Separation

I originally thought my name was Shining Armor. It was the name I was given after all, as if my dad had high hopes for me. I was my own colt, being able to entertain myself when no one else was there. I thought it was just me, and to say it was lonely would be an understatement. It wasn't until little Twilie was born that things changed. I could simply say I wasn't lonely anymore now that I had a sister, but that would leave out the very important details.

I was her. When she was born, it was as if I was too. I was still Shining, I had my thoughts, memories, and everything. But now that this new life came into the world, my mind was split in two. I had her thoughts, her memories (however short they were). She was mine to control, just as I controlled myself. Originally I thought of her like a remote control toy, as twisted as it sounds, but I began to realize I was her. I was Twilight Sparkle, just as I was Shining Armor. Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle, we...well...I shared a conscious. Two ponies with one soul.

I shared the senses between my two bodies. Two senses of smell, touch, taste, sight, and sound. They overlapped each other constantly. I spent to first few weeks in seclusion. I would hide away, while I tried to figure this all out. If it was possible for a colt to go insane at such a young age, I'm pretty sure I did. In my lack of action I noticed there was no such thing as an auto-pilot, I couldn't let Twilight do her own thing, unless I wanted her to just stay motionless somewhere.

Sharing a conscious between two bodies is something impossible to describe perfectly. It wasn't something where I could simply “change channels” between the two. It was as if I had two televisions on different channels at the same time. Of course, over the years I got the hang of it. Needless to say, I'm a great multitasker now. One thing I never got used to, though, was both of me being in the same room. Seeing two versions of yourself, through two pairs of eyes, is maddening. Hugging, for instance, was unimaginably disturbing. I wouldn't have done it if I didn't have to hide this secret. No one knew, not even my parents.

I made use of it though. I naturally used Shining for more demanding tasks, as I was better connected with that form. He had been here longer. I had Shining studying some serious combat magic, and I went through some rigorous training through him. I enlisted in the guard, and made my parents rather proud in that fact. Then there was Twilight. Since she was born, and I was given her, I had this insane sense of curiosity. Not just of my situation, but of everything. That's how Twilight was put to use, she read and read and read. She study all other fields of magic, mainly trying to figure out how something like me could exist. Naturally my searches came up fruitless, but she was, and indirectly me, incredibly smart because of it. I was so obsessed with finding an answer I had her try out for Celestia's school for gifted unicorns. It was rather embarrassing, I won't lie. What was so scary about that situation was when she lost control of her magic.

I lost her for a minute.

I was focusing on her, while I was reading some military history through Shining, as I knew Twilight would need a lot of concentration for today. Suddenly a massive explosion of color ran through the sky. I shook in the tower while I was reading, rather unshaken as Shining. Twilight, however, lost all restraint completely. The next thing I knew my entire being was thrust back into Shining, as if Twilight had never been born. Naturally, I lost it. I started thrashing about, screaming at the top of my lungs, crying for my sister. I thought she had perished.

I ran outside and saw the tower she was testing in off in the distance. Massive lights were shining through the windows. Then a massive dragon broke through the ceiling. Had I not been disconnected from my other self, I probably would have laughed at that, as he looked rather silly. I was about to curl up and sob, mourning the loss of my other half.

Then she was back.

I had Twilight's senses back, and I saw that Celestia had saved her from whatever had happened. I sighed an incredibly heavy sigh before trotting over to my other self, not wanting to be far from Twilight anymore. Apparently in the chaos, she had earned her cutie mark. I was elated at this fact, aside from having her back. After all, not everypony gets a cutie mark a second time. On top of that, she had become the Princess's personal student. I was a prodigy twice over. Shining was the youngest Captain of the Guard in centuries, and now Twilight was the protege of Celestia. Damn was I happy.

After the test, I met myself and hugged tightly on to the other, never wanting to be separated like that again. Even though it was unnerving originally, I have never felt such comfort before or after. In that little span of time, I imagined the two as two different ponies, as if I was hugging my sister who wasn't me. No one can ever understand the strength I felt. Somewhere, in Twilight's subconscious, I could have swore I felt the same relief as my own, but it wasn't mine.

I rarely left my side from then on, often going on trips as “siblings.” That prospect confused me to no end. Ponies often told me that I was closer to myself than most other siblings. I wouldn't stay far away from my other self for anything.

Then it happened again.

On the night for the Summer Sun Celebration, I was sleeping as Shining, as I needed the rest for him for tomorrow. You see, whenever one body was asleep, I had full concentration on the other. So with Twilight having my undivided attention, I had recounted her day's events. Ponyville was a nice place, I had to admit. It sucked we had to be away from each other, but at least the carriage ride wasn't too long.

Throughout the day I had met some crazy mares in such a short amount of time, and now I was trying to shrug off the pink party pony, Pinkie Pie, who had invaded my new library home. I noticed the others were there too. Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Rarity. They were an annoyance, at the time. All I wanted to do was see if this library had anything to offer to my ongoing project of trying to figure out my situation. It would seem however I wouldn't get that chance. I was getting frustrated at the loud noise going on that it almost woke Shining. I retreated to the room upstairs to see if I could get some rest. However, Spike informed me that wasn't going to happen, but he let me be. I looked outside at the moon. I still found myself worried about what the book had said.

Once it was time to watch the sun rise, I found myself in Ponyville's town hall. What was odd was I found myself hoping to see Shining there with the guard. I knew I was asleep in my other body and knew that wouldn't happen. I hoped to have both of me there because of the prophecies. Once Twilight read that omen, I grew paranoid, and it showed. Celestia had assured me, both of me, that I had nothing to worry about. Sure enough, she appeared despite Celestia's promises. Shining woke up instantly, and I tried to scrambled some troops while I held things off in Ponyville. She was confident, that much was sure, but if anyone was going to stop her it was going to be me, Twilight or Shining. Nightmare Moon made her little declaration that the night would last forever, and took off toward the Everfree Forest. Once I got home I put Spike to bed. I was interrupted searching through a book by those crazy mares, Rainbow Dash even accusing me of being an accomplice. I told them about the Elements of Harmony I had studied earlier. I told them to meet at the entrance of the forest.

This gave me time in Canterlot to conduct a search for Celestia. I had squads check every single corner of the city for her. I searched through Twilight's memories for anything to do in this kind of situation. If Celestia had a hiding spot, if something was supposed to happen to her, anything. Nothing came up, not from the memories or the guards. Sighing in defeat, I decided these Elements would be Equestria's only hope. I retired back into Shining's quarters again and focused on Twilight.

I met with the other mares near the entrance and we began our trek. These new friends of mine proved incredibly helpful, and I'm glad they were there to save my flank a number of times. We had only met that day and their personalities were almost clear to me. I trusted them, and they trusted me. I remember Applejack's honesty, as she saved me from falling to my death. Something I'll have to thank her for later. Fluttershy's kindness was something I respected, a few of Shining's guards could learn a thing or two. Pinkie Pie, as it turns out, is actually rather funny. That, or she's insane. Either way, she was definitely a good singer, and got us out of a pretty creepy section of the forest. Rarity was a beautiful mare, and I'm certain, had I experienced this through Shining, I would have been attracted to her. She was pretty and she knew it. Despite this, she actually gave away her tail to a sea serpent we met along the way. I was stunned honestly. Rarity had certainly gained my respect after that. Then came Rainbow Dash. At a broken down bridge keeping us from the castle, she flew across to tie it at the other end. Nightmare Moon must have caused some sort of illusion.

Beforehand, when I first met her, Rainbow Dash had mentioned how it was her dream to join the Wonderbolts. I had actually met them a few times through Shining, and I liked them a bit. Seeing her in their ranks would be quite the sight. From what I could see from the other side of the gorge, it would seem as if a few Shadowbolts were trying to recruit her. Shadowbolts, haven't seen them outside of history books. If they were talking to Rainbow, I knew we were screwed. To my shock, and pleasant surprise, she actually came back to us, bridge repaired. I really had to stop underestimating these mares. I made a mental note to introduce her to Shining.

The six of us reached the castle ruins where the Elements were supposed to be. Five in total, I just needed to figure out what the sixth one was. Fluttershy and Rainbow brought them down to us. I laid down on the floor and focused my magic, warning them that I had no idea what i was doing, and I heard them make their exit. I was so busy trying to make a spark, I hadn't noticed Nightmare Moon begin to steal the balls of stone right in front of me. I jumped in after her, teleporting to another end of the castle ruins. I was dazed for a second before I saw her, holding the Elements on the other side of the chamber. I wasn't going to take her shit, so I got ready to charge her.

“You're kidding. You're kidding, right?” I remember her saying. Oh no, I was not. I galloped after her and she did the same, ready to engage in a little joust. I instantly teleported behind her to the Elements. I focused magic, trying again to desperately cause some sort of reaction out of them. The last thing I remember was it starting to work, then I was hit with what I can only describe as feedback from the Elements.

Then she was gone.

I woke up instantly, now back in Shining's quarters. That sickening feeling of loneliness came again full force. I was paralyzed, my heart and insides felt like they were going to implode. The air above me felt like multiple ten-ton boulders crushing me. The emptiness I felt in my heart was killing me. It felt as if my soul had been cut in half. My mind was reeling in horror at what had just happened, and I feared for Twilight's life. I managed to calm myself, if only slightly, and waited for her senses to come back to me.

They never did...