The shadow that lurks behind death

“Death can take many forms, some of which many do not understand or agree upon but are inevitable none the less. In our very last moments, where do we go?  That is a question that’s eluded us since time began. Where do you think we go?”

One year after the defeat of King Sombra…

“Spike, oh Spike! Can you hand me the book on advanced magic?” Twilight asked with an excited smile.

“Why do I have to do it now Twilight? I need to hurry and get to Rarity’s before she leaves for the fashion show.” Spike whined gritting his teeth.

“Can you please just bring it down before you leave? I've been studying King Sombras magic lately and --”

“Yeah, yeah i get it big breakthrough, important magic blah blah blah.”

Spike said as he walked over and handed Twilight the book.

“Thank you Spike. You can go now.” she said with a happy grin..

Spike ran out the door and down the road towards the boutique.

“Now I can focus on counteracting Sombras magic and finding a way to use it!” Twilight exclaimed as she opened the book.

She brought over the crystalline like shard left from the remains of King Sombras horn and examined it closely. She looked over every crack and divot in it to see how his dark magic worked when he was once alive, calculating what to do next in order to find what she needed.

"I can just feel it this time, this has got to work! Lets see now, I've checked over the spell... checked the mass of the shard…” Twilight continued listing all she needed done to prepare for this pacing back and fourth.

"Alright, here we go." Twilight readied herself as she began to build up the powerful magic she needed to use the spell. A bright

purple aura appeared around her and slowly grew brighter and brighter until there was a loud deafening crack in the room.

Twilight opened her eyes to see the remnants of the horn brighten almost as if she released all evil from the remains of Sombra.

Twilight looked almost ecstatic at what she’d done and said “I finally found a way to reverse dark magic!”

She panted heavily as she tried to regain her breath then it hit her, Princess Celestia had said this would be rather dangerous to

work with yet it seemed so easy as it only took her a week to have a break through. It was almost too easy.

With the remaining energy Twilight had, she tried to move over to the shard to see how her masterpiece unfolded. She tried to move but couldn't. Something was wrong but she wasn't sure what. She looked the room for any hint of what was happening as her

vision slowly grew darker. Suddenly, she noticed her horn had turned as black as the night sky.

She panicked, trying frantically to move. Her body was growing colder, and her vision continued to fade, as her lavender eyes began to turn blood red, then black. She was growing weaker by the second she had to do something, anything to get help so she

screamed as loud as she could.

“Help! Please, anyone!” she coughed as the darkness continued to overtake her, “Please help me! Something's wrong!”

Twilight’s throat was raw and in pain, she could no longer scream, and began to cough up blood. She continued to panic more and more still growing weaker. She fell to the ground dazed, confused, and terrified. Then there was only blackness.

10 Min before…

“Gosh darnit Rarity! How much longer do I need to stand still? My legs are going numb.” Applejack protested.

“Oh you worry too much darling, I’m finishing my masterpiece now. Just a few… more… and there we are!” Rarity exclaimed with an elated grin.

“Finally! Now can I get out of this consarnit thing and go home? I already missed a lot of my apple bucking and need to catch up if were gonna be ready for winter." Applejack said through an angry glance.

“Yes, yes darling you may go. I will be inclined to tell you all about the--” Rarity was cut off by a slight knocking at the door she could tell immediately who it was before she even opened it.

“Spike! How nice to see you how come. You're so late we only have mere minutes to board the train.” Rarity said as she realized more time had passed then she thought.

“Twilight held me back to help her with some last minute additions to a spell shes working on. She believes she can reverse the dark magic in Sombra's horn” Said Spike mimicking Twilight's voice.

“I was wondering why I hadn't seen Twi in a couple days figured she’d be stuck in a pile of books again but this seems more important” Applejack mentioned with a curious look on her face.

“Yeah the princess says it real dangerous but it seems like just a piece of a horn to me.” Said spike smirking slightly.

“Ya think she’d mind if I went and helped her Spike?” Applejack asked.

“Nah, she’d probably be overly happy about any help she could get on this. She’s been really stressed lately because of it”. Spike answered.

“Alright well, have fun at the show then. Imma go see if Twi needs any help with this.” Applejack informed.

“Will do darling. When we get back I will tell you all the details.” Rarity promised as she began to walk away.

“Can’t wait!” Applejack exclaimed with a strained smile.

Applejack began the walk to Twilight's library, moving at a leisurely pace when she heard a scream! She looked around not sure who made such a high pitched cry for help. Then she heard it again, this time far more clearly, and in a voice she recognized. She began sprinting to Twilight's  place hoping it was but a mere accident trying her new spell.

Applejack burst through the door looking around the room and instantly spotted a dark figure, one that she recognized only by the shape. It was Twilight, her body was covered in a shadow-like aura, with only her horn and eyes visible. A crimson pool swirled around her head. Almost on instinct Applejack grabbed Twilight and through her onto her own back and sprinted towards the hospital, hoping the best for her friend. She couldn't help but wonder what Twilight could have done in order for this to happen to the lavender mare.

Applejack remembered what Spike had said earlier, “Sombra's horn, the princess said it was dangerous, but how could a dead ponies horn could be so dangerous?” She muttered as she weaved through crowds with her friend on her back. They arrived at the hospital moments later where a pair of nurses took Twilight into an urgent care room.

All Applejack could do now was hope for the best. She didn’t understand what had happened to Twilight, and it worried her. Then it hit her like a ton of bricks, she was trying to reverse dark magic.

“Reverse dark magic, reverse dark magic...” Applejack kept muttering to herself in a quiet tone.

Applejack was in awe at what had just occurred. Fear for her friends life filled her completely.

Twilight had a face as white as death, things like this rarely occured in Ponyville. All around Applejack doctors were bustling to help those in need. The last thing she heard when they took Twilight was a call for the nurse and the faint squeak of the wheels on the bed.

"I need to find the others" Applejack said with a look of terror on her face as she feared the worst for her friend.