Magic's Return

by Twilight Nightmare

Rating: teen
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, Dark, Alternate Universe, Human, Sad, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 5078

Equestria Girl's is a unviverse without magic...so how could the girls have the power of the Elements of Harmony? It isn't because of Twilight and the Element of Magic. There is much more going on than anyone may realize.

Equestria Girl's is a unviverse without magic...so how could the girls have the power of the Elements of Harmony? It isn't because of Twilight and the Element of Magic. There is much more going on than anyone may realize.

There are many secrets in the world of Equestria Girls, many of them centering around a single girl...Twilight Sparkle. Now things are coming to a head and everyone wants Twilight for their own agenda including an abusive father, princesses who split time between ruling a kingdom and running a private school and a group of girls who claim to be her friends though she never met them. Can Twilight trust any of them or would she be better off on the streets where she had been in hiding for months?

(Warnings: Though this story doesn't have anything graphic, it will have mentions of child abuse and possibly some minor cussing.)

Author's Note: This was Twilight's Nightmare, but I wasn't really too happy with the name for the story though at the time I just couldn't come up with a better one until now. Is there anyone willing to donate cover art for the story?

Published 2014-09-12 13:10:03 UTC
Last updated 2014-09-18 03:34:46 UTC

Chapter 1

Twilight’s Nightmare

The night air was cool and crisp as the rainstorm that just passed through earlier had cooled off the warm summer day making it a little more chill than it normally was. For most people it didn’t matter as one way or another they had shelter where they retreated from the storm and was more than content to stay in their shelters to relax and get ready for bed. Some sat around warm fires drinking hot cocoa while others took a nice hot bath and prepared for bed.

For one person though, she didn’t have the luxuries that so many others in Canterlot took for granted. Instead she had to go out in the cool white air as flashes of lightning arced high overhead as the loud booming thunder made her even more jumpy than she normally was. She had to be careful seeing how thanks to that little brat a few days earlier the police was looking for her.

She wasn’t trying to steal anything from what was probably the wealthiest family in Canterlot besides the princesses, it was trash. Yet the little brat started yelling for her father and he chased her off yelling about calling the cops. And she was sure that he followed through seeing how two cops since then had both chased her though she thankfully gave them the slip. It wasn’t as if it was too hard for her thanks to all the experience she had with it over the last year.

Still, getting caught by the police would mean a punishment far worse than jail or juvie. It would mean going back to her father who was a cruel, controlling man behind closed doors while out in public he showed a far softer side to keep up appearances in public seeing how he was an advisor to the princesses and did all the bookkeeping on their academy that they personally ran. He was all smiles and jokes around them yet as soon as he came home he started in on the insults…then the beatings.

For months she put up with it all, even after her mother abandoned her with the man and ran off to Cloudsdale saying she couldn’t put up with it anymore. In the end she had to follow her mother’s footsteps…except she was only sixteen and she learned the first time the police picked her up that it was a huge mistake to let them catch her. She pleaded and begged with them not to take her back home, told them what her father did to her. They didn’t even bother trying to listen or even pretend to care, instead they delivered her to her father who thanked the officers and as soon as they left turned his attention on her. Attention that caused bruised ribs, a black eye, split lip and she was sure at least some fracturing of bones as it took weeks to not wince in pain every time she tried to pick something up.

As soon as she was able to, she ran again though this time she was much more careful about being caught meaning that she slept during days making sure to switch places every few days. Mostly she slept behind supports of bridges or overpasses, in abandoned buildings or even a few condemned buildings where no one was around until it was time to tear the places down. A part of her sometimes wished they would bring the building down while she was asleep and end the misery that had become her life.

Looking in the darkened window of a store, the light from a streetlamp giving enough light to see her reflection looking back in it. She looked horrible; clearly malnourished though her clothes weren’t doing so well either since she was down to this last set thanks to someone stealing her backpack that had a few spare sets. Her grey hoodie zipped up and hood pulled up, though some strands of her hair could be seen still. It, much like her eyes seemed so dull compared to what they once looked like. It had several stains on it and the right sleeve’s stitches were coming undone at the shoulder showing a peak at the violet shirt underneath. Even though she preferred skirts she wore a ratty pair of jeans that had seen better days and was in a serious need of a washing machine if not a bonfire. Her boots were actually the only article of clothing that faired decently since the last time she ran from home and seemed to still have their color to them with little damage to them.

“Well Twilight, what do you want to do for dinner?” She asked herself, knowing that nobody would answer. It was a stupid question though seeing as how she could either find a good restaurant to dig through their trash or steal something. She hated digging through trash but hated stealing even more despite what the brat and her father claimed. Yet it was so disgusting digging through the trash at times, though she could often find something that was actually pretty much intact with no other trash in it. Much like the boxed take out that was sitting on top of that rich family’s garbage can.

“Well darling, you could join us if you want.” A voice said from, behind her. “It looks like you and your…clothes…could use something warm and refreshing.”

Twilight spun around, her hood sliding off as she did to stare at a group of girls and an older man that looked very familiar. Her hair spilled out around her face, a few inches above her shoulders and very uneven after she had to hack some off after getting gum stick in it. It only took a moment for her to realize who the man was making her take a step back. He wasn’t in uniform but the man was most definitely the police officer who almost actually caught her.

“Twilight?” A soft spoken voice asked in shock and concern which confused Twilight as she never meet these girls in her life. Her father kept her locked in the house most of the time home schooling her and not allowing her to socialize. Even before he got violent like he did he kept Twilight shut up as much as possible.

“You’re that kid from the other night.” The man said taking a step toward her.

“Sugar, what happened to you? Is Spike with you?” The blonde girl with a southern accent asked reaching out a hand towards Twilight who backed away from it.

She wasn’t sure how they knew Spike, but it made her wonder if they were close to her father somehow. It was the only way they would know about the cute little puppy her mother bought her for her birthday a few years ago. He was such kind, loving energetic puppy until her father killed the poor thing. It was something she hated the man for and never forgave him.

“I know you didn’t steal anything kid, but you can’t stay out here on the streets. It dangerous enough as it is, but even worse for a young girl like yourself.” The man said softly, concern in his voice though Twilight knew better. He would just take her back to her father no matter what she told him or how much she begged.

“I’m not going back to him!” Twilight snapped out just as the man got close enough. He must not have expected anything because he didn’t even try to block her from bringing her knee up to meet his groin. With a pained gasp he doubled over holding himself while the girls gasped out in shock. Twilight gave them one last look before spinning away and sprinting as fast as she could away from the group before the overcame their shock or the man overcame the pain he was in.

Author's Note

This is the first chapter that will possibly end up being 2 different stories. If everyone likes the first one I'll probably do a second, one being humans in a slightly modified EG universe and the other being ponies in the FIM universe.

There will be some slight changes to the universe listed below.

Luna and Celestia are princesses, but the do also run the Academy which is Canterlot High. It is something nobody really understands, but they love interacting with the children. They may also have an ulterior motivation as to why they run the academy personally, but no one really knows beyond speculation.

I tried finding information about the ponies families, but all I could find was on Wiki and some of it wasn't all that helpful. So I will try to use some of their names, but some of the families will be different from canon such as Twilight's father being the way he is.

Rainbow Dash's father is a police officer, a high ranking one at that though he had never met Twilight until recently as the last time Twilight had a run in with them some other officers took care of it.

Chapter 2

There were simply not too many things that scared Night Light, but one of the few things that did just sat down in the plush leather chair opposite of him across his desk in his home office. It was the man singly responsible for all of his wealth and good fortune as well as being the man he blamed for ripping his family apart. He knew it was his own doing, driving his wife and eldest away and faking his own daughter’s death to the woman. They were some of the few people who actually knew the truth about real magic and as far as Twilight Velvet knew their daughter was completely vaporized in one of Night Light’s experiments. In an attempt to escape from him and his experiments to protect Shining Armor from falling to Twilight Sparkle’s fate.

It had been over a year, almost a year and a half if he counted the few days she was returned thanks to two of his thralls from the police force and royal guard. Despite his attempts to reassert control over his daughter through the only way he knew how since the girl was immune to all of his attempts to control her through magic, she still escaped a few days later. The only positive side to all of it, as far as he could tell, he had managed to get a simple spell to work that would compel her to stay in the local area that consisted of all of Canterlot and the small town that many actually mistaken for part of the royal capital named Ponyville.

“Any luck tracking your little brat down?” The man wearing a dark blue suit asked as he relaxed, steepleing his fingers to shot Night Light a stern look.

“Not as of yet sir, I believe the spell to compel her to stay in the area took hold though.” Night Light said as he tugged nervously on his collar. This man before him was the one who granted him power and taught him everything he needed. He was able to see some glimpses into the future and even though Night Light thought him to be crazy at first, a few painful examples convinced him that the man was on the level. Even still, Night Light was doubtful when the man explained Twilight Sparkle’s future and how it would help the men overthrow the kingdom.

The man calling Twilight Sparkle a brat though angered Night Light despite the fact that he had called her much worse. In fact some of the things he had done to Twilight Sparkle the last few years sickened him…but he reminded himself it was him or her. Twilight would suffer by his own hand or his lord before him would end his existence and the pain that he put his daughter through would look like heaven in comparison. Or at least that was what he tried to tell himself in order to banish the guilt he felt over it since he did care for his daughter. Or at least he knew he did at one time…

“And you believe this why?” The man asked, arching an eyebrow as he studied Night Light with a dark look. “Surely you aren’t trying to waste my time or worse yet, betray me.”

“With all due respect sir, you know of my daughter’s resistance to mind altering magic. I tried compelling her to stay here in the manor, but the magic required was too much as her subconscious wants to escape her so much. It didn’t take much to compel her to stay in the area thanks to the old woman she said taught her to live on the streets. And every tracking spell I tried to place on her ended in failure, often times backlashing on me.” Night Light said, rubbing his eyes as he remembered his daughter’s screams of mercy the last time he saw her. “The only way I had of trying to control her is instilling enough fear into her that she wouldn’t dare go against me…as per your orders.”

“I have new orders for you. Find the brat and call me, I will send a doctor over.” The powerful man smirked making Night Light shiver.

“Doctor Sir?” Night Light asked, confusion and fear for his daughter making his voice sound unsure which made the man frown.

“The girl needs to be alive for our plans to work. She doesn’t need her legs.” The man smirked again, his eyes blazing with power as if expecting the outburst from the father who slammed his hands down on the desk angrily.

“You can not be serious!” Night Light shouted before realizing what he was doing. It was too late though as pain shot through his mind causing him to collapse on the ground. His mind going blank as he felt his Lord’s power washing through him, both punishing and washing away any rebellious thoughts. A few moments later Night Light stood, straightening his own clothes as he bowed to the now smiling man sitting there. His voice seemed devoid of emotion at first as he continued, but quickly grew back to normal as his mind banished everything but the pain from his thoughts leaving behind an anger at his daughter for causing this. A dark thought whispering that it was her fault and she would suffer for it. “It will be done my Lord, the little brat will pay for thinking she can escape the Night.”

“Good, make sure it is done.” The man in the chair said before turning into a black cloud and drifting from the room leaving Night Light to prepare another search for his daughter. She would pay for her insolence and he would enjoy every second of it.

XXXXXXXXXX

Twilight Sparkle sat huddled in the dirt under the bridge that supported the monorail that provided quick transportation around Canterlot. She guessed it was made to keep the system from blocking street level traffic, but for it provided some shelter in several areas away from the main part of the city. It kept most, but not all of the rain and wind off her, though if there was too much rain she would be hard pressed to stay out of the gathering water. Right now it was mostly muddy except for the small patches of dray ground right up against the thick supports which she rested pulling her legs up to her chest.

It would be another night without food, something she was growing used to despite the pangs from her stomach demanding to be fed. It was why she was forced to eat from trash cans and dumpsters as the old woman who insisted on being called Nana taught her. The old woman had taught her all she needed to know about surviving on the streets which was gross, but the woman explained was a necessity. There weren’t many homeless really so there weren’t really any shelters or anything. The only few people who were homeless was homeless by a combination of choice and situation. Twilight’s own reason was either stay home and be abused by the monster that was her father or be free of him. There were no other choices as she learned she couldn’t trust the police, not that she really trusted anyone except for Nana. Trust was something she just couldn’t afford.

“Twilight!” The voice called again making the girl look up in shock. She was sure she escaped the rainbow haired girl. She wasn’t sure how the girl knew her, but the only explanation she had was the persistent girl was one of her father’s cronies. One of the people she knew was looking for her as a few had chased after her before.

Hugging her knees tighter to her chest she prayed that the girl wouldn’t come this way as Twilight was tired. She didn’t really feel that she had the strength to go on any longer, barely able to get to her feet if she tried. Maybe if she actually had food she might have more energy, but she was feeling a little dizzy on top of feeling weak.

“Please go away, please go away, please go away…” Twilight kept whispering to herself. No matter how many times she repeated it, the rainbow haired girl didn’t go away. In fact she ran into the area before spotting her and huffing in annoyance.

“I’m not going to hurt you, but I’m not going away until you talk to me Twilight.” The girl said as she stomped up to twilight and crossed her arms. Somehow Twilight knew the girl was telling the truth so sighed knowing it was useless to try and run now. Maybe if she rested and talked to the girl a few minutes she could buy time until she regained enough strength to try running again. If she was lucky she could even get the rainbow haired girl to drop her guard long enough to escape.

“I don’t care what you say, I’m not going back!” Twilight spit out angrily giving the rainbow haired girl a sharp stare. “I will never go back to my father, so tell him to leave me alone!”

“Whoa there girl, I don’t know what your talking about.” The girl said waving her hands in a defensive way as she shook her head. Her jaw dropped as if realizing something. “Your dad…does he hurt you? My dad is the chief of police, he can help you.”

“Yeah, just like they helped me last time? Going to drag me back kicking and screaming again?” Twilight snorted in derision at the girl. As if the girl’s father would help…

“Look, we got off on the wrong foot I think. My name is Rainbow Dash.” The rainbow haired girl said giving an encouraging smile, even if she looked a little awkward as she reached out her hand to shake. At first Twilight intended to slap the hand away, but she tentatively reached up and took it, a spark of something shooting through both girls. Both yanked their hands back staring at them in shock trying to figure out what happened.

“That was a heck of a static shock.” Rainbow Dash laughed nervously as she scratched the back of her neck.

“Yeah.” Twilight said, her head spinning even more before the world seemed to grow blurry. The next thing she knew she was tipping over as everything grew dark.

Chapter 3

“Did you feel it?” Luna asked anxiously as she walked briskly into her sister’s private office in the palace. It was where her older sister spent a lot of time when in the palace and not holding court or seeing to visiting dignitaries. The room was filled with so many book cases it usually made Luna’s head spin just seeing all of the titles…many of them most believed to be fairy tales.

“I did sister, but I must caution you against getting your hopes up.” Celestia said turning from the window where she was watching out the window when Luna came storming in. The older woman had a worried look on her face as she looked compassionately at the younger sister.

Luna knew the look very well as Celestia often wore it when dealing with Luna their past few lives and still did even in this one. Unlike most humans, Celestia and Luna were different. They always had at least ten years difference in age and traded the position of elder sister with each life. Though very few knew the truth, Celestia and Luna were always reborn with all of their memories intact and kept ruling their country with a compassionate yet stern attitude. Everyone was pretty much happy with their rule believing it to be a royal family instead of basically the two being reborn every time they died. Only a few dark elements resisted their rule.

It should have been three of them though, and for years it had been back when the world was full of magic. Until their youngest sister, the one most gifted, decided she had enough. She wanted to find a way to end their curse and either stay young and alive…or pass on to Heaven. Something they all knew was real after the tragedy that was the fall of magic and the near destruction of the world. Their youngest sister was tempted by promises of a demon claiming to be something much different and by the time anyone realized what was going on their poor sister was corrupted and didn’t want redeemed. Their sister tried to take over the world, or destroy it. She wasn’t happy with the land they ruled and intended to take it all herself.

Their sister’s thirst for darkness sparked a war killing perhaps thousands as she was nearly impossible to stop. She was the most gifted before joining forces with the demon, but when the two merged into one being…into Nightmare Moon…she was a force that seemed impossible to stop. It was funny that it was a being of chaos, one of the few creatures known only as ‘the others’ as they weren’t human, angel or demon. They were something much different from the time when angels walked the earth physically next to humans and bore children together. Those children went on to be with demons yet mixing their blood even more making something that was all three at the same time…and yet they were none of them according to all tests done on them. They were very powerful and most were hunted to extinction except for a few that survived somehow.

“I won’t sister, but we owe it to her to look into it. What if I’m right and she is out there. After all…her counterpart visited here just a few short months ago.” Luna said softly. Of course she also knew that while both worlds shared so many similarities, there were so many differences to. Instead of their youngest sister merging with a demon, it was Luna who did it. It was Luna who…killed their youngest sister in the middle of the battle on accident and it was Celestia who used forbidden magic to send their sister to reincarnate without memories.

Luna believed whole heartedly that their sister was alive in this world, it was why she convinced her sister to open the Academy. Invitations to attend were only given to those who possessed a spark of magic within them though most would not be able to access it. It let the sisters overlook the students and watch for one that could contain their sister’s spark…their sister’s soul.

There were reasons Luna believed her little sister survived though. The sisters had found all of the research done and the theories behind the spell. There was a very good possibility that their little sister’s soul was ripped in half, Luna hoping that the light half being sent to be reborn while they knew the dark half merged fully with the demon. It was why Nightmare Moon was cruel and vicious. It took a trap and a whole army to corner Nightmare Moon, though they still couldn’t kill her. They were able to trap her in the Moon though Nightmare Moon had the last laugh. The demon had sealed the world’s magic away in a last act of defiance. While the most powerful and gifted could still use magic, it was so much weaker than it should be and many thought it was just parlor tricks.

Celestia on the other hand believed that their little sister was fully consumed by the demon and wasn’t coming back. It wasn’t that she didn’t love their sister, but she was much more pessimistic about the whole situation after searching for nearly a thousand years and about a dozen lifetimes. The academy was Celestia’s last attempt as she made Luna to agree to stop trying if they couldn’t find their sister. She believed that in looking for someone who likely wasn’t there, it was only hurting Luna and Celestia when they failed to find anything.

“I love her to Luna, I want it to be her.” Celestia sighed as she rubbed her eyes. “There is another possibility though. One I don’t want to believe, but one we must prepare for just in case. Our world can not face her again if she breaks free…and if this is her power that we felt, we may all be in serious danger.”

“Nightmare Moon can’t escape, the spell holding her sealed away would have to be removed from the outside. And how can someone get to the moon to undo it?” Luna said as she picked up a pewter statuette from her sister’s desk and inspected it. It was a strange creature to be sure, one that made her think of an old acquaintance who could be a friend one moment and an enemy the next. It resembled a dragon meshed with several other animals. She had no idea why it reminded her of the man that she once knew, but something about it just seemed to be smirking at her. The same smirk she once swooned over.

“You know as well as I do that there are other ways to undo the spell.” Luna admonished.

“True sister, but who would have the power to do so? After all it would take both of us together to undo the lock with our diminished power. How could someone else manage it?” Celestia said making a point. With a majority of the world’s magic sealed with the demon, how could someone break the seal? Who would be stupid enough to do it?

Of course the sisters were also worried about over events, such as the Sunset Shimmer debacle not too long ago. They had to use magic to wipe everyone’s memory of that night while leaving the girls who were directly responsible to remember everything and become personal students to the princesses.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

“Wha…where am I?” Twilight mumbled as she slowly woke up, a painful throb behind her eyes as she looked around. She was in a warm, soft bed in a dark room which didn’t bode well for her. As fear began gripping her heart as she started to get out of bed, a voice stopped her.

“Glad to see you awake, we were worried about you.” A familiar voice said with worry as a light was switched on making Twilight squint while her eyes adjusted. The rainbow haired girl’s form slowly started taking shape as Twilight’s eyes readjusted to the sudden shift of light.

“Where am I?” Twilight asked softly, still feeling fear as she studied the girl before her. There was something about the girl that made Twilight want to trust her, she could almost feel a sense of…loyalty? coming from the girl.

“You’re in my room.” The rainbow haired girl said as she leaned back against a wall and crossed her arms. Twilight couldn’t help admiring all of the trophies and sporting equipment spread throughout the room. She personally preferred being surrounded by books, but this room seemed to suit this girl somehow. “Don’t worry, after my mom looked you over and said you would be okay, my dad decided not to do anything until he talks to you.”

“What if I don’t want to?” Twilight asked softly making the girl before her snort.

“What? You want to go back to the street or back to whoever gave you all that damage?” The girl asked shaking her head. “Look girl, I don’t know what happened to you but I have a good idea. One of my friends went through the same crap and I bet all my trophies that something similar happened to you.”

“What do you mean?” Twilight asked relaxing a little, letting a little hope fill her. If it was true then they may really help her. They would know what it was like and might really try and help her. Then again she wasn’t sure if she could really trust them, especially if that cop really was related to the girl.

“One of my friends was abused for years before her family moved here. She was so shy when we met her, and still kind of is. Her dad is rotting in jail though now and my friend is staying with another friend.” The girl said shaking her head while she ran her fingers through her hair before offering her hand to Twilight. “Look, just give us a chance and I promise you that everything will be okay. My name is Rainbow Dash.”

“My name is Twilight Sparkle.” Twilight said softly reaching out to take rainbow’s hand who pulled her to her feet.

“Come on, I’ll get you some clothes and show you the bathroom to get cleaned up. While you do, I’ll go have my mom make us something to eat.” Rainbow said giving Twilight a reassuring smile.

“Okay.” Twilight said softly, unsure if this was a good idea. She didn’t really feel that she could trust them while at the same time something about rainbow screamed loyalty which was setting Twilight at ease a little bit. That, and the promise of a warm bed and some food she didn’t have to scavenge was so tempting as her stomach growled making her blush in embarrassment.