Chapters A darkness within a Twilight
Love, happiness, joy, friendship, these are the things that I used to describe my life now its fear, anger, darkness, hatred, and malice under the guidance of a king. A king who’s a master of the dark arts, a king who enslaved his own people and uses fear to control them, a king who was defeated by the princesses of the moon and sun and I am his apprentice, but my life wasn’t always like this it was once filled with the love, happiness, and friendship that anyone needs and friends who are supposed to be there for you, before it felt nice but now it makes me sick and so I write this in order to remind myself and to show my side on how everything got to this point, my name is Twilight sparkle, no I am Midnight Sparkle faithful apprentice to the dark king Sombra and this is my story.
My life started off normal like any other life I had a loving family of my mother, my father, and my older brother in Canterlot, now as a filly I studied magic on my own wanting to attend Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns, now I knew I was special when it came down to magic but I didn’t know how special I was until that day. I was practicing my magic with my favorite doll In the world Miss smarty pants. I was trying to make her teleport from one spot to another and that’s when I heard a voice, a voice that seemed to be coming from my doll, I’ll never forget what it said,
“Little filly you have great magical potential I’m impressed .”
“Miss smarty pants did you talk .”
“Yes little filly I did .” it answered to my surprise.
“I made her talk .”
“did I really just imagined it ?”
“No Twilight you didn’t .” I gasped and replied,
“You can talk, but why didn’t you talk when I showed you to my parents ?”
“If I had talked to them they would get rid of me thinking I was bad for you and you don’t want that .”
“No but .”
“And I can help you with your magic but you must not tell anypony or show anypony .” The voice had said.
“That is excellent Twilight I know you’ll get in for sure and you’ll meet Princess Celestia as well, but there is something I must tell you .”
Years later I was living in the Golden oak library in ponyvile and I had five great friends who at the time I considered them like sisters. we've been through a lot together, the return of Nightmare moon, Discord’s return, and even my brother Shining armor and my foal sister Cadence's wedding, as well dealing with the changelings, some time after that we dealt with Sombra, In fact I believe that’s the time when things went downhill. Princess Celestia had sent me and my friends to where the Crystal empire reappeared and find the Crystal heart as well as protect the crystal ponies from Sombra’s return. Everything was going well with the crystal fair, keeping crystal ponies happy and having them think we had the crystal heart that I had cut with my magic. But there was the problem, it had to be the actual crystal heart not a heart shaped crystal, so I along with spike went to find it. After sometime our search lead us to a door on the bottom of stairs lots and lots of stairs, after a few failed attempts I was about to try again until everything went grey and there floating towards me was a ball of light and a voice that I haven’t heard in years say to me,
“It’s been a while twilight my friend you have grown quite well .”
“Twilight you must not retrieve the crystal heart you will fail the test .”
The next day I went to canterlot to see princess Celestia, as I entered the royal hall to the throne room I seen her standing next to a wooden stool with a smile pile of papers on it and with her magic lifting one, quickly writing in it, rolled it up and making it disappear and doing the same with the next. I remember how was so happy to see her and was eager to start my next phase of my training, I announced myself to her. Without even looking at me she said angrily
“What are you doing here ?”
“I have come to start my next phase of my train princess .” I answered
“you needn’t worry about that but you will leave now .”
“Leave, but why where am I supposed to go ?”
“It doesn’t matter to me ...” as she finally looked me she continued “You failed the test Twilight .”
“I don’t understand, I did everything that was needed for ...”
“Not only will you not go on to the next level of your studies, you won’t continue your studies at all .”
“You didn’t say anything about me no longer being your student if I failed .”
“didn’t I .” and started walking off,
"What do I do now .” I asked her,
“Mister Cubic are you here ?”
“Mister Cubic is that you ?”
“ yes Twilight it’s me .” he said with a smile,
“There there Twilight it’s alright .”
“She wasn’t going to allow you to go the next stage of your training and I think it’s entirely my fault .”
“Your fault how could it be your fault ?” I said to him while wiping the tears from my face,
“As I told you when you were younger you have a lot of magical potential within you and from what you’ve learned from me your magic has grown exponentially I believe she sensed that and has felt threatened by it .” he told me,
“What, but why would she feel that way I would never do anything that would threaten her .” I asked, he gave me a sad expression and said,
“perhaps it opened up some old wounds .” just then he started to fade away and I asked,
“what’s happening ?”
“My time stop spell is ending listen to me my dear Twilight you must find my book with the word Annalis we can talk again and I will be able to tell everything just remember look in the forest and find my lab, use the true revealing ...”
“you're still here leave this place now and never return, you are to leave my kingdom you are here by banished .”
“So Twilight what the news when do you start your new egghead stuff with the princess ?”
“Yes darling do tell us .” Rarity said,
“There won’t be any more lessons .” I replied,
“What do you mean Twilight ?” Spike said,
“I’ll tell you what it means. It means that she’s so smart that the princess decided there was nothing she could teach her .” Rainbow dash said as she flew right next to me,
“Oh oh then you know what this calls for… a party, yeah a big party with lots of balloons and streamers and oh oh and a big cake that says way to go and and… ”Pinkie pie quickly said,
“Ah don’t think that’s the case here .” I stopped in front of the door and said,
“Your right applejack, because I’m no longer her student I failed her test .” they all gasped,
“What! No way .” Rainbow dash said.
“Preposterous .” Rarity said.
“Are sure about that sugar cube ?” Applejack said.
“That can’t be right Twilight .” Spike said.
“Maybe you should ask if you can retake it somehow .” Fluttershy said.
“Yeah like maybe a test on other magically stuff .” Pinkie pie said. I shook my head and said,
“No I can’t retake the test .”
“Did she at least say why you failed ?” Rainbow dash said I simply answered,
“No and I’m not going to ask, if you guys can excuse me I really tired I think I’ll lay down for a bit .”
I then walked in and closed the door behind me. I could hear what they were saying but I didn’t care and I didn’t want to burden them with the news of my banishment so I went upstairs to my room and just cried myself to sleep. As I slept I could hear Spark shine’s words echo through like a lone voice in a concert hall saying for me to find his book in the forest and flashes of the area flew around and suddenly I woke up in a cold sweat, I looked around and saw I was still in my room and spike was sleeping I could tell because he talking in his sleep, it sound like he was having a dream about jewels again, I smiled and looked out the window and saw Luna’s moon and thought,
“If I was going to leave, now would be a good time .”
“Twilight don’t go .”
“No Twilight don’t go in to the.....pudding pool .”
“goodbye Spike .”
“goodbye my friends .”
As I was in the forest I noticed that it was quiet, a bit too quiet. I thought it was perhaps the local wildlife was just sleeping, well that's what I was telling myself as I walked in deeper. Soon I came across the castle of the royal pony sisters Princess Celestia and Luna’s old castle before the Nightmare moon incident and the start of my adventures win ponyvile. There I thought,
“I’ve been through this castle inside and out and didn’t find any book called Annalis, let alone a lab .”
“Twilight stop !”
“another step and you would’ve been transported .”
“This is one of my creations it teleports you to different location of this tower .”
“Tower, I thought this was just one room ?” I said with my head tilted and giving a confused look.
“No Twilight this is indeed a tower and if you would look out that window .” Spark shine said as he point to a nearby window,
“This is not possible we’re in the crystal empire but I’ve never seen this tower when I was here before .”
“Your right this tower wasn’t there when you arrived in fact we’re not in the crystal empire at all .”
“Then where ...” was all I could say before he continued,
“you’re in a different world a shadow world if you will, you see ...”
He explained to me that during his travels he heard rumors of the crystal empire having returned, so in his haste he tried used teleportation spell but the spell bounced back and he was brought here, at the time he thought nothing happened but saw that every pony wasn’t noticing him, then one group of ponies passed right through him, he thought he was a ghost but realized that the ground was solid for him soon after he reappeared back to where he disappeared, he went on to tell me how he figured out how to and from there and managed to bring this tower filled with every book ever known his Tower of knowledge he calls it along with him and was able to finite his magic and other things in this place. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing a world in between worlds and I was in it, it was too much for me to handle so I went to the window but then I saw the scenery changing in to another place as if one was fading out as the other was fading in and what I saw just made me speechless it was ponyville not the ponyville I left behind it was morning every pony going about their day, I sat down with my hoof on my head and Spark shine walked over to me I looked at him and just stuttered
“wha..how…the…and…ponyville…and ...”
“ah you’ve seen it as well, you see time moves different here, in here has only been minutes but out there hours have passed but when you return to where you were it’s like not much time has passed at all it’s quite a phenomenon .”
“but enough about that come I promised I’d tell you everything .”
He told me he was like me he studied magic and he developed ways to improve other ponies magic he even figured out a way to teleport to long distances but as he was about to test his spell when sombra attacked, he hid himself so to not get captured and went to go see princess Celestia for help once he got to canterlot she and princess Luna were already gone to stop him, so he used the long distance teleportation spell to return to the crystal empire but when he had got there he was drained of his magic and was weak but he saw the crystal empire, his home disappeared. As he was telling me this, flashes of the events he went through just filled the area like pages of a book being turned, I then asked what he did after me being interested in his story, he told me for some time he worked in secret finding a way to bring back his home but he soon found out that if he did find a way to bring back his home it would bring Sombra back as well so he quit looking and continued his studies of magic, he developed even more spells even some transformation spells so he used a spell to change himself into an earth pony and changed his name into astrum lighthooves and worked with my idol Star swirl and only he knew of his true identity, years went by for him and he wanted to live to see the day that his home would return and help stop Sombra from returning with it so he delved even further into magic to lengthen his life, he couldn’t find anything not even with Star swirl’s help so in secret tried other forms of magic even dark magic and alchemy and that when he developed a potion that was supposed to give him eternal life and everlasting youth but he never tested it, but one day Star swirl suggested that he consult with the princess, so he did. He told her everything on what happened during sombra’s attack, on how he traveled around the world, everything. She wasn’t even mad at him for deceiving her for so long and she offered to help in any way she could but he later found out that was a lie well to him not a purposely caused lie at the time she was just so busy to help and he wasn’t angry about it but what started everything to go wrong is what he discovered about Sombra. He discovered that what had happened at the crystal empire was not Sombra’s fault. Apparently Sombra was possessed by a dark spirit which had turned him evil. I asked him how he figured that out and he said,
“Well I found an old journal of his and it stated that he was searching for something for the princess of that time, to protect the empire with the help of its citizens you know what that was ,”
“The crystal heart !”
“That’s right but at that time it wasn’t called the crystal heart it was…well it had many names but at that time it was called a destiny stone, upon knowing this he and a large group of his soldiers set out to find the stone but upon returning only he was the only one to return alive, it was said that the way to it was treacherous and full of dangers that no pony could ever think of .” Spark shine said.
I couldn’t believe what he told me but before I could respond he continued,
“He presented it to the princess and demonstrated its power, but she was very weary of it right away and felt the heart having such malice within it, but Sombra assured her it was nothing to worry about, but she was right to be suspicions because unknown to any pony at the time Sombra was already under the spirit’s spell, and as time went by it was twisting his thoughts and driving him down a path of darkness, but at that time a great war was beginning between the empire and the griffons. The princess felt that the war could be avoided, so she made many attempts to make peace with them but all failed, Sombra seeing this took it upon himself to do what he thought was right ...”
“No that can’t be right, you mean to tell me Sombra, king Sombra, the same Sombra who attacked and enslaved the crystal ponies, defend it from attackers long before, why would he do that if the spirit was turning him evil, in fact I’ve read up on the crystal empire’s history and there was nothing about any war, how do I know any of this is true ?”
“Now that’s the Twilight I know, but your right there isn’t anything on the war because the princess thinking it would be best to ease the pain for the citizens erased it from their memories and only she and a certain few in her court knew of it and Sombra was one of them and no record has been kept of it except for two books, one I’ve written and Sombra’s journal and to answer your question young Twilight, Sombra would have done all those things even if he wasn’t under a dark spell, for you see he was in love with the princess but I’m trailing off allow me to finish the story ...”
“Upon knowing this I went to tell Princess Celestia of this but she wouldn’t hear of it. I beg and pleaded for her to hear me out on an idea that would have saved him and the empire but she still didn’t want to hear it and that’s when I found out what was wrong Star swirl had told me that she had banish her sister to the moon using the elements of harmony and that’s what finalized my resolve, so I returned here and studied and practiced on some new spells after a lot of failed attempts I had done it and came up with a spell that was able to separate darkness out of any pony but it wouldn't get rid of it completely ...”
“Why is that ?”
“Because in everything in this world there has to be balance, take one thing away it can’t be maintained, say if I used the spell on Princess Celestia then she would be completely good, no darkness no anger nothing. Oh it would be good for some time but her view would be warped thinking that whatever she thinks is bad she would have to correct, just think all of Equestria would be under a tyrannical rule far worse than Sombra’s instead of place of darkness it would be a place of oppressive light, that is why darkness is needed to balance everything out and for us to learn from our negative mistakes .” Spark Shine said.
“Ok so seeing as Sombra was still evil you weren't able to use your spell .” I said.
“No but there was a reason you see if I had brought the kingdom back it would have brought him back as well that much you know but due to Sombra’s power I would need a large power source to use the spell and that would have to be the elements, So I left out of here and went to tell her but when I got there I have found out that it had been years since I have last been to canterlot, and when I saw the princess she looked happy in what had to be in a long time. I didn’t want to burden her with my plan so I took the elements and traveled to the frozen north to bring him back and use my spell, but somehow she had gotten wind of my plan and stopped me on the boarders of where the crystal empire once stood, to say she was surprised to see me would be an understatment, to her I looked the same as I have to her perspective all those years ago. I once again pleaded to her told her it would be beter to go through with my plan but she wouldn’t listen, and I wasn't going to be swayed by her words. We said what was on our minds and I said some....harsh things and I told her I would anything just to save the kingdom even go throught her forcably, but still she remained adament on her dession, with no more words left between us we fought. Each spell she casted were calculated and precise but I countered them with something more powerful and wild ones. I was slowly gaining the upper hoof, she then was getting desperate end the battle as she was just lashing spell after spell at me while as I deflected and countered with the spells I mastered. Moments later she was on the ground and I stood tall feeling triumphant but then I realized something, I was more powerful than she was but also I was perhaps acting just as Sombra was in their battle. Upon relaizing this I returned the elements to her and apologized and how foalish I was acting, she accepted and said I was acting for the good of the Crystal empire, but just then something went wrong, my horn started to glow and pain rushed through me, I screamed as my body writhed pain and agony, soon my body was going numb, Celestia tried to help with using her magic but nothing worked, soon I lost consciousness and only here the faint screams of Celestia's voice calling my name. I came to some time later to find her crying, I told her I was ok but she didn’t respond to me, I tried to place a hoof on her shoulder but it passed right through her and that’s when I realized that I has in between worlds again but this time it felt different, this tower was there but I couldn’t touch anything as I can today and I’ve been like this ever since, so you see Twilight I believe it was what happened between me and her is why she reacted the way she has to you she doesn’t want you to go down the same path as I have, that is why I must tell you to speak with her once again and allow her to know of what I’ve told you .” Spark Shine said.
“No I can’t she banished me remember I can’t got back not ever ." I told him,
“Well if you won’t go to talk to her I guess I can be your teacher but we have to start right away to prepare for the event that I have feared will come .”
“Ok, but what event you are talking about ?” I told him,Because Sombra is returning .”
I gasped and said,What. But how he was defeated by Cadence and the crystal heart .”
“No Twilight what was destroyed was nothing more than a shadow, excess magic from Sombra. Yes he was turned to shadow but over the years he has slowly getting stronger and with the crystal empire having returned he’s coming back and even more powerful than ever .”
To be continued….
Author's Note
Well what do you think and this is only the first part of the story the next is sure to come so look out for it
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A darkness within a Twilight
Chapter 2: Explanations and preparations Part1
I can remember the cold chill that ran through me after Sparkshine, my new teacher had said those words, King Sombra, the dark king of the crystal empire , a part of history believed to be gone wasn’t. I gasped at that, a million thoughts went through my mind, some of fear and panic, some are plans on how to warn every pony about this. The next thing to run through my mind were a million question but only one thing came out,
“What!? But how, he was defeated with the crystal heart, wasn't he. ”
“No Twilight what was destroyed was nothing more than a shadow, excess magic from Sombra that he has been releasing over the years .”
“I don’t understand Princess Celestia told me that he was turned into a shadow. ” I said confusingly and trying to hide the fear in my tone,
“Yes he was turned to shadow ,”
“but over the years he has slowly gotten stronger and as you can see he managed to reform his body .”
“Reform h..his body. But how? ” I said to him still in disbelief.
“I don’t understand. What do they have to do with any of this? ”
“They have a lot to do with this twilight, for you see they are Sombra’s essences that has been pony-fied, given life through sheer will .”
“What, his essence .” I said nearly falling back by this news.
“Yes, artificial ponies created through magic each with a different part of Sombra that are walking among us, well I should say they all represent different aspects or traits of him .” Spark shine said then pointed to the earth pony mare, “This one is named Sapphire Fancy believe it or not she is in tuned to magic which is a trait that Sombra has .”
“Wait, so your saying she can perform magic? ” I asked him in a somewhat disbelieve tone.
“Exactly, to be more precise she can perform dark magic .” Spark shine said
“That’s impossible, only ponies with a horn can perform any kind of magic .” I said as I looked at the floating image of the mare.
“Ah, she knows this as well but she can, She doesn't understand how all she know is that she can but not in the norm that is .” he said as he rubbed his hoof under his chin.
“What do you mean by that? ” I asked
“Well Twilight allow me to answer your question with one of my own. What is needed for magic to be performed .” He asked me,
“Well...as I said before a horn but… ”
“Exactly, but to be more precise something for it to be released is what's needed. As you should already know all ponies have magic within them but is used in different ways. For Earth ponies it's their physical strength and touch that releases their internal magic or to be more accurate through their hooves ."
"Allow me to explain ."
"It's just a holo construct which I'll be teaching you about this spell later but right now let allow me to continue. "
"Yes of..of course. "
"Now for instance your friend Applejack, well... her and her family are excellent apple farmers that can bring out the potential of the soil that they plant their seeds into and in which grows their apples with the help of the magic within them ," just then the mini Applejack was working on the miniature garden.
"but if another pony tries their hoof at it say a unicorn.... "
"the same result will happen but it won't be as... well...eh vibrant as Applejack's her family grown crops ."
"Wait a minute.. " I quickly said to him, "if what your telling me is true then explain Pinkie pie ."
"Er..uh...well... She's...more of an unexpected surprise when it comes to Earth pony magic. To be honest she's done things that I can't explain, I'm sure you can relate to that ." Sparkshine said while scratching his head,
"Yes I can relate on that ."
"Yes there were even times where she could fell my presents and even see me when no other pony should, but I detouring from the topic. As for a Pegasus it's kind of the same but... "
"But it's more with their inner magic which they use for weather control and moving clouds and walking on them. As for us unicorns, we use our horns to use more complex forms of magic ." I quickly say to him, "I know all of this Mr Sparkshine, this is common knowledge. "
"Of course Twilight your right but she's a special case and I'll explain more on that later for now let’s move on shall we .”
“Now he, is called Amorphous chain and he represents Sombra’s cunning as well as he is Sombra’s eyes and ears, so…. ”
“So he’s only gathering information for him .” I quickly interrupted.
“Correct, when I discovered him I wasn’t sure what he was doing, but that is until I noticed him traveling from one place to another never staying for too long. ” Spark shine said, I gave him a puzzled look and said,
“Well that doesn’t seem so wrong .”
“Normally yes, but the places he has been to have been reported of ponies exhibiting weird behavior and claims of being chased by monsters and other things, showing signs of fear and soon the whole town would be in a panic and fear, too afraid to even leave their homes to do even the most simple of things, but once he leaves the weird behaviors ceases, but at the next town he visits would exhibit the same behavior .” Sparkshine said,
"So your saying he's performing some kind of fear magic. " I said to him with a slight confused look, he simply nodded.
"But that's crazy! " I shouted "No pony could just make another just experience fear, not from what your telling me ."
"Oh, don't you remember ," He said with a raised eyebrow, "at the crystal empire. When you found a certain door. What happened to you when you got opened to it? "
"Well... " I said. I thought for a moment on that particular event, I replayed it over and over in my mind but couldn't recall anything that was different. Tapping my hoof on my head I finally said,
"I opened the door went up a lot of stairs, found the crystal heart, got caught in a trap set up by Sombra, then had spike take the crystal heart and after that.. "
"No no no Twilight. The door, what happened after you opened it the first time. " Sparkshine said,
"The first time but..I.. " I answered, but then it hit me, I did open the door twice. I forced it open by using dark magic but then I got a vision of my worst fear of failing the test that Celestia had given my, but now that I think about it it was more of a vision of the future to me.
"Ah, now you remember ."
"I do, but that was caused by a crystal that was on top of the door... " I said I paused for a moment and thought back to the door with the crystal above it. Sombra could have known I was there he was still trying to get through Cadence's magic, but then a realization just struck me like a door to the muzzle and I said,
"That crystal, it must have been enchanted by Sombra long before, just as the same way how that trap had to be made to protect the crystal heart from any pony who came looking for it, it activates when some pony got close to or in the area. "
"Exactly, and he's like that crystal but only instead of effecting one pony he effects a whole town or a city, but as I said he doesn't stay long only a few days ." Sparkshine said,
“Do you know what he was exactly doing? ”
“Well believe it or not most of his times were spent in town halls for their records and libraries .” He answered.
“I can’t believe this, how can some pony just.....go around using the world’s libraries for....for evil, that’s just unthinkable… ”
“I’m sorry Twilight, but when you said that it just made me remember an old friend who felt so enthusiastic about books just as much as you do, but let us continue on shall we. ”
"Twilight are you alright? You seemed to be miles away ."
"Yes, I fine. " I answered with a forced smile.
"You know Twilight you're a terrible liar, I know something's bothering you now tell me, it doesn't have something to do with what happen with Celestia, does it. " He said to me with concern in his voice.
"Well no, not entirely, Its just that.. "
"I was just wondering if it was possible for them to learn to control their magic. "
"If some pony found a way to teach them then yes it is possible, but why would that matter Twilight? "
"Then if they did, they could live their lives as normal ponies and not have to do Sombra's orders, we can even become friends with them and they could help us. "
"No Twilight they can't live like normal ponies they are magic given life and form, they may look like normal ponies but to the core they're nothing more than Sombra's slaves to do his bidding. Even if they learned to control their magic they would pose a greater threat, the can not be reasoned with and they certainly wouldn't befriend any pony. "
"O...Oh your right, sorry forget I mentioned it. "
'This is it, he's going to toss me aside just like the princess did, I am a failure. what am I going to do now.'
"Look Twilight I know how you feel you have a good heart, as big of a heart as the bearer of the element of kindness, but we just can't take that chance, " he was silent for a moment then let out a heavy sigh, "but if you think befriending them could work, I don't see why we can't give it a try. "
"R..Really ."
"Well yeah. You've done a lot of things that no pony would ever thought would be possible, " Sparkshine said and with a wave of hoof images of my previous exploits appeared and slowly rotated around us as he continued,
"You've not only made some wonderful friends but you've also defeated Nightmare moon which brought back princess Luna, you've figured out how to bring your friends back to their senses and turned Discord back to stone, You've also uncovered the truth behind the Changeling queen's disguise during your brother's wedding, even when Celestia was fooled and fought valiantly against most if not her entire hive and help save the day, you also created a plan to keep the crystal ponies happy until you find the crystal heart and along with spike, help save it from Sombra's shadow and that's just a few things that you have done. So you should be proud of all those things and never doubt yourself when it comes to things like this. Plus as your teacher you should know that I have complete and total faith in you on making it happen. "
'I shouldn't be sulking about what happened, I should be moving forward, it like they say when one door closes another door opens. I maybe banished but I can still help save Equestria from behind the scenes.'
"You're right Mr Sparkshine. Now lets gets started on saving Equestria ."
"At-ta mare, lets get started ." Sparkshine says with a nod.
Author's Note
Well this took me some time to do, what with things happening in my life like getting sick, work and visits from long time friends. but here it is the second chapter, Tell me what you think of it, I could really use some input so I can better direct the way the next chapter should go.
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A darkness within a Twilight
Chapter 3: Explaination and preparartions part 2
Chapter 3: Explanations and preparations Part 2
Once Sparkshine said those words we got started….well after he insisted I get some sleep first. I protested of course but he forcibly had me go to sleep and by that I mean he placed a sleep spell on me, how I know that well when I woke up he told me, and that was the first lesson that he taught me, and after that he showed me around the tower. I remember I studied every nook and cranny of that place, and when I thought I knew everything with a little chuckle and a warm smile he would always tell me,
“No Twilight your not there’s still more within here, ” and would reveal even more floors of that place. I remember asking him,
“How many more floors are there? ”
“Hmm how many floors…well Twilight let me put it to you this way. It would take a few lifetimes to even reach the first half of floors that’s in here and that’s judging from the time difference within here. but in my case, uh...I lost count after the....hmm...nine hundred and fifty second floor. ”
Now I thought all this training was going to be easy, but my training on this new form of magic has been anything but easy. For the first few weeks he had me studying and memorizing spells from his Plethora of books, and another few weeks he had me practiced them. I remember those sessions were so exhausting, I practiced those spells until I had no more magic left, well practicing those level of spells would tire any pony out and I couldn’t fault Sparkshine for them going like that, to be fair he did tell me to pace myself but I wouldn’t have it. I was so focused on mastering these new spells so I could be prepared for either one of those magic pony constructs arrived or Sombra’s inevitable return. I remember the first few days he had me train outside the tower, and I don’t mean outside of the tower as in back in the Everfree forest, I literally mean outside the tower. I open a side door and saw nothing but pitch-black nothingness I mean there was nothing there, no road, no sky, just pure nothingness. I couldn’t even feel any wind but something was giving us air or else we would have suffocated from a lack of oxygen. I turned to Sparkshine and he just motioned me to move forward, I looked out to the nothingness again, took a deep breath, closed my eyes and place a hoof forward, and to my surprise my hoof made contact with the nothingness. I lifted my hoof up and placed it back down just to confirm this, then I heard Sparkshine laugh a little but I didn’t care I wasn’t going to charge head first and find myself falling into an abyss of Nothingness, Once I confirm it was ok I proceeded forward.
As I’ve taken a few steps out an uneasy feeling washed over me. In mere moments I felt like my entire world was spinning around me and turning upside down, I couldn't tell up from down, right from left or if I was standing or sitting, I felt like I was going to lose my breakfast, the temperature didn’t make it any better for me neither, I should explain. You see it was like being in a block of ice shivering while at the same time I felt like I was in the desert, with my mouth all dry my body sweating then it would all switch in a matter of minutes. I think I read a book on sensations like that, I think its what happens when a mare becomes pregnant not sure really, not that I’ve ever been pregnant mind you, so don’t think that about me, although it’s not like I don’t want a foal of my own I’m just not ready for a foal of my own yet but if I were to have a foal I would may…be have one with Master Sombra. I could see us ruling as king and queen but…. No…no…I gotta get those thought out of my head, bad twilight, bad twilight, no naughty thoughts, oh great look what I did I written all of that inside the book oh well I'll just edit these parts out (if I can last long enough before she returns) but..I…um…anyway I’m getting waaaaay off topic here.
Anyway I remember just standing there, staring at that dark abyss just trying to get my bearings on how this area actually worked and then saying to myself,
“This place it looks like it goes on forever. ”
“It does actually. ”
“Gah! ”
“Twilight relax it’s just me, sorry I scared you. I sometimes forget that when walking out here you hardly make a sound. ”
"As I said this place actually do go on forever and if you're not careful you can get lost, and trust me I've been there I wondered for hours trying to get back to the tower. "
"Then how did you get back? " I asked.
"Well luckily I always place a wavepoint so I can teleport my way back to where ever I was, no matter how far I've went. " He answered.
"W.wait, a Wavepoint what's that? " I asked him still confused.
"Ok, but first close your eyes. " I did as he asked. "Ok now picture a giant Hooftack placed in the middle of Ponyvile. "
"Wait a giant Hooftack? " I said to him
"Yes a giant Hooftack or a Railroad spike if you will, hmm.. now that I think about it yes a Railroad spike will make much more sense. Anyway now said Railroad spike is actually a bit of you magic given form. Now you're traveling to a far way place to lets say, um...oh Appleloosa. " Sparkshine said
"Ok. " I said still not getting where this was going.
"Now as you travel picture the distance between you and the Spike is a big rubber band and as you travel it's stretching longer and longer as you as you get further and further from it, until you reach Appleloosa. " Sparkshine said and swear I could feel him smiling as he is explaining this to me.
"Ok, so now what? " I asked as I started to what I thought I was figuring out where this was going.
"Now as you arrive there and you've done everything that you needed to do and you're planning on your return trip but realize you do not have enough bits for it, so what do you do? " He said.
:Hmm he mentioned the Railroad spike and a Rubber band being my travel distance, so there's gotta be a connection. Wait if I'm in Applelossa then..."
"Ah you got it now don't you. " Sparkshine said
"Yes I do. " I answered with so much confidence all the while puffing up my chest, "This is a trick scenario because the ticket would be a round trip one. "Well that maybe true Twilight but in this example no that's not answer. "
"What, but how is that wrong? "
"Twilight it's not that it's wrong, it's just not the scenario I've given you. " lowered his head and shook it slowly, "I can't blame you though. You've probably came up with that answer do to Celestia's method of magical training you and your way of going through your studies. "
"You're over thinking it Twilight, just think about everything I have just I told you. "
"The Railroad spike I would use that, I mean it's so simple. " I gave him a big smile "you said that it's my magic in a form right. "
"That's right, you're on the right track. " Sparkshine said
"So if it's my magic I should be able to trace it and use it to teleport. " I said.
"Exactly but not just any teleport, you would use a method that I like to call a snap teleport. " he said after giving me a little applause, but just then a something came to mind,
"Wait but that can't be right, even if i did use a teleportation spell I wouldn't have nearly enough magic to take me all the way back to Ponyvile, I don't think even the Princesses have that much magic for it, and even if i did I would be way too tired to do anything else. "
"Ah yes normally you'd be right, you wouldn't have enough magic just to make that long distance jump, but performing a snap teleport you would, you see.... " Sparkshine said, just then his horn glowed and out appeared a railroad spike, a barn and a little version of me just standing there in mid air between the both of us and continued,
"by using this method it's like you're creating another you in ponyvile which is basically telling your body and the world around you that you haven't even left from Ponyvile but in reality you have, and as you are traveling.... "
"you're creating a sorta link between you and your magic and as your traveling your extending that link,henceforth the giant rubber band reference. So once you've reach your destination you could use that link or trail to return to that very spot you placed it, just by tugging your link with your magic, in a sort of rubber band effect. "
"Wait, so what's to keep anything from interfering with the link? " I asked
"That's the marvelous thing about it, nothing can interfere with it, no pony walking through it, not a spell being cast on or near it's location, not even when you cause or during a snap back, in fact no pony can see or feel it but the caster. " Sparkshine said,
"Do you remember the training I had you do on teleporting when you were younger? "
"Bwha huh. I um I'm sorry can you repeat that, I was deep in thought. "
"The lessons on teleportation I was giving you when you were younger, do you remember it? "
"Yes of course I do. It was very hard to learn, being a filly at that age but I still learned it. Why, what does that have to do with this? "
"Well, you do know that once you teleport you leave an Ether trail right? "
"Well yeah. Any pony who's ever studied on teleportation spells would know that. " I quickly answered, "Once a teleport is triggered you don't just move from one place to another, you dematerialize yourself and enter into the Aether, once inside you travel through it until you reach the location you want to get to and re-materialize there. The trail is actually the movement that the caster makes within the Aether. I'm still not following on how this has to do with snap teleporting? "
"Ah but it has has everything to do with it, you see when performing the usual method of teleporting you leave that Aether trail, which any pony with enough knowledge on the matter can follow you through that said Aether trail, While using the snap Teleportation.... " Sparkshine paused for a moment as we reached the opened door of the tower, "I should come up with a better name for it, ah well that's not important right now back to what I was saying. When using a snap teleportation spell you're not traveling through the Aether, your traveling through your link to your magic anchor, so if you were to use it while being pursued no pony would be able to follow you due to you using your link and not leaving an Ether trail. "
"Is that why you brought me out here, to teach me on how to do that? " I asked him
"That is right my dear as of today I'm going to teach that spell. " Sparkshine said wearing his ever so warming smile.
"But.....I must tell you that it's extremely difficult to learn and even more difficult to master. Now I must ask you, do you think you you can handle it? "
"Yes. " I said with a serious look on my face.
"Are you sure now Twilight, once we start there's no turning back, I will not lie to you although the training of this will sound and seem easy but it truth it will physically and mentally be draining for you, it will take every once of strength and will power just to even get the process right. I must no I have to tell you not to agree with this so quickly and to think carefully on this, we still have time to do this after you mastered some of the other spells I have for you. " Sparkshine said.
:Am I really ready for this?:
:Can I do this?:
:If I fail on doing this will there be enough time to go over the other spells he has in mind for me?:
:Should I do this, I mean I've read enough books within the tower to fully prepare for any sort of training he would have for me, but the way he's telling me all of this makes it seem like it could be life threatening, so am I truly ready for something like this?:
"Yes I'm ready. "
"Good. Now come inside and we'll start the first step. " Sparkshine said as lead me back inside the tower.
The moment we walked inside it felt like a huge weight was lifted off me, like I was carrying a large boulder for so long and dropped it at the door step. My mind was clear again and I even felt lighter, hence my previous statement, all in all I felt like I was back to normal. We walked a little further from the open door to a writing table with one long drawer on the bottom of it and three smaller ones on the side, sitting on top of it were three glowing Crystal shards, that seemed to shift to many different colors in a little rhythmic symphony of their own little design. He looks them over and mutters to himself,
"Hmm one...two...three... should I use another one. "
"Ok, Let's use four just to be to be on the safe side. "
"No...no... not that one....hmm oh here's that ruby I was looking for. "
"How could he be so organized with his books but not everything else, maybe I should take some time to organize everything for him. "
"Ok Twilight we're gonna start here, first I want you to create a magic waypoint, it will take some time for you do it but I will know when you've done it. "
"Wait, how will you know if I've created one if you can't see it? " I said.
"Oh right I forgot about that, here let me show you. " He said
"There, now then that's how you create a waypoint out of your magic. "
"Um Sparkshine I don't see anything. "
"Oh right sorry I forgot only I can see it, hold on just a moment. "
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A darkness within a Twilight
Chapter 4: The hidden truth of the new teacher
The next few seconds seemed to move like hours for within the circle stood a glowing figure of a pony but just not just any pony it was Mr. Sparkshine height and all but it was ethereal. As I stared at the ghost like copy it blinked and wave at me like it was alive, I tilted my head as to study it, but it did the same in fact every action I've done it mimicked me from raising a foreleg to sticking out our tongues. I extended a hoof to poke it but before I could the ghostly copy quickly vanished with a low whoosh sound as if some pony blew a candle out. I looked around calmly and....ok I panicked and started looking around frantically, but calmed down when I noticed the shards were no longer changing to different kinds of blue but returned to shifting through all the colors of the spectrum. I glanced up to Mr. Sparkshine (hmm you know now that I think about it he did hate being call Mr due to it making him sound old and he had considered us equals as well as my mentor and friend so I should refer to him as just Sparkshine, heh although he is technically older if not a little younger than Sombra so oh well) and saw he had a fatherly smile and said
"That's how you do it, but I must says I am a bit rusty but.."
"Mr. Sparkshine!"
"Thank you Twilight, I'm fine now. I hope I didn't cause you to worry."
"What me, that's....that's..no forget about me what in the whole wide of Equestria happened!"
"One minute you're showing me how to create a Waypoint and the next you're having some sort of episode that causes to you be in pain, lose your balance and oh let's not forget about you fading away like you were vanishing out of existence."
"Twilight, that's not...." Sparkshine said but I quickly interrupted him so he wouldn't have time to retort back,
"No...no..no. Don't you go and tell me that it's not important or I shouldn't worry, I thought you were going to die!" I said to him.
"Well let me tell you something Mr. Sparkshine, to me it is important and I am going to worry."
"You may be my new teacher but you're something else to me, something more important than just that." I wiped the fresh tears and continued, "You're a friend, my longest and dearest friend who has been with me as a filly, a friend who played with me and listened to me talk about my hopes and dreams." I jabbed him again,
"I mean princess Celestia, the ruler of Equestria for over a thousand years, and the one mare that I idolized; who I truly respected wouldn't tell me, her own personal student about anything that should have been told, not about Sombra, or Discord." I chuckled, "She couldn't even trust me enough to know that she knew of Nightmare Moon's return, she even went as far as to dismissing my own thoughts of her return on the night of the summer sun celebration or even the fact that Nightmare moon, the mare of the moon was actually her very own sister and co-ruler of Equestria, by Tartarus she even used me just to save the Crystal Empire from King Sombra and then just threw me away like a wad of gum or a used tissue, and after all of that you're here by my side and I'm thankful for that." I wiped my head up to stare at him in the face with anger clearly written all over mine
"I understand Twilight but this is..." Sparkshine said but I didn't listen to him.
"And now you're telling me that what just happened I..I..should not even worry about it, and that it's not important. What, you expect me not to worry about it. Well, news flash Mr. Sparkshine, if you haven't figured it out yet I'm going to worry about it. Something is wrong and I think I have the right to know about it so I can help you."
"My dear Twilight you're right and I'm sorry about that, you have to understand for one who has been alone for so many years I have forgotten that my actions can affect others."
"This old stallion shall tell you everything, but first, come let's get some tea to calm ourselves hmm."
Moments later I'm sitting at a large wooden table on top of red fluffy cushion located in the middle of the living room, a small cup of tea in front of me giving off the aroma of some flavor that I could not place but it smelled nice. I grabbed the cup with my magic and took a sip, it was delicious but it gave me a hint of familiarity, I think I had this flavor of tea before with the princess. As I place the cup down I look in across from me, there was Sparkshine sipping tea from his cup with such finesse you'd think he was a Canterlot noble, Rarity would probably be head over hooves over him, well if he had on a fancy outfit. I chuckled to myself at that thought as Sparkshine finished his sip as said,
"Ah, Crystal Earl. After all these years you're still my favorite flavor, and always good to enjoy among friends and calm the nerves."
“Mr. Sparkshine I know you’re trying to stall on telling me on why that happened.“
“You are right Twilight I am stalling, not because I’m trying to hide anything from you, it’s just after all these years I still haven’t figured out if it’s true or not.”
“All these years I couldn’t find an answer to it but..." he paused, "No that's not quite right it's perhaps I’ve just been in denial of the truth that’s right been front of me, just been refusing to see it because of my long life of isolation in here in this place of great knowledge and wisdom."
"The truth was right there but I kept on pushing it away like it was nothing"
"Now that she saw it happen it's concrete now, there's no excuse."
"No this is not the time for that."
"I...I'm sorry Mr. Sparkshine I just didn't know what else to do, you were just losing yourself and have an episode and..and..I'm so sorry"
"You know if my wife was here knowing her she would have done the same thing and shout get a hold of yourself you moron."
"Are you alright Mr. Sparkshine?"
"Yes Twilight, and sorry about that but I am fine now and thank you I truly needed that."
"Once again I am truly sorry for that but it's because of what I'm about to tell you is the reason I was acting that way, and I just hope you don't think of me any different from how you are now."
"What, treat you any differently. Why would I do that" I asked with my head tilted
"It's because..well for you see..." Sparkshine started but he stopped,
"I don't think I'm the real Sparkshine."
"Wait what. Not the real you, you're not making any sense. Maybe it's the stress of everything that's getting to you, you should rest and..." I said but he quickly interrupted me,
"No not me, I mean I'm me but not the real Sparkshine, I believe I'm just a...a....a copy, or an imprint of the real Sparkshine."
"Before ask, no I'm not projecting myself to you and I'm not a ghost well I don't think so due to the fact ghost don't eat."
"I...I know that." I said with my cheeks puffed and crossed my forelegs and blushed slightly, "and besides, there are no such things as ghost."
"I wouldn't be so sure about that my student, one must see all this world has to offer before making an assumption like that," Sparkshine said with a chuckle but then his whole demeanor changed and with a heavy sigh he continued,
"Perhaps I should tell you about what happened after the whole incident with the princess"
"I've told you that I figured out a way to bring my tower here right?"
"Well upon entering I felt that something was wrong, not just with me but with the tower. So I searched around and found that three more floors had appeared, all filled with books that I've never seen nor collected. I quickly went outside the tower to check it's height, but once outside I saw that it was the same height from when I brought it here, the same five floors. It was baffling to say the least I chalked it up as this place following it's own rules, I went back inside and found that all of the furniture were rearranged." he let out sad chuckle as he continued,
"To see that happen in just a few short minutes I.... uh what was that word that your friend Rainbow Dash had said once, hmmmm ah yes I began to spaz out as it were. I didn't notice but I was slowly becoming unhinged as more and more unexplained things started to happen like I would write out formulas for spells I was developing, I would take my eyes away from it for a moment and then it would be either erased, finished or even completely changed into a whole new formula or when I made a sandwich and place it on the table one moment and then the next it would be moved to another place with a bite taken out of it."
Author's Note
Ok I know it's been so long and most of you may have forgotten about this story but you have to understand a lot of things kept pilling up especially work, and being that I work overnights is kinda hard for me to just take a few moments to write some of this chapter but I finally finished this chapter and going to start on the next one (on my day off cuz tomorrow I work and need some rest before work). For those who waited so patiently I wish to say thank you for sticking with me and to say that besides work I wanted to make this chapter longer but every time I came with something more to add I would have to change what I've written before it (
