This is War

by FlamingMane

Rating: teen
Tags: Tragedy, Dark, Sad, Romance
Length: 7986

Harmony is not balance. But universe must be held in balance.

Do not read if your mind is not prepared for some really bad things…

Feel free to write me about my grammar mistakes. These are bad things, but they are unintentional and can be changed.

With last really evil creature banished from Equestria, there is only one creature, which hold another universe from reaching this peaceful land. Universe is keeping itself in balance, but Elements of Harmony are not keeping universe in balance. When Discord is accidentaly shattered, it starts series of events, which will crush peace in Equestria.

There will be war, victims and blood. Universe is only rebalancing itself and not caring for causing pain. What will happen when six innocent friends are thrown in war between the worlds?

I'll add some tags and characters when I use them. Now I know only this. This will be dark.

I've done some thinking about storylines. I had few alternatives. Now I clearly know one thing. You will hate me. All of you. There is shipping planned, dark deeds, deception, deaths and another really bad things. If you are not reading description, it's your fault.

I got this idea from this: This is war

Published 1970-01-01 00:00:00 UTC
Last updated 2013-04-08 15:00:02 UTC

0) To Our End

"Dash, slow down!" Twilight Sparkle was yelling at playful celurean mare.

"This is waaay too much booring." Rainbow Dash let out annoyed groan not noticing what was ahead of her. "I never thought you are going to take us into muze-" THUD!

Rainbow Dash crashed into one of the sculptures in Canterlot gardens. Unfortunately it was the only sculpture made from living creature. Discord's statue started to fall down. Rainbow was too much distracted by pain. The others were stunned and able to only look at falling statue in fear. Statue hit the ground, shattering itself into pieces. It was like shattering of normal statue. No special effects, no sparks, no releasing of creature trapped inside cold stone. Only Twilight and Rarity could felt life energy of trapped creature. It simply dropped. Twilight knew what did it mean. They killed Discord.

"Havens...what happened?" Rarity said quietly and looked at Twilight.

"I...I think...we killed him." Twilight whispered. All her friends were quiet.

"Ah thought that thin' was somethin' like a god." Applejack said while he was looking at pieces of statue.

"Me too. But it's good. Now he is unable to come back and do anything mean to anypony so it's good thing in the end. You know what this calls for? A-" Pinkie finally broke her silence caused by shock from breaking statue to be silenced by purple hoof.

"No. I think it not calls for a party. There must be reason, why he was imprisoned in stone instead of killed or banished. Do you remember Nightmare Moon, girls? She was not imprisoned. She was simply banished from this world by the Elements. Especially there must be reason, because we killed him so easily." Twilight said.

"Ah ya sure, sugarcube?" Applejack asked "Ah don' believe that he's killed."

"I remember that he started his chaos immediately after broking from his prison. No, Applejack. I'm afraid we killed him. After all he was like Celestia, Luna or Chrysalis. Immortal, but not invulnerable. I think we should tell the princess about it." Twilight said and whole group started to head back to castle.

"No. Don't blame yourself, Twilight. I'm not mad at you Rainbow either. I felt it was better to keep that statue locked away, but I wasn't listening to my feelings. I should have known better, because it was school excursion, when he broke from his prison last time. I should have thought about it before placing him back." Celestia reasured six friends, which were silent.

"But I was thinking. It's not coincidence, that he was imprisoned while others, who were hit by the power of the Elements were banished from this world. I have a bad feeling about this." Twilight quietly said. She looked more shaken then even Fluttershy.

"I know, Twilight. There is some theory, but it's hard to prove it and nopony can tell what will happen next. This theory is about keeping balance in universe and alternative universe. It was written by one scholar in times of my first imprisoning of Discord. I can point you on that scroll, but it's all our knowledge about this problem. This had simply never happened." Celestia said, "This scroll is the oldest one in Wing of Schollars. It was written by Stargazer if I recall his name correctly."

"So...now we will find that scroll and see what's written inside, Princess." Twilight said and started to head to the Canterlot Library.

"So this is the oldest scroll here?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes. Let's see, what's inside." Twilight started to slowly unfold the scroll.

Darker Equestria

Why balance is not equal to harmony

By: Stargazer

I was recently researching strange behaving of Elements of Harmony and I have come to interesting conclusion. Some clues leads me to think about some old spells, which allowed long-distant travelling, but had terrible effects if there was mistake made during performing first part.

This spell was created by unicorn, which name had been forgotten like the spell itself. I was able to recover only rough description from very old copy of Oldest Equestrian History. It's said that there are two parts of this spell. One is named Beacon, which marks position in space. Second is dangerous one. It's spell, which throw caster out of space and back. Without beacon, it's impossible to control that spell and predict where caster of this spell appeares. But this spell is not only for travel through space. It allows to travel to another dimensions, which was the reason, why it was forbidden to perform that spell, which is now forgotten.

Second clue is more rumor or wide-spread idea. We have confirmed that there are alternative universes or at least one. It's said and commonly proven that there is two sides of everything. It's named duality. This leads me into thinking about one particular alternative universe. In this universe is nearly everything the same as there except that there are switched meanings of good and evil. If somepony is kind there, the alternative of him is cruel.

I have been thinking a lot. Why Elements of Harmony are keeping Discord imprisoned? There is no reason for this. He can be killed. He is spirit, not a god. Answer to this have been escaping my understanding for a long time, but I finaly figured it out. Balance. It was just luck that I looked into that news. There was study about criminality in Equestria. There was no murder in whole ten years. I don't know what's happening outside of Equestria, but there are only a few pieces of land, which are not discovered and there is no really evil creature. Even dragons are keeping their neutrality. There was something about my room-mate. He have been studying physics recently. He talked a lot about balance. He also did a few shenanigans in library with hourglasses. He left them in horizontal position, with the same amount of sand on both sides so there was no need of magic to hold them in that position. He said that there is everything in balance and everything in universe is keeping it's balance. It was the last piece I needed. After all this clues I realized that Discord is keeping this world in balance. I saw enough stars with their planets around. I know this theory cannot be proven without killing Discord, but I feel it right to write it. I hope this will help somepony with research and I only hope this will stay as theory.

Declined.

"Declined? What does it mean?" Rainbow asked. He finished reading second to Twilight.

"Every theory must be proven or it's declined. Teachers in school are approving theories, when they see evidence. Proving this is impossible. No pony can be sure if aftermatch of killing Discord is reversible." Twilight quietly answered Rainbow's question.

"Havens, but this is not helping. I don't clearly understand this theory, but still there is nothing about what will happen." Rarity said.

"I have no idea, what is this saying. But he have a point. There is always second side to everything. Party, not party. Baloons, not baloons. Streamers, not streamers. Cupcakes, not cupcakes. Oh I know what to do. I will throw them party. Both of them, they look like good ponies and friends and I want to know them a-!" Pinkie started to think loudly.

"PINKIE!" Twilight shouted to stop her.

"Yes, Twilight?" Pinkie asked.

"They are probably dead. This scroll is more than hundred years old." Twilight said, looking at Pinkie, who seemed to be a bit upset by this fact.

"Ah can't say ah understan' what's written in that scroll." Applejack said looking confused.

"Don worry, AJ. Me neither. It's for eggheads." Rainbow said and started to look around, "Twi? Is any of this scrolls written by you?"

"W-what?" Twilight snapped out of thinking about balance.

"I asked you about these scrolls. Is there any scroll written by you?" Rainbow repeated answer.

"No. Oh...I nearly forgotten! Yes! There is one written by me. I hid it in this library. I didn't want somepony to stole my research....there it is." Twilight smiled, looked around and with her magic, she took out small scroll hidden behind bookcase.

"Stole your research? Is stealing common here?" Rainbow asked quietly.

"Yes. It is one of the reasons, why I had no friends here. Everypony in this school want to be famous with magic research and they were doing everything for it. This library wing is for projects, which are waiting to be proven or interesting, but incompleted projects like mine." Twilight answered.

"What is your research about, darling?" Rarity asked.

"It's about pony magic." Twilight answered.

"You mean unicorn magic, don't you?" Rainbow said.

"No. I mean exactly what I said. I have observed pegasi, earth ponies and unicorns, made some calculations and it was all leading me into thinking about that we are all completely equal, but pegasi are sacrifising some of their stamina for wings and us, unicorns are sacrifising nearly all of our stamina for horn, which allows us to cast spells. But it cannot be completed without observing alicorns, which seems to be exception. So it had been declined, but I think this is way to create race changing spell." Twilight said with a bit of sandess in her voice.

"You mean spell, which can give me horn instead of wings or take away my wings to give me more endurance?" Rainbow asked.

"Yes. That's exactly what it would be. But I think making this spell is not a good idea." Twilight answered.

"This would be the most super-awesome spell! I would like to be a unicorn, because it's sometimes really hard to make something, but with magic it's done by blink of an eye. Oh, oh and you, girls, imagine how many of cakes I would be able to do if I would have horn to do magic...." Pinkie started to talk, but no pony seemed to pay her attention.

"Who declined your project?" Rainbow asked.

"Princess Celestia. Who else? I'm her own personal protégé. She is my mentor and every single of my projects are going through her." Twilight said. She ensured that they are there alone and hid her scroll behind bookcase again.

"I think we need to see Princess again. This scroll is trying to say something, but it's incompleted. It looks like Stargazer had fear and didn't want to think about it more." Twilight said and returned Stargazer's scroll.

1) (Not that much) Calculated Risk

"What is this?" Twilight looked at egg-shaped portal. They were with Princess in gardens. There were still remains of Discord statue, but there was portal hovering few inches above ground.

"This look like portal. It appeared here few moments before you left to library. I assigned few guards here. I don't want you to go through. It's too dangerous, but I thought you, Twilight, want to see what will came through this portal so I made preparations. You can stay here and your friends too, if they want to." Celestia said while she was looking at the portal.

"Thanks, Princess. I'd love to research this, but I'm a bit afraid. That scroll said that the world behind this portal should be evil." Twilight said.

"I know. It was me, who declined that research. I shared his fears. Now we must face, what is ahead of us. You know, Twilight, there is one thing I fear. I fear that I won't be able to protect my subjects." Celestia said and Twilight could see sadness in her eyes.

"I...I understand. Sometimes there is nothing that can be done." Twilight said.

"Thank you, Twilight." Celestia quietly whispered, "Be prepared. This will be dark times." and then Celestia lef Twilight and her friends before portal.

"It's like looking through water. A really bad water." Fluttershy quietly said.

"It's dreadful, isn't it Twilight?" Rarity asked Twilight.

"Yes. You can feel it too?" Twilight asked Rarity. Rarity simply nodded.

"Feel what? I cannot feel anything dradful." Rainbow asked.

"Unicorns can feel magic. Through this portal is escaping some energy from all that magic in their world. I and Rarity can feel it. It's nothing good." Twilight explained.

"If you are talking about that...I can feel something too. My guts are just telling me that something bad is gonna happen." Rainbow shook herself and folded her wings.

"Ah have some chilling in mah spine." Applejack said.

"Let's go back to library, girls. We may find there more about this. There is no point in staring into this." Twilight said and turned around.

"Nothing here!" Rainbow shouted from far upper corner of library. They were looking for something in main library room. Rarity was staying outside of the library room, because there were a lot of dust in air from pegasus wings flapping, Pinkie's chaotic running around and Twilight's quick searching with her magic.

"What?" Twilight whispered quietly for herself. She felt fading in magic flowing  through portal.

"Girls, I think something happened with portal. Let's go and see it!" Twilight said more louder to be heard.

"Please, please! Don't hurt us!" Pony said. She was looking like Applejack after a long and really bad fight. Bruises, piece of left ear bitten off. The others looked similar. There was something like sad Pinkie Pie, charred Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash without wings, dirty Rarity. Only Pony, who was looking like Fluttershy was looking physicaly unharmed.

"We were running whole way to the portal. We saw opportunity in starting anywhere else. Our world is terrible as you can see. We are glad that thing closed behind us." Charred version of Twilight said.

"This can be lie. Don't go anywhere alone, girls." Twilight whispered very quietly to all of her friends.

"We are not going to hurt you, but...who are you? I mean, you look like us." Twilight asked group of themselves from another dimension.

"I'm Twilight Spell. This is Applebuck." charred version of Twilight pointed at pony looking like Applejack.

"This is Cupcake and Fluttercry." Twilight Spell pointed on pony looking like Pinkie Pie and then on pony looking like Fluttershy.

"And there is Rainbow Runner and Briliance." Twilight Spell pointed on Rainbow Dash without wings and dirty Rarity.

"Wow. We have similar names. I'm Twilight Sparkle. There is Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash and Rarity." Twilight Sparkle said while she was pointing on her friends.

"We have the same cutie marks. Did you get your cutie marks from Sonic Rainboom?" Twilight Spell asked.

"You have done Sonic Rainboom? So you lost your wings? Why?" Rainbow Dash asked his twin.

"After my first Rainboom, there were group of jelous ponies. They tie me up in sleep and cut my wings off." Rainbow Runner said with a bit of cold in her voice, she looked at ground and in her eyes was sadness and shame.

"Ow...sorry. You didn't have to tell me." Rainbow Dash said. She looked a bit shaken by destiny of her twin.

"No. It's fine. I don't mind telling somepony, but it's still hurting. You know I'm pegasus, but without wings...it's like I've lost myself. No more Sonic Rainboom, no more flying. I think, you understand me well." Rainbow Runner said.

"Now I realize...where are guards? There were plenty of them." Twilight Sparkle noticed missing guards.

"I...I don't know. We shouldn't be alone here. Nightmare surely sent some scouts before us. Or something worse." Twilight Spell said. "After all that portal was on her gardens."

"Let's go to Celestia." Twilight Sparkle said.

"You wanted me? I'm here since I felt change around the portal. I have nothing against your idea of starting here again, but I'm watching you." Princess Celestia said and revealed herself. She was hidden inside of very complicated spell barrier.

"Thank you, Celestia." Twilight Spell said.

"I have another condition. You have to stay in my castle until you earn my trust." Celestia said and slowly left.

"At least we were not imprisoned, tortured or killed." Applebuck said quietly.

"I don't know Twilight. I don't believe them. The portal closed behind them. There is high chance that they are opposite of us." Rainbow Dash said. Six friends was sitting inside of castle in one of it's many rooms. They were hidden behind spells made by Twilight Sparkle.

"I know, Rainbow. But we should give them a chance. It's what we learned about friendship." Twilight Sparkle said.

"Fine. I give them a chance, but don't say I didn't warn you." Rainbow Dash said.

"It's too easy. Maybe they don't believe us, but we are here and we have all kind of informations." Rainbow Runner said. Another six friends were sitting in similar room.

"I know, but don't be to confident, Rainbow. We must be careful. We must steal the Elements first. Ponyfolk wouldn't believe us before we stole them. It would be easy if we scare them. First things first. We must put both princesses under a sleeping spell. It's your speciality, Briliance. We do this during night time. Then we attack them. We must scare them to run for the Elements, but we must let them finish unlocking them. Then, we will kill them. They are useless after this point. Then, we will kill both Princesses. We wouldn't have enough power before we corrupt the Elements. And then we can summon our Nightmare to us so she can devour this pathetic world." Twilight Spell said with evil smile.

Later that night.

"It's time. Do your best, Briliance." Twilight Spell smiled.

Briliance's horn started to glow. She smashed little blue gem with her hoof and moved her horn to gem powder. When glowing aura, surrounding her horn, touched remains of gem, spell started to grow. Two tentacles of dark blue energy shot from her horn and then glow was gone. So was the gem powder.

"They are sleeping as hard as death." Briliance said.

"Now it's time to chase some chickens." Twilight Spell laughed and ran out of the doors with the others following her.

The other group of friends were sleeping peacefully until...

"Chicken? Scootaloo?" Rainbow Dash whispered, woke up and lift her head when she heard familiar voice. She shook her head when she saw that there is nothing happenening. There was only a bit disturbing silence. I need a bit of flying. She thought and lift herself. I don't like it being here. She shuddered a bit and unfold her wings. She noticed that there is one pony missing in room. Twilight. She smiled, because she known that Twilight is easy to find. She quietly walked outside to balcony. Then she jumped over the rail. Few seconds of free fall and then few flaps with her wings.

It was disturbing. Normally this routine should calm her, but it only made her more awoken and more afraid.

Within few seconds, Rainbow Dash landed before library. There was few lights inside. Only one wasn't moving. She slowly trotted inside. After few minutes she made her way through few floors and met few guards, who reassured her, that she was going right way.

"Hello, Twi. Can't sleep?" Dash asked.

"Hi, no I can't. You?" Sparkle asked while she was reading large and thick book, which looked really old.

"As you see. I feel that something bad is going to happen. What are you reading?" Dask asked.

"Something about offensive magic. I realized that defensive magic is useless if i had to take care of myself." Sparkle said.

"Did you realized this when you were imprisoned under Canterlot?" Dash asked.

"Yes. And it was first time I used this kind of spell. But it was not that sophisticated like ones in this book. That spell I used was more like representation of my emotions, but spells in this book are nearly for determined and cold blooded ponies." Sparkle said with smile conjured by amount of informations in book and having somepony to talk about it.

"Would you mind showing me something from this book?" Dash asked. It's surely some cool spear or fireball. Something dangerous. She thought.

"Fire spells are banished from library, but this should be easy." Twilight looked in the book.

"I thought so. With all that paper around..." Dash said. Sparkle was concentrated on spell and Dash was looking at her. Ever since she defeated that Ursa Minor, she was interested in unicorn magic. It was so different from her own magic. She had magic to manipulate weather and clouds, but unicorns had more varied spells. Since she was pegas, she had a bit of battle in her blood and seeing magical weapon. It's irresistible opportunity.

Twilight's horn glowed with characteristical purple glow. She had closed eyes. Glow started to get brighter and within few seconds, there was bow formed from light howering few inches above her horn. Spell slowly faded away and so the light from bow. She gasped.

"What happened? Are you ok?" Dash asked.

"Yeah, I am. This is my soul weapon." She smiled and observed her bow. It was made from similar material as her horn.

"I don't understand, but it's still cool." Dash smiled. "I wish I could have my own."

"There is a lot information about them. You just had to read them. Everypony should be able to create them through their magic, but it's long forgotten technique. But how am I supposed to fight without arrows?" Twilight asked more herself, then Dash. Dash dived into that book. She didn't liked that, but desire for something special was larger. Maybe it could be useful in her tricks.

Twilight was having a hard time with thinking about how to get an arrow. Book said there was everything needed for that weapon included. "How am I supposed to fight without arrow?" She groaned at bow.

"How about pull the string?" Dash asked nearly subconsciously.

"Uh?" Twilight stopped admiring her weapon. After few seconds she realized what was Dash trying to say and slowly pull the bowstring. She felt a reasonable bit of her magic energy leaking away. She hold her bow without even using her levitation. She stood firmly on her hooves and she was pulling bowstring slowly. Arrow created from her own magic was burning with white flame and waiting for shot. She aimed for an apple, which was at nearby table and she released that arrow. She immediately regreted that decision. Magical arrow shot apple and exploded covering whole library wing with tiny apple pieces.

Dash quickly stood up startled by sudden explosion.

"Whoops. I guess I lost part of my snack." Twilight remarked sheepishly.

"That was...well dangerous. I understand that this is nearly a secret, but still it's most cool think, you did, Twi." Dash said and started rolling on the ground laughing.

"Well, if you execuse me, I have something to make clean again." Twilight said quietly and started to clean nearby books with her magic.

"Yeah, yeah." Dash said paying full attention to the book. Twilight stared few seconds on that sight. She wanted to remember Dash with her nose burried in book, which is from non-fictional category.

Few minutes later, Twilight interrupted bright light, which quickly died.

"It's not cool." Dash grunted.

"What?" Twilight turned her head and looked at Dash. There was celurean colored long sword howering above Dash.

"It's blue sword. It's simply sooo uncool." Dash was staring at her sword.

"You should try it before you start grunting about it." Twilight said, picked another of her apples from table and throw it at Dash. Startled Dash instinctively swung her sword against that apple.

"I guess it is cool at least a bit. It's like having another hoof or your magic." Rainbow said, examining both halves of apple. Her sword vanished silently as Rainbow lost focus.

"Yeah. I wonder which thinks we can do with this things. And don't worry. The sword appears whenever you want it." Sparkle said when she saw Dash looking around to see, where her weapon had gone.

Sudenly doors to library was shot open. There were Rarity, Applejack, Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy standing and looking frightened.

"That scroll were right. They are evil!" Rarity said. Evil laughter was echoing through halls.

"Elements, quickly!" Sparkle said and six ponies started galloping through Canterlot castle.

"This brings memories back." Rainbow Dash remarked.

"Everything is going according to plan, but it's too easy. We are missing something. Be ready for anything" Twilight Spell whispered to her friends.

Six friends stopped before doors with six gems around them and one horn-hole.

"What are we waiting for?" Rainbow Dash asked.

"I think we are screwed." Twilight whispered.

"Don't say you don't know how to open this doors, because do you realize what that mean about our attemp to recover them at the wedding?" Dash's voice sounded a bit more annoyed.

"Well, I'm saying exactly that and I know what that mean." Twilight Sparkle said. She was angry mostly at herself, because she did not thought about it that way. If it wasn't for dire situation in which they was right now, she would surely find it hilarious. How could Celestia possibly forget to tell her, how to unlock this doors? And is it even possible for six of them?

"Well, what are we going to do now?" Rarity asked.

"We have not enough time to teleport outside and our only escape route is blocked. We have to fight back." Twilight Sparkle answered. Her friends looked at her with firm faces. She could see fear in their eyes, but also resolution. Even Fluttershy looked to be prepared.

"Expect anything and watch out." Sparkle whispered and faced their counterparts, which were now slowly approaching.

"You are not going to use Elemenst agains us?" Twilight Spell asked with hint of amusement in her voice.

"We don't need anything to defeat you." Sparkle retorted.

"You don't know how to open these doors." Spell said flatly.

"Face it, you are a bad liar. We certailny did not expected this. It looks like we need to kill you and then Celestia. We thought there will be no need for killing her by ourselves, but you are not giving us any other options. At least, you will be easy prey." Spell continued her speech in mocking way.

"Don't split." Sparkle whispered to her friends, but it was too late. First was Rainbow, who took of the ground and prepared herself for attack from above. Applejack seeing opportunity when everyone was watching at Rainbow, charged at Applebuck. With her own grace and years of training at her trees, she bucked her counterpart with all of her force, sending Applebuck rolling on the ground. Rainbow Runner siezed the opportunity and kicked Applejack. Unfortunately for orange mare, she managed to hit her head. There was a loud crack. Five friends gasped in horror. Applejack fell down to the ground and little pool of blood started to form around her head.

Twilight Sparkle was unable to do anything in moment of surprise. Applebuck rose from ground wisibly shaken, but not wounded as hard as her counterpart. Six counterparts had similar smirk on their faces.

"Applejack!" Rarity screamed and started to run to him only to be knocked down by fireball. Applejack didn't moved a bit. Rarity hopefully recovered fast.

"Is this all, you've got?" Cupcake asked. Her voice sent chills in Sparkle's spine. There was barely audible "eeep" comming from Fluttershy.

"You thought that you can fight us? Have you ever been at war? You are pathetic." Twilight Spell said mockingly and shot bolt of dark energy towards Twilight Sparkle. Sparkle was barely able to block it with shield and immediately retaliate with her signature purple bolt. Rainbow Dash swooped at Applebuck with her sword, but her target was faster and dodged attack. Pinkie Pie got her party cannon from nowhere and immediately shot a huge ball of sticky stuff at their enemies. Cupcake jumped and let herself to be hit by that sticky ball.

"Enough of this kids play." Twilight Spell growled and slowly started to move. Various veapons started to form around her. Once they were created, they randomly targetted one of the six ponies and shot to them. Twilight Sparkle focused. Hopefully she was able to block every single of that deadly projectiles. Pinkie jumped and tried to punch Twilight Spell, but she was knocked back by shield. Pinkie shivered a little. That shield was lightening based.

Briliance was checking on Applejack. "One down, five more to go." She said with joy in her voice. This simple sentence shattered hope in other five ponies. Something shuffled behind Twilight Sparkle.

"How dare you." Fluttershy silently whispered with coldness in her voice rivaling with Cupcake's. "How dare you!" She shouted and tried to use her stare at them.

"How? Easily." Fluttercry whispered into Fluttershy's ear. Nopony noticed that she disapeared and now she was at the worst place. It was the last thing, Fluttershy heard. Fluttercry holded magical dagger in her hoof, which was now covered in blood. Fluttershy slowly turned her head to look, why she have wet fur on her side, then she slid down into pool of her own blood without a word.

Rainbow Dash tried to help Fluttershy. Dash swung her sword at Fluttercry in nearly blind rage. She managed to cut Fluttercry before she jumped back. Dash continued swinging and darting to Fluttercry. In a few swings, she managed to wound her enough to be unable to continue fight. Fluttercry was now holding her own artery with hint of fear in her eyes.

Briliance blinded Rainbow Dash by flash of light from her horn. Rainbow Runner was there to help Briliance and bucked Dash.

Rarity and Pinkie Pie were succesfully holding back Applebuck and Cupcake. In a few exchange of blows, Applebuck and Cupcake determined, who is weaker. Both of them were now focusing on Rarity. They managed to catch Rarity off guard. Both striked with their full force. There could be heard a few cracks and cling of horn fragment. Rarity was knocked back with her horn cracked and some bones broken. Pinkie Pie was one agains two.

Both Twilights were fully focused in their fight of minds. Twilight Spell was now focusing beam of dark energy at Sparkle, who was deflecting it with her shield. Twilight Sparkle became visibly tired of constant use of magic. If she was not shielding herself, she was trying to retaliate, but far more exhausting were deflecting Spell's attepmts to attack her friends. I can endure two of these beams at most. I should quiclky come up with something. Think, Twilight. Think. Twilight Sparkle said to herself.

"You are pitiful. Comfort breeds weakness. Now I see, how much true is behind proverb." Twilight Spell said and used much powerful version of that beam. It shattered Sparkle's shield.

2) Beware the Mare with Nothing to Lose

Twilight Sparkle fell to the ground. Dark energy from that beam caused her pain, but she sufferen only bruises from falling. She looked around. Applejack lied without any movement in puddle of her own blood. Fluttershy was the same. Now she heard a few bodies falling. She saw Rarity fall to the ground with cracked horn. There was Rainbow Dash landing before her. As she looked at Dash, their eyes met themselves. They can both see sadness and pain in the other's eyes.

"I will protect you." Dash whispered and stood up with visible troubles. She was shaking. She suffered nothing more, than bruises, but still there was something odd with her left wing.

There was painful scream of Pinkie Pie. Twilight Spell grabed Dash and flinged with him somwhere behind Twilight Sparkle. Rainbow Dash landed with loud crack. There was no sound of movement.

"So now it's one to five. How unfortunate for you. Now you lost everything." Twilight Spell said. Twilight Sparkle didn't say anything. I can't die here. It's too early. I just can't. I don't want. Twilight Sparkle said to herself.

"You have nothing to lose. You can only gain. Bow before me and I will grant you quick death." Twilight Spell said and laughed. In her despair, Twilight Sparkle tried to come up with some plan, but nothing seemed to be working. Yes. I have nothing to lose. Now I don't need to restrain myself. Twilight Sparkle was somehow calmed by these thoughts. In that moment of clarity, she saw one possible solution. She conjured her bow and started to draw the string. She felt new wave of power inside herself.

"What are you gonna do? Shot us all with one arrow? You know it's impossible for you in your state." Twilight Spell mockingly said.

Twilight Sparkle only smiled. Time seemed to nearly come to stop. Her eyes started glowing white and purple aura from her horn shrouded her. She was gathering all her sorrow in that one arrow, which started to turn grey as stone from purely white. Sun was started to rise.

Behind her Rainbow Dash regained counsciousness. Her wing were hurting. For a few seconds she thought that she saw an angel. Purple angel of vengeance. Beautiful purple mare was bathing in sun and before her were stunned mares. I could revere that creature. Dash thought before she passed out from pain.

"Run! Run! Celestia is awake! I will keep them there! Plan B!" Twilight Spell shouted and created magical shield around herself.

"I won't let you!" Twilight Sparkle said with firm voice and let the arrow. Arrow swiftly flew through small space between Sparkle and shield. Twilight Spell expected to block that arrow with her shield. Instead that arrow passed through shield and started to grow. Twilight Spell jumped back. The arrow hit the ground and it unleashed full potential of that arrow. Dark violet crystals started rapidly to grow from the ground encasing Twilight Spell and then these crystals built path to other ponies more quickly then they were running away. Briliance managed to grap Fluttercry and teleport outside before crystals reached her and power in arrow quickly reached it's limit. There were four large crystals, which were holding four ponies with terrible and painful grimmace on their faces.

"I will condemn you to eternal suffering." Twilight Sparkle whispered before she passed away from exhaustion.

"Twilight, I'm sorry that I'm late." Celestia whispered when she arrived and saw outcome of what happened. Celestia started to examine huge dark crystals.

"Was it really necessary to tap into that magic?" Celestia whispered for herself and then she started to look around. She arrived a few seconds after Twilight passed away. She started to run around and check up Twilight's friends.

When she finished, she had few good news, some bad news and some really bad news. Since her guards did not arrived yet, she took it upon herself to save what can be saved. She started to teleport her friends to the nearest hospital.

"Sister? Shall I speak with thou?" Luna asked. She was outside of Celestia's room, but doors were open.

"Yes, sister. Come in. And you should really try to stop speaking in that ancient dialect." Celestia answered. She was sitting in fron of her desk and looked at report from her guards. She was visibly troubled by something. Luna only smiled and closed doors behind her.

"Pardon me. How are you?" Luna said. She sat next to her sister and looked at that report. There was reason, why her sister was so troubled.

"It's all my fault. I allowed this to happen. I seriously underestimated our enemy. Should I abdicate?" Celestia whispered calmly.

"It was a long time since we were in war. Our own false sence of security led us to this. They caught us by surprise." Luna whispered back.

"I know, but these losts are too much. Look, nearly half of my guards are missing. Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy are dead, Applejack and Rarity are in coma, Twilight and Rainbow Dash still unconscious and it's all my fault." Celestia said and looked at her sister. She was nearly broken. Her student nearly died. Nearly all close friends of her student are dead or comatose. Half of her guards are missing and all of this was caused by her decision.

Luna never saw her sister crying. Her sister was always strong. Now it was her turn to be the strong one. She silently wrap her wing around her sister.

"Two of them escaped." Celestia whispered and let her tears flow.

"I will hunt these two in day and night. They cannot hide from me." Luna whispered and gently nuzzled her sister.

"You should go to bed. I will woke you, when some of our friends woke up." Luna continued whispering. When her sister nodded, she accompanied her sister until she was asleep.

"The worst is that they forced my Twilight to use soul spell. I fear of the consequences for her." Celestia said while she was getting into her bed. Luna noticed how her sister used word 'my'. She again realized how much is Twilight for her sister.

"I think that she will be fine. After all she never ceased to amaze you." Luna said quietly, remembering Nightmare night. Luna waited a while before she was assured that her sister is asleep.

Twilight Sparkle woke up in white nothingness.

"Hello, Twilight Sparkle. You should know me, but I will introduce myself. I am Warden and you are here to pay for my help." Twilight heard and turned to the source of sound. There was black crystal in white nothingness. Crystal was floating before her and in crystal, there was pair of red eyes in crystal.

"What do you mean? What help? And where the hell am I?" Twilight asked and looked around.

"So many questions, but I will gladly answer them. First of all. We are in Void. There is nothing, but still there is everything. I took you here, because you are owe me something. You desperately wanted to imprison your enemies so I helped you. Now I want you to help me." Crystal resonated with voice, which was deep, but calming.

"So...that black crystals were your work?" Twilight asked.

"Yes, all my precious masterpieces. You wanted to imprison them for eternity, so I done that. You wanted to imprison them in hell so I added some enhancements. You know that it was my pleasure to do this. You said that you will do everything. So now I have a work you owe to me. You will assist me with one of my another pacts." Voice explained.

"What work?" Twilight asked.

"I want you to cause some problem. Kill somepony, or mutilate someone if you are into that. Physicaly or mentally. I don't know what you prefer. You will be protected during that job of course. I want you to prepare another job for me or some of my void friends. You know I can take care of those, who are willing to help me." Voice said with same calmness, but there was something that sent chills through Twilight's spine.

"I don't want to kill somepony or anything else, that will result in harming anypony." Twilight said. She coudn't believe her ears. This creature want her to harm somepony.

"I can release them and take you as punishment for not wanting to fulfill the pact." Warden said.

"NO! I...I will do it." Twilight closed her eyes. Small tear rolled over her cheek.

"Good, good. Now you look like you are doing this for the first time so I can help you. Do you want me to tag your target?" Warden asked. Twilight only nodded silently.

"So I want you to target young white mare. Her cutie mark is simple cloud. She is pegasus and her talent is cloudmaking. I will take you to your body when you will be done. You will find me in church tower. And don't worry about time. You are not limited by this thing. Take your time, make it special. Do it the way it pleases you." Voice said.

Church? But that mean it will be even before Equestia, or outside of it. I've read about this buildings. They are not connected with Celestia or Luna, but still connected to another god. Twilight thought.

Sound of cracking around Twilight forced her to open her eyes. There was night around. She was out of Void and apparently hired for assasination. She noticed visibly restricted view. She looked before herself, there was small puddle. She slowly walked to it and looked inside. She was changed. She had grey fur and light blue eyes and mane. She was wearing large coat, which covers her. Her view was restricting hood, which was making her hard to recognize. There was long bow on her back with few arrows. She heard some voices so she instinctively pressed herself against the church wall. She looked up. That church provided some good vantage point. There was no high building around and it would give her nice view over town. She teleported up to the church roof. Her magic was a bit weaker and color was light blue as her eyes and mane. Town was quite lively, but she could tell that she is now in year that is about at least thousand years before she was born. She teleported up to the church tower. There was some evening market in town. She teleported on roof of the building before church and pain throbbed in her head.

"This is how other unicorns feel? So little magical energy." Twilight silently growled and rested a bit. When her head stopped hurt, she galloped over roofs as quietly as she could. She was lucky there was no pegasus flying. She got to the market. It was not only market. It was some sort of festivity. She immediately spotted white pegasus, which suited the description. She slowly took bow and one arrow from her back and draw the string with arrow and aimed for neck of that pony.

I cannot. She looks so happy. How could I kill somepony. Twilight started to think.

You must. There is no way you could get back to your body without killing somepony and I agreed to it. I am sorry. Twilight closed her eyes and let the arrow go. String of bow played the tone of death and as answer, there was symphony of terrified voices. She opened her eyes. There was dead body of white unicorn in puddle of blood. Beside her was crying unicorn stallion, who she known from old paintings. She gasped as she realized who he was. Tears made her way to her eyes. Way back was a blur.

"So you are done. Let's take you back to your body. It was pleasure to work with you I knew you could do it." Familiar voice said. Black crystal was hanging in tower instead of bell.

"You knew it." Twilight said. There was tears in her eyes.

"What? That you killed a lover of Starswirl? You didn't asked." Warden answered.

"You are demon. I hate you." Twilight said coldly.

"I never asked for you to love me. Now let me take you back and I think we will never meet again. But if you want to trade, now you know my name." Warden said in same cold and calm manner as before. Eyes in crystal closed and before Twilight could say something, loud crack kicked her unconscious.

"Celestia! Celestia! Come with me, sister. She woke up!" Luna stormed through castle.

"Finally! Let's go." Celestia cheered a little and both of them headed to hospital.

"She is crying all the time she is woke up. I didn't understand a word and she instantly drive me out of her room, our Majesties. Other than that she seemed fine." Doctor said to the Princesses before they walked into her room. There was only quiet sobbing.

"Twilight?" Celestia asked quietly.

"P-princess?" Twilight asked and looked at her. In Twilight's eyes was great sorrow and fear.

"Dear Twilight. I'm so sorry. Everything will be all right I promise." Celestia dashed to her bed.

"No. I was the one, who caused death of lover of Starswirl. It was necessary for keeping black crystals. I am sorry." Twilight said.

"No. His lover was killed by well known assasin Whiteshade." Celestia said.

"Yes, but I was the one, who guided him. I killed his mare." Twilight said.

"Was it payment?" Luna asked.

"Yes, how do you know?" Twilight asked. Her gaze turned at Luna.

"I refused to pay once." Luna answered quietly, closed her eyes and lowered her head.

"I'm sorry for that too. I kept you from soul spells, but I think you understand why." Celestia said.

"What is soul spell?" Twilight asked and looked at Celestia.

"Basically it's spell, where you trade your soul. You are lucky that you could buy your soul back. There is nothing known about entities, which are trading with you. There is theory that they are demons from Void. Which is place between spaces." Celestia answered.

"How are others? Doctors didn't wanted to say anything." Twilight asked.

"You want to know truth, don't you." Celestia asked and looked into her eyes. Twilight nodded.

"Pinkie and Fluttershy didn't make it. Rainbow is unconscious after operation and other are in coma." Celestia whispered. Twilight closed her eyes and did not hold her tears.

"I'm sorry. You are fine so you can go from hospital after you check out, but I can understand that you want to stay in Canterlot so you can visit your friends. Especially Rainbow, who should be waking sometimes around this afternoon. You are welcome in our castle. You can stay as long as you want. I can order Spike to come here too." Celestia continued.

"I want to see my friends." Twilight whispered. Her pain colored voice was crushing heart of Celestia.

"As you wish, my dear student." Celestia said. She looked like she have hard time keeping tears from her eyes.

They slowly walked through hospital after they checked Twilight out and met her parents, who were waiting all the time outside of her room. They picked doctor to give them informations about their living friends.

"Here is miss Applejack. She suffered severe brain damage and blood loss. We don't know when she woke up and if she will be fine. There is huge chance that her brain damage is too high." Doctor said and slowly walked to another bed in the room. Twilight was hidden under Celestia's wing and quietly cried.

"Here we have miss Rarity she have badly fractured horn and we are convinced that she tried to cast some spell during her injury. That spell probably backfired. We are waiting if her brain recover from this, but chances are small." Doctor said. They left beeping room and in another room, there was more white than blue pegasus in bed.

"She had few bad bone fractures, but other than that, this mare is luckiest from you all. She will be fine in few weeks. Physically of course. I couldn't tell what mental damage was done since she is unconscious. We can tell more within few hours. She should be waking up around now." Doctor said and slowly left. Twilight slowly moved from her hiding to the chair next to her friend's bed.

"I will be here for you Rainbow, Rare and Applejack. I promise you that I will protect you. I was not able to protect all my friends, but I will protect at least you. Now without hesitation." Twilight whispered.

"Then I take it, my angel." Rainbow whispered with stoned voice as she was waking up from narcosis. Twilight giggled a little. Luna left to inform the Doctor.

Rainbow Dash was fine. Celestia was watching two mares, who were comforting each other.

I fear that something else came through that portal and we will soon be swept aside by it. Again, Twilight, you amazed me. Celestia thought.