Dance With The Devil Tonight
Twilight took a deep breath, looking at the mysterious object. It was still covered in the black cloth it had come in, and a note was taped to it. Celestia had sent her a package, but wouldn't say what it was. Curiosity overwhelmed her, and she took a note from the cloth.
Dear Twilight,
This object is by far the most important test you will ever face. Its magic is
far beyond even my comprehension, but it has a power. I need you to try and
defeat this power, but proceed with caution. Within this item are the most
dangerous enemies to any race. I know you can do this, but I hope I wasn't
too anxious to do this. But I need to know.
Your teacher and princess,
Celestia.
Twilight was indeed puzzled. What was it, and if Celestia couldn't comprehend it, how did she think Twilight had any chance? She would find out soon enough. But what were their greatest enemies? Tirek, Discord, the Nightmare that claimed Luna? It could be anything. Her house, at the request of Celestia, had been dimmed, and she had been told to go to a clearing by the Everfree. and Twilight had been ordered first to draw a pentacle, a sign of the five elements. Earth, Fire, Water, Air, and Spirit, on the ground in front of the mirror. She had been warned that it was crucial to the experiment, and she would fail without it, for only her Spirit could guide her now.
She took another deep breath, and uncovered the thing. Expecting come great box or portal, she giggled in nervousness when she saw it was only a mirror. The inscription on the glass said: venisti remanebis donec denuo completus sis: from whence you came, you shall remain, until you are complete again, which puzzled Twilight. What kind of test was this? The mirror was made of silver, and diamonds and pearls decorated the outside. As she looked in the mirror, she saw a shimmering shape appear. In time, it came into focus, and it was Twilight. But it moved on its own.
"Hello, Twilight Sparkle. Come in. Join us."
The voices came from the reflection, and Twilight struggled to make sense of the situation. Her hand touched the glass, but she would soon regret that. The reflection came out, and split itself threefold. Twilight gazed at them, stunned.
"We're you. We're the enemies your great ruler has tried so hard to destroy. The most dangerous threats to all races, and you now face us. You will need all your strength to fight us, mortal. Prepare to die."
The three clones aimed their magic, and flames encircled the area. So this was why Celestia had made her go to a open clearing, she was sending her to fight her battles. Twilight snarled, and charged them. The battle began. The clones drew great swords, and Twilight finally found her own. As soon as she drew it, one of the clones rushed
forward, sword poised to stab. Twilight only just got out of the way, and fire burst from the ground, finishing the circle. She was trapped now, and no way out could be found.
"Who are you! What are you doing!"
They chuckled. "We told you, we're your races worst enemies. Greed, fear and anger. We've destroyed your histories, and we'll destroy you too. Come dance with your demons, Twilight Sparkle."
The three turned into two, and charged at Twilight. Swords rang, and the sound of fire and steel could be heard from miles. Twilight had a realization: they were right. Discord, Tirek, Nightmare, Sombra... nothing compared to the evil of these beings. Physical damage could be repaired, but not damage of the mind. She parried a blow, and swung around to slash at her assailant's chest. She missed, but a small cut appeared over her heart.
"You think you can destroy us? We lived inside you all this time, and you set us free. Come now, haven't you ever wondered why Celestia sends you to fight her battles for her? She's a coward, and you're just a puppet, we're all just puppets!"
"Shut the buck up, you vile monsters!"
"You think petty insults bother us? We're the only enemy you can't beat, for we don't have any mass, or working organs. We may bleed, but we can't die. These bodies are just conduits for our desires. We dwell inside of you always, feeding off your anger, your hatred, your power lust."
Twilight went over the edge, pure rage in her eyes. She clicked her sword, snapping it in two down the middle. She jumped up in the air, and soon started spinning around. When she built up enough momentum, she sped towards the ground, and a small mushroom cloud appeared. When the dust cleared, however, they still stood, smiling, but their intestines showed a bit, hanging from their sides.
"We told you, you can't win. Accept your fate."
Twilight stuck again, and again, their swords ringing in the dead of night. Striking again, she whipped around, slicing the surface of its stomach. It laughed, and spoke again. "Accept it, you will one day grow to seek power and wealth. And what's to stop you? You could join us, rule with us, conquer other worlds, and all you need is to accept the reality, and take our hooves." They struck, trying to whip Twilight's sword from her hand. But Twilight grabbed their arm, twisting it, sending their knife flinging to the side. She held the apparition's wrist, and locked eyes.
"Never. Say goodbye."
Twilight struck, and split one of the apparitions in two. But it went into the other, and grew bigger. Twilight remembered a sizing spell, and grew to the same height. Fire rose up around them, and the apparitions continued their fierce assault. Twilight's double sword heated up now, and soon it birthed flames. The apparitions cackled madly, and a swarm of flame and darkness surged towards Twilight. She dodged, and the mass of death hit a tree, which immediately withered, and toppled into the flames. As they battled, a great comet surged over their heads, landing by them. And from the ashes rose a black smoke, suffocating everything. It was the epitome of hate. Twilight finally understood.
"I'll never have fear, and greed and anger will never win!"
"You're wrong. You're fighting with anger now. Do it, kill us, give in to your pathetic emotions. You want power, the throne of Equestria! Come on, you know you desire it! Give in! Celestia never helped you, she sent you to fight her battles! She cowered behind brick and blood, while you and your friends risked your lives! You know it's true. Join us, or suffer your inevitable end."
Twilight was filled with unadulterated anger, and with a loud scream, she surged forward, swords twirling by her sides. With one last flash of light, she struck the apparitions. A nova-like explosion was the result, and all was quiet.
When Twilight regained consciousness, she had the worst headache in the entire universe. She staggered to her feet, wondering what happened to the three beings. She finally knew what the greatest enemies were, and she knew there was nothing she could do to stop them. But then she heard a voice, and her body convulsed, and soon she had no control over it at all. Blood rivers appeared in her eyes, and her sight failed her.
"It's time for Chaos and Harmony to witness a revelation, Twilight Sparkle."
Dance With The Devil Tonight
Until We Succumb And Wither Away
Princesses Celestia and Luna had heard the news, and couldn't believe it. Celestia knew this could happen, but she needed to know for sure. If the enemy really could be suppressed. But it was not so. She grabbed her sword, prepared for a battle, but not with any normal enemy. This was her student, and she'd been corrupted with all the things she tried to evade.
"Princess Celestia, she's here!"
She looked at the guard, and her tears couldn't stay back. Her student was coming for her, and she had to stop it. But she couldn't stop her with death, not Twilight. She couldn't bring herself to part with her. But the time for thought was past, and she needed to act, not cower. She'd done enough of that. Her country needed her, and she would not fail them.
:::
She stood on the bridge, looking at Twilight. Her eyes had become black as night, with no signs of color anywhere. The smile on her face was pure evil, and Celestia grimaced. Seeing her student with this state of mind made her choke back tears.
"Hello, Twilight."
Twilight raised her head, gazing at Celestia. "Hello, princess. How have your pathetic lackeys been treating you? Have you come out to be reasonable, finally?"
Her voice echoed fourfold, and Celestia's eyes widened in terror. It was as she feared, the demons had lodged themselves in Twilight's soul. Celestia shed a tear, and raised her sword, trying to prepare herself.
"They've been alright. What business have you, creature?"
"You refer to your own student in such ways? We've come to give you your revelation you so wanted. Harmony is futile to accomplish. There can only be hatred, and with this, love and peace can never bloom. We'll destroy you and your pathetic little army of flies you call guards."
"Twilight, I'm sorry, but there's no other choice for me to make. Forgive me."
Celestia charged, and Twilight dodged to the left. Celestia twirled around to find empty air. Then Twilight appeared upside down in front of her. "Peekaboo!" Then disappeared again. Celestia knew this things mind games, for she had fought it a thousand years ago. The mind was a fragile thing, and subject to severe trauma. These demons had long been captured, for they were thought to be the worst evils in Equestria. And they were. Twilight jumped in the air, levitating, and sped down towards Celestia. A small mushroom cloud was formed, and in the wreckage, Celestia stood sword above head, blocking the blows of her student.
"Give in to your feelings, princess! You can't live without us, for Harmony consists of Chaos to counteract it all! It is the way of things!"
"Maybe where you're from."
Twilight swung again, throwing Celestia off balance. When she regained her composure, Twilight was running towards her. Celestia knew that to escape, she'd have to do something drastic, but at least her citizens would be safe. They struck and parried, and Twilight's eyes surged with electric anger and hatred. She led Twilight back towards a cliff, and they stood above the open chasm, spikes below. Twilight smiled with pure madness.
"I've been waiting so long for this."
She struck, and Celestia saw her opportunity. "You'll have to die with me, if you want to kill me." She grabbed Twilight's head, and flung themselves down to the depths. As they struck their blows, Celestia wanted things to rewind, to undo themselves, but it couldn't happen. It was too late. They sped down so fast that flames erupted around them, nearly consuming them.
"Twilight, I know you're in there. Come back!"
"She can't hear you, only the madness running through her skull."
Celestia almost filled with rage, but remembered her teachings. Such a move could be fatal. She struck again, and this time instead of parrying, she twisted the sword from Twilight's hand. She made sure Twilight got behind her, and prayed for guidance. She shed one last tear for the ones she loved, and the sword went through her.
:::
On the floor of the chasm, Celestia stood up, broken bones pressing against her internal organs. She looked around, and found Twilight's body to her left. Running over to her, she put Twilight's head in her hands, trying to revive her with magic. "Please, no, it wasn't supposed to end like this."
Twilight's eyes opened, and Celestia gasped in joy. The rage and greed were gone, and all that remained was remorse and sorrow. Twilight looked up into her mentor's eyes, and smiled. After a brief cough, Twilight found the strength to speak, one last time.
"Don't forget me, and destroy them all."
Author's Note
That was it, I suppose. This was a look into the multiple sides of our minds, and the struggles we face. Please review, and I hope you enjoyed. See you all for the next story.
