

But now the time has come,

To prove to those fools I've made it,

On my own!

"This is the moment!

My final test!

"Destiny's found me,

And I'll never accept second best!

"I won't back down

I *will not** fall!*

"This is the moment,

The sweetest moment of them all!"

     She undid the clasp on her cloak, tossing it aside. As she came closer to the window, the joy in her heart surged, forming a ribbon of pure moonlight that glistened and twirled around her body as it slightly levitated her.

"This is the moment!

Damn all the scorn!

"This day or never,

I'll sit forever with Alicorns!

"When I look back,

I will always recall

Moment for moment,

This was the moment . . .

"The greatest moment of them all . . .!"

     The moonlight dissolved into nothingness, leaving the smiling doctor in near-darkness once more. She sighed contently, facing a long table behind her, the only proof of it being there coming from the moonlight that fell on one half. A unicorn-powered lamp sat on one end, which Twilight approached and activated. Pink light poured from the globe-shaped lamp, revealing the whole room, then fixed to white.

     When the tower was build centuries ago, the bookshelves that now surrounded her were the extent of what filled the room, but when Twilight was allowed to use it for her studies, she added the two chairs along with the table, and a chaise lounge by one of the bookcases. Her cloak had landed on the arm and hung halfway to the floor.

     On the table, there was the lamp, a working sink--plumbing for it was installed prior to her owning the tower--and a large, cube-shaped metal frame that held numerous glass tubes, beakers, and vials in place, as well as a Bunsen burner near the bottom. There was also a small cleared-out space by the lamp meant for writing in her journal.

     Fetching her journal, a quill, and inkwell, and putting all three items on the small space, she opened the journal to the entry she'd written earlier in the afternoon and began writing, reading aloud as she did.

     "TS8 Experimentation, entry five-sixteen. September thirteenth, eleven forty-five P.M. I started this journey alone, considering friendship to be meaningless and a waste of time. But when Princess Celestia sent me to Ponyville on the day of Nightmare Moon's return, the ponies I'd met showed me the truth of the Magic of Friendship; that facing one's destiny alone will lead to nothing. Our destinies require finding a bit of ourselves and the goals we seek in others.

     "Each of the ponies I became close to, including Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Zecora, and Sir Fancy Pants, they all found each step taken that I wouldn't have found myself. And most recently in my work, Soarin taught me that as the two natures within us are at war, we have, in our own hooves, the power to choose--what we want most to be, we are. Through this, I have the understanding that the TS8 Formula can not only affect my target patients, but anypony, whatever their ailments may be.

     "Therefore, I realize I must use myself as the test subject of the TS8's evaluation. I will take one week to record the potency and side-effects of the Formula. After this night falls, I will see to it the Governors will no longer hide the truth of what I'm doing. They've held me back far too long."

     After cleaning the tip of her quill, Twilight retrieved the Formula from her saddlebag. The sewn pocket she had Rarity make for it kept the vial secure, even with the saddlebag now laying on its side. She retuned to the table, careful with her aura surrounding it.

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"I must be wise

I must try to . . . analyze each change in me

"Everything I see

How will it be?

Will I see the world through different eyes . . .?"

     Twilight had set the Formula down to take a glass of water from the sink. Once she'd finished it, she returned to the vial, holding it to her eyes. Moonlight leaked through the glass and glinted off the tens of dozens of pin-sized prismatic bubbles that twirled inside.

"Like the break of dawn,

Bringing forth new light

"Like the come of Spring

Slaying Winter's bite

"I will bring this change,

This test will arrange,

A brand new life . . .

"I'm on my way to help Mother

Find her way, tonight . . ."

    Twilight popped open the lid, eyes tracing the path of the bubbles rising from its mouth.

"Leading her out of the darkness,

And into . . . the light . . ."

     She remembered Zecora telling her that her potions were often bitter-tasting because of the roots she had to grind up for them. That, and the water from the Mirror Pool may have toned the flavor down, since aside from its magical properties it was just spring water. So it'll probably taste like some of those unsweet teas I've tried at the Day Spa.

    The aura that surrounded the vial almost faltered from her giddiness, but she regained control at once, tightening her grip on the glass. It was wondrously thrilling, putting it mildly, that she was about to open herself to a new way of feeling alive; her natures of Goodness and Evil would become equal, neither one heavier than the other. Her quirks influenced by Evil would remain, but those all the more made her the pony she was. She could only wonder ever more about what the Formula would do to her physically.

     Twilight sighed deeply, tilting the neck in preparing to drink.

     "Wha--" Something glinted into her right eye, making her rub it after setting the Formula down again. Black spots swam in her vision until the blindness cleared. As she looked to the source, she saw the Alicorn Amulet's ruby was peeking out from the saddlebag, the light from her lamp illuminating the jewel.

     "I'd better put that away before I do anything else," she thought aloud, knowing that if the Formula made her drowsy or unable to do so, anyone could walk in and take it.

     She took it into her aura, which flickered with reluctance, and put it away in the drawer that doubled as a safe. It was stupid, but the key that unlocked it was the same key that did so with the doors. She had meant to amend that issue, but could never find any free time Princess Celestia had in which she could ask about something so trivial.

     As she shut the drawer, she could feel its cold blood-eyes releasing their grip on her. Those cold fingers that often dug into her skin when she held it diminished, although a breath of its influence still lingered, making the doctor draw in quivering breaths that lacked the warmth she coveted, despite her thick sweater.

     "It's over, Twilight. You don't have to deal with it again until Princess Celestia comes for it. You've nothing to worry about."

     Truly, she wanted to believe herself. She was right; she would pass it on to her mentor, who would lock it deep within the crystal caves, nevermore to cast its blood-eyes upon senseless victims or unleash its devastating magic.

     Yet . . . something tugged ceaselessly at the back of her mind, like a noose tightening around her neck, insisting nothing was fine.

     Then, at first a wordless whisper but building up as it became stronger, Octavia's voice spoke through her subconscious:

If the TS8 only separates the natures from non-sentient animals--whom aren't even your target patients, since they lack sentience and the natures of goodness and evil--how do we know we're aren't damning an innocent pony to your experiment?

     This was what the cellist had asked Twilight back at her meeting; it was, in fact, the very question that had ruined her entire proposal in asking for a test subject. But that was before, when she saw it little more as both the Governors' attack and an error on her own hooves. And now, now she could hear the question within the question: What if the Formula isn't strong enough to do as you say?

     Her heart sank to the pits of her stomach. If she only tested on soulless animals--creatures that lack free will and therefore either natures of Goodness and Evil--how did she know whether or not she was killing a sentient through this experiment?

Of course, this is why I'm testing in the first place, because this is a cure that needs to be proven. But Twilight knew already that this was a lame excuse. She never took the strength of the TS8 Formula into consideration and, in overconfidence, assumed that it worked only because it was effective on animals without sentience, an oxymoron in itself.

     "And suppose it's not strong enough to effect me," she whispered, "I'd have to find all the ingredients all over again, including finding a mixture to strengthen its properties . . ."

     Which would have been simple enough, except that the Governors would know she was working behind their backs, despite their ruling. Fleur de Lis and Blueblood probably wouldn't object to this, as this new perspective meant either nothing would happen when she would test it . . . or the results would be fatal. But Octavia, who wanted nothing less than to destroy her work, she would perhaps use this as a claim of self-destruction, spreading lies of the doctor attempting suicide upon realizing she was wrong. The results of such rumors could not only shut her entire project down, but also deem Twilight insane and land her in an asylum.

     "I can't let second-guesses throw me off," she panted, pacing left and right, "But Octavia could be right! I can't just . . . test something that may be faulty! Princess Celestia would be disappointed in me if I took assumption over evaluation! Oh, what am I supposed to--"

     Then, like a hand waving them on, she felt her eyes follow a silent beckon and fell on the drawer. At once she felt its icy claws again rip at her flesh. Her heart hammered tightly in her chest, and her hooves were frozen in place.

     And yet the more she felt its presence, the more she realized how clear the answer was. "Of course!" she realized, her eyes lighting up. "I can use the Amulet to . . . um, increase the Formula's capabilities!" With her curiosity of dark magic used for good purposes, doing this would be proving both theories with one swipe. "Nopony will ever have to know that I . . ."

     Her voice died out, as she realized why the answer was far too easy and felt her spirit sink once again. " . . . But I can't. The Amulet is far too dangerous; Trixie was fortunate for our intervention. The Amulet turned a near-harmless desire for vengeance into a lust for power, and if left alone, could have turned into something worse."

     But she had a stronger will than that bombastic showmare, Twilight knew. Compared to Trixie, she was pure; a simple little spell that would take less than two minutes, the corruption couldn't touch her then. She would be left in an impasse without the Amulet, but as long as she was using it for good, there was nothing to lose; it was a win-win situation all around.

     Still Twilight stubbornly fought with the very idea. "Princess Celestia would be furious if I did this. She trusted me with keeping it until she comes for it; I won't betray her." She walked to the drawer, staring at the keyhole almost longingly. "And besides, she's warned me of the dangers of dark magic. Even if I want to prove dark magic's good potential, I must obey Princess Celestia's wishes."

Please, Octavia's voice rang again, You'd believe your master if she told you two plus two equaled five.

     Twilight froze, the words hammering in her brain. What did she mean by that? Well, Soarin, had jokingly referred to her as Princess Celestia's pet. Were they both imply that she was--

     "No. No!" She shook her head, refusing to submit to the idea. Princess Celestia was wise and kind. She'd never manipulate her loyalty to the point of making her a puppet. Dark magic was forbidden for a reason, and Princess Celestia was only enforcing that restriction for the safety of her citizens. She knows what's best, she told herself, however unconvincingly. Who said that she wasn't subconsciously feeding her ideals and information, rather than actually forcing her actions?

     Everything she ever believed, about magic, the natures of every heart, that all came from Princess Celestia . . . even her limited knowledge of dark magic . . . But all she really knew about it was that it was dangerous, and it was forbidden. That's all she ever knew, and all she really needed to know . . . according to her mentor.

     But she obviously knew there was more to dark magic than just, 'it's dangerous', didn't she? So why didn't she ever talk about it?

     "Because she fears the unknown of dark magic . . ." Twilight whispered. Yes, that made sense. As a benevolent diarch of an entire nation, she couldn't afford to risk her own life finding the benefits of reformed dark magic. And considering Goodness and Evil fought in every heart, neither could she allow equine access, as not every soul was trustworthy with that power; Trixie's example made that very clear.

     But supposing dark magic really wasn't incorrigible, why would Celestia listen to any argument defending the art? By forbidding the use of dark magic, she was enforcing her fear of the unknown throughout all of Equestria, even to her own student! She certainly knew, as any questions about dark magic were promptly ignored and replaced with subject changes or just giving the, 'it's too dangerous' speech.

     "Just like Zecora did," she muttered. Both of them refused to speak of if or why dark magic was dangerous, most likely because they didn't want to see what was lurking behind the veil; the very same reason her own work was reviled!

     Protecting her student from the unknown was one thing, but refusing to let her explore it for her own fear was detestable! She could almost see herself in a black void, with strings burned into the veins of her legs, and Celestia yanking at the rod above.

     Blood ran down her chin and dripped onto the table. She realized she had been biting her lip to swallow her anger towards Celestia. She drew in a cool breath, calming herself. This did not change the loyalty she had for Celestia. She still was a benevolent leader, and still allowed her student her own free will. After all, she had supported her goal to pursue science over magic, despite her doubt over it.

     But forcing her student to ignore the prosperities of dark magic had to stop. "I'm sorry, Celestia," she said coldly, "But I'm doing what I think is right."

     She made her choice.

     Opening the drawer, she levitated the Alicorn Amulet and put it on, hardly noticing its previous influence, and instead felt fiery warmth spread through her entire body. Pure magic surged through her veins, leaving a tickling sensation in her forelegs. Is this what Trixie felt when she put it on? Her heart thrummed like a hummingbird's wings and almost felt like she had her own to fly with.

     As ecstatic as she felt, there was work to be done. Setting her gaze to the TS8 Formula, she gave one command to the Alicorn Amulet: Increase the TS8 Formula's potency.

     Jade-green lightning crackled at her horn. Her eyes glinted briefly in the same precious hue. The lightning surged from her horn and attacked the vial. Coiling around the glass like a snake, it buzzed and shrieked as the Formula glowed intensely, then faded, like a dying scream. The bubbles that had constantly wandered in the vial diminished, warping the white liquid into a dozen hues until Twilight, satisfied with her work, ended the spell.

     The lightning receded back into her horn, tracing the creases that twirled along it. Her eyesight blurred a bit as a slight hiccup in drinking in all that magic, but refocused just as quickly.

     Her head pulsed like a violent heartbeat, making her clutch it in both hooves. "Ah . . . mm . . . I can't say Celestia didn't have a point with the dangers of dark magic. But I can't let her refuse giving it a chance to redeem itself. Maybe I should show her the true extent of what it could do . . ."

     Realizing that was the Amulet's side-effects starting to kick in, she tore it off. It tried to bring her back by worming its icy fingers into her coat again, but she would have none of it. After locking the drawer tightly, the feeling of coldness finally vanished, freeing her to breathe again.

     "Now . . . let's see what happened . . ." Twilight walked back to the Formula. To her surprise, it had changed from white to that jade-green that represented her aura with the Amulet on.  "Huh. I guess . . . dark magic used for good has different color effects," she said, not completely sure. As much as she wanted to explore this new development, she'd dawdled long enough as it was; it was time to begin testing.

     Taking a slow, deep breath, she raised the vial to her lips and quickly downed the entire contents in three gulps. As she'd predicted before, it indeed tasted bitter, but also had a salty quality to it, almost like drinking sea water. It certainly stung her throat like so, and left her thirstier than before, but she refrained from taking anymore water from the sink until she was done recording.

     "Eleven fifty P.M. It's done. I've taken in ten fluid ounces--the entire contents--of the TS8 Formula." She added the first few effects experienced so far and continued to write as more side-effects kicked in. "I f-feel . . . a bit lightheaded . . . I'm having a bit of trouble steadying my quill." She panted, feeling prickling heat course through her veins, forcing her to shed her sweater, which had become damp with sweat. As she turned back to the journal, gleeful laughter bubbled within her, the effects of her lightheadedness combining with a sense of euphoria.

     "No noticeable . . . behavioral . . . differences . . ." She managed to quell her laughter long enough for it to fade, allowing to her to regain some sense of seriousness. "I don't . . . feel any of the main ef-effects quite yet, but due to the current reactions, I believe this is the first stage of the Formula taking effect."

     With a sigh, Twilight put the quill down again and walked back to the window, chuckling softly. Her head pressed against the glass as she dreamily watched the stars.

"Now the die is cast;

Nothing left to lose

"Time alone will prove

My theories through!

"I'll show Equestria that I'm . . ."

     She never finished her verse, for it was replaced with a gasp. "Oh . . . d-dear Alicorns . . ."

     The pain first pricked gently in her chest, but in a few brief moments, exploded through her entire body in a scorching flare. Twilight yelped and jumped back, violently swatting at her forelegs. The soft heat in her veins evolved into searing acid and tore at her legs, crippling her balance as her head banged into the floor. The shock blackened her vision briefly, and a crushing pulse ran through her skull.

Help me! Somepony! A wild paroxysm of convulsions wracked her body, her legs twitching hysterically. She so desperately she wanted to scream, but the salty bite of the Formula burned at her throat, as she could only whimper indiscernibly. Hot tears streamed in her eyes, the walls of the study melting into a warped stained-glass. Her horn crackled pathetically in her struggling, bright sparks raining from the tip.

T-that's it . . . Lu-luna's out . . . patrolling . . . Distress s-signal . . . Biting past the pain, she lifted her head and prepared a flare spell. Lines of magenta filled the creases in her horn and surged into a blinding ball of light . . . only for the clawed hands of the Alicorn Amulet to puncture into her spine. The spell shot only two feet before fizzling out into nothingness.

    Hope died out faster than the air in her lungs. Wh-what? How d-d-did . . .? It was almost like something knew what she was doing and disabled her, because now those icy hands took hold of her neck, restraining her and cutting off her magic. They next tore into her mind and began filling it with something cold as Death's fingers. Her head throbbed as her heartbeat drummed in her skull, and her legs became numb and heavy as wood.

     Then, like Death's scythe dealing its killing blow, a slash of raw agony struck Twilight's heart, and the light in her eyes faded. Blackness crept over her vision as she whispered.

     "S-spike . . . "

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

     Several minutes passed since Doctor Sparkle had succumbed to the effects of the TS8 Formula. Her lack of breathing made the study deathly quiet, so quiet that the sound of moonlight chiming could be heard as it fell on her still form.

     Her coat had become matted with sweat, with a few stray hairs jutting out, and her mane had become tangled in her struggling. A thin, dried-out trail of blood painted her muzzle subsequent to hitting her head, shattering the illusion of her merely being asleep after a long period of exhaustion.

     Then, as the midnight bells chimed from Canterlot Hospital, a high-pitched whining sounded. There was a shimmering light at the tip of her horn, a silvery--no, that wasn't right. This light was not pure like silver, for it looked more like a light that just barely escaped a mud-splotched diamond; dull and lifeless.

     The whining diminished, and as it did, the grey hue spread from her horn like ink spilled on paper, to her head, then to the rest of her body, sucking away her lavender hue and starburst cutie mark and replacing it with a grey as dark as burnt ash. The same thing happened to her mane, as the dark blue of her mane, pink and purple streaks included, were eaten away and instead given a poisonous dark purple.

     Her chest began to rise and fall. A soft moan dripped from her lips as her face clenched. Her hooves twitched as well, almost imitating running.

     The Alicorn Amulet, still locked in that safe, could have been grinning for how its red eyes glimmered.

◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

     She gasped a deep breath as she awoke with a jolt, as though being yanked to the surface after so long of drifting underwater. The air she sucked writhed in her lungs, forcing her to hack it out violently, along with a thick glob of what she was certain was blood. Her eyes, feeling glued shut, took great effort to be opened, and when she did, was met with a piercing ray of moonlight, to which she hissed venomously and pawed at her eyes.

     When they at last readjusted to the light, they traced their surroundings of bookshelves, a large window, and glass laying about on the floor. Glass . . . she didn't remember knocking anything over . . .

     Standing herself up, she felt with satisfaction the sensation of her tendons bending and stretching to her will, and her heartbeat hammering in her chest. That mixed with the sheathing and unsheathing sounds of her breath made a cacophony of madness, yet at the same time, peace. Her hoofsteps were lighter than she remembered as she wandered around the study, eyes flitting on anything that caught her interest. In fact, nothing in her body or soul seemed familiar; not like she was a different pony entirely, but that she was . . . rebooted? Yes, that may have been the correct word.

     Her eyes fell on a leather-bound journal that sat next to a lit lamp. Reading the current entry of a doctor finding the 'magic of friendship' and testing herself with a formula, she slowly remembered that she was the doctor. Doctor Twilight Sparkle, who had used the Alicorn Amulet to increase the effects of the TS8 Formula, which could separate a pony's natures.

     . . . Which explained why she didn't feel like herself, like she was in a suit of armor too small for her. "So. It did work." She impressed herself by how different her voice had become. It still had that feeling of Twilight Sparkle, but it was deeper-toned and had a spirit of serenity. It was beautiful and cool, like a waterfall inside a cave.

     But if the TS8 Formula worked, why was her voice altered like this? It didn't make any sense! Remembering the glass shards--which she presumed came from knocking a cup over in her struggling--she scoured the floor in search of a particularly large shard, not minding that she stepped on the smaller bits.

     Finding one that fit her liking, she eyed her dull reflection. Her coat was a dark grey and her mane a long, tangled mess of sickly purple. Her cutie mark was gone, obviously meaning that any shred of Twilight Sparkle had gone with it. But her eyes . . . they were two precious jadestones with black slits cut through the middle. But they weren't the normal slits of a batpony of Luna's guard. Wide at the top, they thinned and curled slightly near the lower eyelid, like a snake's eyes.

     It made sense now. The TS8 Formula had indeed separated her natures, but did far more than that. The freedom she felt in her soul was not one of innocence. In being separated from her nature of Goodness, her Evil had been reborn as the mare she was now; she could feel it. As her heart pulsed, so too did an insatiable desire lurch in her veins and seized her brain like the claws of the Amulet.

     But first, she needed to write. "I am a doctor, after all," she whispered with a rasp. "I must record my findings; as any good doctor should."

     When she approached the journal, her right hoof, as though being lifted by a marionette string, began to reach for the book. She then snarled, slapping it away with her free hoof, then skimmed over the words, until her eyes stopped at one particular sentence:

     'After this night falls, I will see to it the Governors will no longer hide the truth of what I'm doing.' She looked again at her reflection and grimaced; not at the image, but that a name so light-hearted as 'Twilight Sparkle' did not fit this mare.

     Taking the glass shard in her mouth, she cut a deep gash into the meat of her right upper leg and bit back a groan from the pain. She watched as the blood seeped out and dripped to the floor. Next she looked at the quill and focused on it, clenching her eyes in willing it to rise.

     Nothing happened.

     She glowered at its insolence and tried again, this time imagining puppet strings latching to, and lifting it. The sound of magic tinkling barely sounded. When she opened her eyes again she saw that a very faint aura of jade surrounded the quill.

     Satisfied she dipped the point into the pool of blood, which leaked from the wound, leaving thin trails on her foreleg and dripping to the floor. Not minding the excess drippings, she set the quill to the paper and crossed out most of the words in that sentence, except three:

'After this night falls, I will see to it the Governors will no longer hide the truth of what I'm doing.'

     Yes . . . It was partially synonymous with her previous name, yet worked on its own with who she was now. It may have seemed, to others, jarring and awry, but that was what made it perfect. As the nature of Evil reborn, her name reflected that of deformity; it meant to be awry.

     "September . . . fourteenth," she purred softly, "One . . . o'six A.M. . . . All is we~ell . . ." At the bottom of the page, she wrote her newly-donned name:

Nightfall Hyde.

     She dropped the quill beside the name, leaving a large splatter on the parchment. Laugher escaped her lips with the glee she couldn't and refused to contain.

    Swiping up the cloak she'd tossed aside before, as Twilight, Nightfall walked to the window, tightening the clasp and fixing the hood. At least generous little Rarity knew what she was doing, letting her keep it.

     Grinning with immense satisfaction, Nightfall continued her 'entry', ignoring the fact she wasn't writing anymore. "We're pleased to say, the TS8 Formula worked better than we could have ever hoped. Thanks to our . . . inclusion of the Alicorn Amulet, we've come across a very pleasant new development . . ."

Link

     A tremor surged through her body, one of both pure exhilaration and pain. Somehow, she knew this was her other half fighting, but she relished in the pain. Everything she felt, regardless of it being pleasant or not, were reminders that she was alive.  Alive. Such an invigorating word . . . She laughed a raspy chuckle, whispering very softy:

    "Free . . ."

     Nightfall threw the balcony doors open, walking at a slow pace towards the railing.

     "What is this feeling of power and drive I've never known?

I feel alive!

"Where does this feeling of power derive

Making me know why I'm alive?"

       Dark, glittering shadows suddenly formed from a twisted version of the moonlight and began dancing around Nightfall in a demented, contorted fashion, even singing along in hushed whispers. They had no faces; or rather, they had masks of empty air, as the large gaps were shaped as such, leaving only shadows where their eyes were. Nightfall grinned at the shadows, weaving her way around them as she leaned onto the railing.

"Like the night, it's a secret

Sinister, dark, and unknown

"I do not know what I seek yet,

But I'll seek it alone!

"I have a thirst that I cannot deprive

One that I shall truly connive!

"There is no danger I couldn't survive,

Feeling like this!

"Feeling alive!"

     With a quick thrust of her foreleg, she dissolved the shadows into a long ribbon, that twisted around her body and lifted her slightly as she sneered at the heavens.

     "Like Luna in an enigma,

Lost and alone in my strife

"Damned by some heavenly stigma,

But blazing with life!"

    She leapt off the balcony, plummeting to the pavement. The shadowy ribbon spun much faster, slowing her fall enough to land safely, and freeing her to run into the streets.

     "It's the feeling of being alive!

"Filled with Evil, but truly alive!

"Tis a truth that cannot be denied!

"It's the feeling of being Nightfall Hyde!"

     She laughed euphorically, the glee contorting her face as she stared out at the city. She started to step forward, but felt pain surge in her bones again.

     "Wait . . . what's this? Sweetness? Sympathy?" She sighed, amused at the discovery. "I thought I'd lost those feelings." Even as Twilight Sparkle's Evil reborn, a little bit a Goodness must have been placed in her heart. "It's fate . . . such bliss. But it won't save these ponies from me having a little . . . fun. I'm afraid your folly, Twilight Sparkle, will cost you dear . . ."

    She beamed her toothy smile, rasping soft chuckles under her breath, until her eyes fell and narrowed upon Hoity-Toity's Fashion Emporium; Quite the pompous sympathizer towards Blueblood's 'cause' in trying to tear down her other half's work.

     Who was he to judge Twilight Sparkle's work in the field of medicine when he had apathy for everything except his frilly gowns and flashy tuxes?

     Nightfall hissed with pleasure, fangs protruding from her canines and eyes alighting jade. "I'm here . . . I fear . . . and you will pay dear, my dear Hoity."