A Twilighted Darkness

  "Ah... Ah don't believe mah eyes." Applejack had the weirdest day yet. She had just told how her parents died to everyone, and then poof, they just appear behind Flim and Flam. A weird day was an understatement for AJ, yet she was happy anyway. She now had her parents back alive after 10 years of sadness. "Mah parents aren't dead!" She went up and gave them a hug, as everyone clapped for the reunited family.

  Big Mac and Granny Smith came out to see what was happening, and they couldn't believe their eyes. "Big Mac, I think I've gone crazy!"

  Big Mac pinched himself to see if it was a dream. "Nooope. That hurt."

  By far Apple Bloom was the most surprised. "Is that... That can't be them!"

  Honeynut then took a look at her. "Is that lil Apple Bloom?"

  Apple Bloom was just as happy as AJ. She hadn't seen her parents when... "Wait a sec, how can I know you are mah parents?"

  "I can see you wore the same ribbon AJ wore when she was your age!" said Appleseed, while Applejack blushed a little bit.

  "It is you!"

  While everyone was hugging, a message appeared for AJ. "What is it for sis?" asked Apple Bloom.

Dear Friends of Twilight Sparkle

We request your presence at Canterlot Castle immediately. An occurrence has come up with Princess Twilight, and we need everyone now with the elements of harmony.

Princess Luna

  After reading, Applejack grabbed her element and started to head off, but was stopped by Honeynut. "Is something wrong sweetie? We just reunited."

  Applejack explained. "Ah know, but mah friends need me. I'll be back soon folks. It shouldn't be too long."

...

  Starlight Glimmer had just moved into Ponyvile. She once led a town where everyone had no special talent and everyone was equal. It took losing it, and another run in with Twilight until she realized it wasn't what true friendship was. She made amends with everyone, and even styled her mane differently to show how much she changed. So while Twilight had her party, she was out making amends with those she once ruled over. She had just came back from her trip, and had arrived at the castle. "Twilight, are you home?" she called out.

  She heard nothing back. Instead, she heard hoof steps. She followed the sound and found Twilight prancing around like a mad pony. "Hi there Twilight, just got back from my trip. Hey, like what you did with your mane!"

  "Hi Starlight," replied Twilight. The voice was soft and weak, like she had been through a lot.

  "Is something wrong?"'

  Twilight's eyes shot back up. Instead of being purple, they were green with purple mist flowing. "Like you of all people NEED to know!"

  Starlight was confused. "What?"

  Twilight's eyes went back to normal as she held her head. "Sorry, just been having issues lately." Twilight started walking around the room. "What do you know about dark magic?"

  "I don't know much. I do know it is a type of magic not to be regularly used," Starlight replied.

  "Correct. But did you also know that it has helped me out many times before." Twilight's eyes turned green again, this time with a wicked grin. "Dark magic is so wonderful to use. It just feels so good to use! Every time I use it, I feel like a giddy mare that just had 3 beer cans!"

  Starlight was even more confused. "I don't get it. If it's not to be used regularly, then why are you talking about how good it feels to use it? I'm just getting more confused by the second! And what's this talk about alcohol?"

  The wicked grin on Twi turned to a smug frown. "You don't get it do you?" She then blasted Starlight with a spell that has her relive her worst nightmares. As she was grinning at seeing Starlight like that, she snapped back to her senses and removed the spell.

  "Aaah, oh, Twilight, I had an awful dream!" yelled Starlight. As soon as she said it, Twilight broke down in tears.

  "Starlight," she started. "I need you to lock me in my room."

  Starlight gasped.

  "I feel as there's a darkness consuming me. I need to be away from everypony. Tell Spike he has to live with you while its going down."

  Starlight hesitated. 'There's no way I'm locking up the pony who gave me the chance of true friends!' she thought. But she realized it was what Twilight wanted. "Alright Twilight. Just promise me you'll be safe."

  Twilight smiled. "Oh, I also would like for you to study dark magic and go over your friendship lessons while I'm in here."

  "Dark magic?"

  "It shouldn't corrupt if you use it in portions."

  "Got it." Starlight then closed the door, and locked it. 'Don't worry Twilight,' she thought, 'we'll fix it somehow.'

...

  The elements of harmony arrived at the castle, only to find a note.

  "What the heck? We went all this way here for a note?!" asked Rainbow Dash.

  "I wonder if the note has any balloons in it!" replied Pinkie Pie.

  "I doubt that Pinkie. It seems rather a bad idea to do that," said Rarity.

  "I don't really mind coming here. It is a very nice place," said a soft Fluttershy

  "Now wait here just a second guys!" said Applejack as she picked up the note. She noticed that it didn't feel like a piece of paper. It felt like a key. She folded it up and inserted it into a hole found in a statue. The statue then lifted down to reveal a secret passageway.

  Everyone gasped in unison. They never knew for it to have that. "Alright y'all, if ahm correct, this is where the princesses wanted us."

  The girls then galloped to the end of the hall.

...

  "Crap," said RD. They had just got news that Twilight was struggling even more now.

  "Y'all head on home, I got something I need to check on," said AJ.

...

  Twilight was all alone in her room. No one in there to comfort her. Sadly, the darkness had came back for her. Twilight tried to run, but realized the door was locked. 'Why did I ask her to do that?' She wondered. She screamed as the darkness proceeded to consume her until she was a different mare.

  When she looked again, she laughed. Not a regular laugh, a maniacal laugh. As her eyes went green with purple mist, and she grew a star on her forehead, she said "I don't know why I waited so long for the darkness. It feels SO good!"

  She then kicked down the door. "I'm going to have my revenge, but first," she said, as she grabbed a pair of scissors, "a queen has to look her best doesn't she?"