Author's Note

Before you read this chapter just a warning, it is a bit violent, and the ponies are a bit ooc. Also, I promise, things will begin to make sense next chapter.

Chapter 3

I would never wish anything bad on a friend, but after seeing what will happen, I’m not sure if I have a choice…

Twilight paced around the library, flipping through all the magic books laid out in front of her. She knew that the crystal had a magical lock, but it had a futuristic feel to it. It was unremarkable as far as she could tell. Sighing she looked through the pile of books she had gotten from the boutique. Something caught her eye on top of the stack. It was a small diary with a metallic cover.

Twilight took the diary, examining it. Wondering if it had something to do with the crystal on Dash’s hoof, she tried to open it. Frowning Twilight noticed another magical lock. frustrated, Twilight used a special analyzing spell to see what could break the lock. She found it was sealed by an unfamiliar yet powerful magic. It was similar to the magical lock on the crystal attached to Rainbow’s hoof.

For a moment, Twilight considered asking Rarity for help, but she almost immediately decided against it, knowing Rarity wasn’t capable of performing such advanced magic. Shaking her head, Twilight decided to take a break to clear her head. She walked upstairs to her room, flopping onto her bed.

Ordering Spike to make her some tea, she rolled onto her back, staring at the ceiling. Ideas about the crystal whizzed around in her mind. She knew she had seen the crystal in a book somewhere, but she couldn’t find the entry. “Twilight, I brought your tea,” Spike called, carefully running up the stairs.

“Thanks, Spike,” Twilight paused for a sip of tea, not caring that it burnt her mouth. “I’m worried about the crystal… it had an unusual aura of magic surrounding it.”

“Well, I’m not sure if that’s good or bad, but maybe you should write the Princess.” Spike hopped onto Twilights bed.

“That’s a good idea, Spike, thanks… but I want to check one more thing…” Twilight rose to her hooves, walking back down the stairs. So many thoughts were going through her head, she didn’t notice the book lying in the middle of the library. Tripping over it, she landed head first into a pile of books.

Spike ran down the stairs after her. Helping her up, Spike guided her back towards the stairs. “Maybe you should rest for a while, or maybe get something to eat. I don’t want you losing your mind like last time. Besides, it’s not like it’s dark magic or anything…”

Twilight perked up. “Dark magic? That may be it! It would explain how complicated the lock was!” Running back to her lab, she examined the lock on the crystal. It had traces of dark magic in it. “That’s it Spike!” Turning toward the diary, she realized Rarity could be in danger of being corrupted by the dark magic like when Spike had given her that ‘Inspiration Manifestation’ book.

Almost as if on cue, Rarity burst into the library. “Twilight, in that pile of books you took from the boutique, was there a diary?”

“Yes, but I’m going to have to keep it, there’s some sort of dark magic surrounding it, and I don’t want anything bad to happen.” Twilight replied, trotting out from her lab.

“Twilight, I need that diary” Rarity explained. Her voice sounded a bit strained and a bit angry.

“I’m sorry, Rarity, like I said, there’s dark magic surrounding it and-”Twilight repeated, but Rarity ignored her friend.

Running up to her, she put a hoof on Twilight’s shoulder. “I need that diary! You must give it to me!” Gently pushing Twilight aside, Rarity began scanning the library. “Where is it?”

Twilight rested her hoof on Rarity’s flank, trying to calm her. “Rarity, I’d love to give it to you, but it’s dangerous!”

Rarity spun around to face Twilight. Glaring, she stood on her hind legs so she could look down on Twilight. She put one hoof on Twilight’s shoulder, the other pointed at Twilight’s face. “It is nothing dangerous, it is mine! It is nothing but mine, and you have to give it to me!” Rarity was beginning to shout, and as she spoke, she began to jab her hoof at her friend.

“Rarity, it is dangerous! Please listen to me!” Twilight backed away from Rarity, feeling a bit intimidated. “Perhaps you’re thinking of a different diary…”

Losing it, Rarity ran forward and tackled Twilight. Thrusting her face close, she screamed, “Give me the diary! Now!”

Without thinking, Twilight threw Rarity off of her. Rarity didn’t seem bothered, and had jumped back to her hooves quickly. Twilight teleported to the top floor of the library. “Rarity! You’re insane!” Twilight wasn’t even thinking.

“You’re insane!” Rarity frantically began searching for the diary, throwing books everywhere. She couldn’t have Twilight read the diary, or her entire plan would fall apart. Completely ignoring the fact that she was probably giving away too much information, Rarity flung a book at Twilight. “I’m trying to save Equestria!”

She can’t possibly think she can single-hoofedly save Equestria! She needs the Elements to do anything substantial! Twilight, now angry, flung the book back. “How could you be so arrogant as to think you could save Equestria with a silly diary?” Twilight teleported the book to her, waving it mockingly in front of Rarity. “Come and get it!”

Rarity bolted up the stairs. Grabbing the diary, she shoved Twilight into a book case. Twilight lifted herself off the ground. Furious, she threw Rarity into the bed, using the distraction as a moment to snatch the diary back. Twilight tackled Rarity, her horn glowing, ready to fire a sleeping spell at her if things got too out of hoof.

Rarity rolled backwards off the bed, using her momentum, she kicked a hoof upward at Twilight, aiming for her horn. Twilight fell backward, her horn feeling oddly numb. She was too stunned to see Rarity jumping at her, tackling her into the ground again. Desperate, Twilight teleported to the lab, panting. To her surprise, Rarity had also teleported.

Panicking, Twilight began throwing books. Rarity expertly dodged them and threw them back. Twilight quickly put up a force field. The diary forgotten, Rarity threw herself at Twilight. Readying a shield breaking spell, she broke through the force field and landed a blow on Twilight’s shoulder.

Twilight flinched, but otherwise ignored the blow. She threw Rarity off of her, but Rarity pulled the purple unicorn with her. Letting go mid-fall, Twilight’s momentum carried her across the room, into the table that held Rainbow Dash. Twilight’s wings received most of the blow. Ignoring the stinging feeling, she realized she also had to protect Rainbow Dash. Twilight quickly did the first thing that came to mind, she teleported Rarity, herself, and the diary onto the main floor, in front of the fireplace. Lighting a fire, she threw the diary into the flames. Knowing it would distract Rarity, she bolted back into the lab, gathering Rainbow Dash into her magic.

Rarity ignored what Twilight had done, knowing the diary had a spell protecting it from almost everything. Running back down to the lab, dismayed to see Dash already in Twilight’s grasp. Knowing that Twilight was too close to finding out too much, she had to get Rainbow Dash out of the library. Then she realized something, before it was too late, she teleported Twilight’s mattress underneath the pegasus.

Twilight looked down at what Rarity had done, confused. Then, she felt her magic begin to falter. With a strange feeling, her spell failed, and Dash fell to the ground. Rarity lunged across the room, grabbing Rainbow Dash. Growling at Twilight, she carried her friend across the room, setting her down on another table. Then she turned on Twilight, gasping for breath, she asked, “What are you going to do now?”

Twilight shook her head, unsure of how to reply. She tried to bring a spell to her horn, but it failed. “You can’t use magic either…” Twilight gasped, knowing that something was cancelling her magic.

“I know, but I can beat you in a hoof fight if I have too.” Rarity took a threatening step forward.

“No, go, take Rainbow Dash and whatever else you want. I won’t stop you, but I will say one thing,” Twilight got to her hooves. Opening her wings, she displayed her injuries, knowing Rarity had quite a few of her own. “Was it worth it? All this, over a diary?”

Rarity stared back at Twilight her gaze was lacking of any emotions. She walked over to Twilight, handing her a picture. “Darling, a few bruises might not be worth a diary, but when the fate of Equestria hangs in the balance,” Rarity turned around, walking back to Rainbow Dash. She scooped up her friend, positioning her so she wouldn’t fall off on the journey back to the boutique. She looked over her shoulder, back at Twilight “When the fate of Equestria hangs in the balance, it is a small price to pay.”

Twilight walked over to Rarity, keeping a safe distance. “What are you even going to do? The diary is destroyed anyway, and I don’t just mean a few bruises.” Twilight held up the picture, it was one of her and her friends, the first one she had sent to Celestia. “Is our friendship worth a diary?”

Rarity’s gaze flashed with anger. “It’s not just a diary. Haven’t you been listening? It’s the fate of Equestria. Thousands of ponies’ lives.”

“You’re lying! You don’t know that! You know what Rarity? I…” Twilight fought all the emotions and questions inside of her. Only one remained: anger. “I hate you. It’s really nice to know how much I am to you. It’s nice to know years of friendship have been thrown away because you’re delusional enough to think a stupid diary can save Equestria when it isn’t in any danger.”

Rarity sighed. “Twilight, I should have known you’d be this way. I guess it is my fault that I left the diary with the books. But you know what? You are expendable, and so is our friendship.” Rarity turned away, carrying Rainbow Dash with her. stopping on the way out, she pulled the diary out of the fire. Balancing it in top of Rainbow Dash, she trotted away.