Perspective. It is through perspective that we create everything we believe, and we found the world that we believe exists. Everything we feel, everything we see, hear, perceive, is due to that power; a power believed to be more powerful than any friendship or magic spell. Imagine if you could see or hear the perspective of everyone around you, there inner thoughts, wants and beliefs. If you could see that, than it is entirely possible to change it to your bidding, as to see a ponies perspective is to be able to see there very mind.

The moment I saw those glass eyes Luminous held, I knew that her eyes had been opened like I was. We paradoxes aren’t what those wolves believe us to be, as we are the future of Equestria, not the end of it. Not that they will understand, and that’s what makes them so easy to control. An entire pack willing to do my bidding, and all to get rid of paradoxes… heh, it’s too easy. Of course, change of leadership means change in how things work, and I see the true future lies with them. That’s what I was given upon learning the truth, the power to show what the world really is.

So tell me Luminous, why do you reject what is truly there? This world of darkness is nothing than an illusion, one that we can break and restart. We can correct everything that has been done to Equestria, bring back the friends who were destroyed, and remind those who are still alive what really happened. We could’ve brought back the true Equestria, but instead you keep believe what we see is that true world. I thought, when I saw your eyes, that Twilight was there, but I was wrong.

Who is this Luminous that harbors my friends my friends soul? Perhaps in time I will find the answer to that question. She must see me as a monster of sorts, a deranged psychopath, or a villain wanting to take everything she has known. That isn’t true, as I have made friends here myself, ones very dear to me. All I want is to save the memories of those who are still here and save Equestria from what the elements had defeated.

However, most of all, I want to save you Twilight. If I can do that with Luminous still being alive, than I will.

“P-psyche?” Sweetie Belle asked the strange mare who had promised to take her somewhere safe. “Where are we going?”

Psyche didn’t answer her, too busy thinking to notice the filly’s question. Sweetie Belle watched her eyes, how they seem to shine despite the darkness of the world around them. She didn’t know how Psyche was able to tell where she was going, or if she knew where she was heading herself. Every question Sweetie Belle asked came with a silent answer, and it only left her feeling uncomfortable about the pony guiding her. Part of her wanted to turn away and run, but a single look behind her brought back horrible memories of the last time she was alone; of the time that she had lost her real body.

“Ever heard of paradoxes Sweetie Belle?” Psyche asked the unicorn filly next to her, eyes still glued to the emptiness that surrounded her.

“Um… it doesn’t sound familiar, but than again I haven’t left the mansion much sense that thing attacked me.” As Sweetie Belle mentioned it she felt something breath on her neck, causing her to stop moving.

“I’m sorry you had to be alone for so long, but I can kinda understand that feeling of isolation,” Psyche told Sweetie, having stopped herself. “I… shouldn’t have brought it up. It isn’t right to think that our versions of isolation are similar, especially when it’s not,” Finally Psyche turned to Sweetie Belle, the glow in her eyes dimmed as she looked to the ground scared. “Sometimes, when I say stuff like that, I feel like I’m the villain of some children’s novel. It makes me scared that ponies view me as… do you think I’m a monster?”

“Wh-what? Why would I think that?” Sweetie replied in shock. “I may not know much about you, but you don’t seem like a bad pony be any means.”

Psyche wanted to smile, but as she looked into Sweetie’s eyes she saw everything that the filly really saw. Her eyes, even before the realization of what Equestria really was, she could see the emotions of others by looking into their own. Psyche could see how scared the filly was, and she felt like an idiot. Despite knowing the filly more than she ever should, to Sweetie she was in the company of a complete stranger.

“Griz, you aren’t making this any better,” Psyche said, having known that the older wolf was following them for some time. “Your only making this worse for the poor thing here.”

“My apologies alpha,” Sweetie looked behind her seeing the towering figure of an older, bulky furred creature she had not seen before suddenly walk out. “I was staying back for protection, but clearly the filly was not feeling protected herself,” Griz looked to Sweetie Belle, who stood there stunned at the strange yet beautiful new creature who had appeared. “I see you had the luxury of not meeting a paradox hunter before, and I am sorry to have startled you if I had.”

“Wh-what are you?” Sweetie stammered, her mind in awe at the majesty of the paradox hunter. “Are you one of the creatures of darkness?”

“No Sweetie he is not,” Psyche answered with a smile, seeing the wonder in the unicorn’s heart. “This is Griz, a wolf, paradox hunter, and close friend of mine. Speaking of which, didn’t I tell you that you didn’t have to call me your alpha?” She asked the wolf. “I’m no wolf, and though I’m your leader I don’t want to be related to those that I… beat.”

“Is something wrong?” Sweetie Belle noticed the shudder and short lived frown that adorned Psyche’s face. “Did something bad happen to the other alph- I mean leader?”

“I’d rather not remember it, and I don’t think Psyche wants to either,” Griz told Sweetie Belle before turning to Psyche. She made a light chuckled and muttered something under her breath, something that he knew was an attempt to make her feel better about herself. “Let me guess: Arthis tried to either kill Silvia or Luminous.”

“Both,” Psyche answered, Griz responding with a sigh. “The idiot had already been warned, but I’m going to have to ask Alferiea why he was ordered to kill them. I specifically said I want Luminous unharmed, and to come at her own free will. Sadly, none of those things happened, and I got a little too upset,” She laughed weakly, only loud enough for Griz to hear it. “I hate just how normal things like this have become.”

“You want the fold?” Griz said, pulling out a piece of fabric that had been torn from a pack he was carrying.

Psyche nodded, letting her companion tie it around her eyes. Sweetie watched in confusion, wondering what the reason was that Psyche was now blindfolded. She felt compelled to ask, but Griz motioned for to not say anything, knowing just how much the reason upset his friend. Sweetie was positive that Psyche wouldn’t be able to see through the blind, but the sudden sound of voices in her mind stopped her train of thought. The blindfolded mare looked back to Sweetie, motioning for the filly to follow her.

“I promise you, I’ll find Rarity,” She said with courage. “After the mistake that I made earlier, I need to make a good first impression on at least one old friend.”

“So this Tantabus thing, pony, whatever, showed you a world that use to be our owns?” Thunder asked as she looked to Luminous, who currently had the Tantabus in the form of a masquerade identical to that of the first night she had it. “I’m sorry, it’s just really hard to believe, even with that Tantabus creature currently on your face… which is weird in and of itself”

“How did you think I dealt with it?” Luminous asked her closest friend, “Learning I’m some pony from another timeline, someone important as a matter of fact! The amount of pressure that puts on me is why I decided to stay Luminous. At first I thought the world had gone mad, but after meeting a thousand year dead princess and a tyrant that has no interest in killing me, I guess I’ll kinda believe anything.”

Thunder Shield’s worries had long since washed away, being replaced by a feeling of dread that persisted throughout the long talk. She couldn’t speak about Neon, knowing that it would endanger her even greater than she already was. Another thing kept her from talking about returning to Canterlot, and that was the wolf who traveled with them. The two’s reunion wasn’t as fulfilling as Thunder had hoped for, Arthis continuing to try and kill them, until that… creature possessed him. That didn’t stop the two from acting like foals as soon as it was over of course, chasing each other around like siblings.

The two had notice changes of course, the main one for Silvia being just how much Thunder had gained in terms of personality. She barely ever saw paradoxes with complex personalities, and she was certain Melody was only using Vinyl as a reference for her own emotions. The Thunder she remembered was timid, but that was all that her friend had during that stage. Now, to see the loyalty towards Luminous, the endless courage and valor, and at the same time a full grown mare who acted like a spoiled child out of combat was a surprise. It was something that put a smile on her muzzle, and judging by Moondancer’s reaction something she didn’t often see.

“Killing you is a waste, and not just in the oath I swore,” Arcane spoke up. “The way you looked at that book of spells back at my place, and the naivety that followed when you finally woke from your trance. The only pony who could have been so entranced was the very pony that almost gave me Equestria.”

“You… remember the other Equestria?” Luminous asked. This wasn’t the first time Arcane had brought up her other self, but it was the first time she had obtained the curiosity to question him. “Why is it that you do and nopony else did, not even us paradoxes?”

“Those are things that prove how different you and Twilight are,” Arcane told her. When ever he looked at Luminous he could help but laugh on the inside of drastically different she was from his old enemy. “Though, if I had to explain, I would go back to an old saying before the three tribes came together long ago. If I remember it correctly, the earth pony saying was ‘No matter the good deeds, the apologies, or changes, an evil heart remembers everything’ and a very similar unicorn saying that went ‘evil never leaves, never forgets, and will cause a cruel repetition’. Most of those old sayings were lost or forgotten when Equestria came together under Celestia and Luna. Take a guess at which of the two destroyed it, like she did everything that defied her perspective.”

“Celestia.”

Everyone stopped to look at Luminous, the princess gritting her teeth as she spoke the name. She didn’t know what made her say that, but something inside her immediately jumped to that name. Moondancer was the most shocked, seeing a feeling of anger that she never knew Luminous had within herself. The archivist looked to Arcane, who stood there smiling at what Luminous had just said. She couldn’t help but feel like something about Luminous saying that was… off.

“You know, this is the first time I’ve looked at your eyes since that entire wolf fiasco,” Arcane said, drawing everyone's attention to Luminous’ eyes. “I’m sure you haven’t noticed, but it seems that whatever the Tantabus did woke something. Last I checked, normal ponies don’t have eyes resembling that of a stain glass window.”

“Did that thing that possessed the wolf, Psyche I believe it called itself, say something similar?” Moondancer asked. “Does this creature calling itself Psyche know what happened?”

“I doubt it would tell us even if we found it,” Silvia explained as she heard something not far away from them. “The way it spoke seemed to suggest it wanted Luminous dead. Also, I think it’s unfair to call Psyche a monster or creature of the darkness, as I’ve never heard of any creature able to possess a body, or one living anyway. It knew about the other world, so I think it’s fair to say this is a paradox… though how no paradox hunter knew of it is beyond me.”

“It knew me,” Luminous responded, looking up to the sky as if she wasn’t even paying attention. “Psyche knew me, or rather it knew Twilight in some way. They wanted me to become my past, and abandon who I currently am,” She looked to Arcane. “Twilight almost gave Equestria to you, and you remember because of the evil that you can’t get rid of. Yet, you haven’t questioned or berated me for my decision to stay Luminous.”

“That’s because this world has no place for a ‘Twilight Sparkle’ or alicorn princess,” Arcane told the princess. “As much as you share a soul you are two ponies with two different lives. I could never imagined that stupid excuse for a princess take up a sword or kill someone that harmed their citizens, or even hurt them. She would preach the teachings of Princess Celestia to any who opposed, and if that didn’t work imprison them with the elements. That ‘princess’ may have thought she had free will of her life, but she was a puppet constantly played by Celestia. Anything the princess didn’t like, she would have Twilight get rid of. Forced happiness is not true happiness, even she won’t admit it.”

“You must really hate the princesses,” Moondancer stated, something which everyone could tell was pretty obvious at this point. “I never knew them, and Canterlots neutral stance on which ruler was the true ruler means that we never got involved with the fighting between the Lunar Republic and Solar Empire.”

“A wise decision, but you are half wrong about one thing,” Arcane told the archivist. “Before I became known as Sombra I was a lot closer to the crown, or to Luna more specifically. Where Celestia forced joy and friendship onto those who even slightly insult the other, Luna knew where her position was suppose to be. She knew the crown should stay out of things they should control, and that those who hate or don’t like each other is natural. Celestia would constantly say how happy everything is, but every night Luna dealt with the nightmares of every citizen in Equestria. The nightmares almost consumed her to the point of them corrupting her, only for that self-centered dragoness did one of the only few things she has ever done right.”

“You mean Topaz?” Luminous asked. She didn’t want to believe how right she was, remembering how the former assistant of princess Luna had acted.

“Yes, it was indeed her, but before we get to that,” Arcane’s horn lit up, and without even looking threw something right in front of them. “I think it’s important that a certain wingless pegasus heard everything I’m about to say.”

Silvia sighed as she looked to what, or more accurately who, Arcane had thrown with his telekinesis. She saw Rainbow Dash, head buried in dirt from the throw, lying on the ground in front of her. It didn’t surprise her that Rainbow had followed her here, having known well that the wingless pegasus was planning to run away. As Rainbow lifted her head, she turned to Arcane who was smiling creepily at her.

“You could have just said my name you know.” Rainbow told him, though he didn’t care about what she was saying.

“Starswirl had repeatedly told Luna to take a break from her, heh, ‘dream jobs’, but she wasn’t going to hear him out,” Arcane said, completely ignoring the pony who had just yelled at him. “Than Topaz came, and much to Celestia’s pleads for Luna to turn her away, she accepted the dragonesses offer to work at her side. We didn’t really get along that well, but she kept Luna from going over the edge, forcing the nightmare’s that had started to consume her to subside. I knew the two had planned to separate from Celestia’s Equestria, and a vast amount of ponies including residents of other species had her back, but I never saw it through.

“Luna sent me to the frozen north after news spread of anarchy in the crystal empire. Apparently the royal family there had been assassinated for one reason or another, and as I learned before my banishment it was Celestia who had done it. I was to act as a stand in until Luna separated and brought the empire under her banner and I planned to use it as a way to research the strange crystals that were unique to the area. However, when I arrived the empire was in chains, being controlled by someone working under Celestia. I killed him, and through my best attempts tried to get the empire back on its hooves. The plan was half a success, having restored some balance, but the Celestia showed up.”

“Are you saying that Celestia banished you for… interfering in her complete rule?” Moondancer asked, but with everything that had just been revealed, Arcane didn’t respond. “Do… do you not know?”

“Everything after that is a mystery, as I wasn’t around during both histories,” He admitted to the dismay of everyone except for Rainbow Dash, who had no idea what was going on. “In one I failed and Luna was overtaken by the nightmare, and in this one Topaz was the only thing keeping Celestia from absolute rule. It’s upsetting that Luna died, but good riddance she took Celestia with her. I awoke early from my imprisonment due to Celestia’s death weakening the curse, but since I’m the one of caused the empire to vanish, we still have a good two years before it shows back up.”

With that Arcane finished his talking and started walking again, not caring for more questions or comments. Nopony knew whether to believe him or not, but Luminous felt the truth in his words. A part of her agreed with what he said, and she could hear something else as well. A voice was calling out to her, but unlike the ones the overwhelmed or the weird trances that had occured, she was well aware of everypony around her. As her companions started after Arcane, she looked back up to the sky, and she managed to make out the words the voice was saying to her.

“Help me. Can you hear me… Luminous?” It said, Luminous instantly recognizing the voice from her talk with the Tantabus.

“Twilight,” The name reached her thoughts easily. She looked to the sky as she started walking, looking at the starless, pitch black void that surrounded her. “Is that really you?”

“You gave me your word Swift. You told me that Luminous would be in the wilds by this point, and yet you completely leave out the fact that her two closest friends left as well.” Swift did his best to keep his eyes on Neon as she spoke, her figure unrecognizable from the nightmare’s corruption. “I told you I wanted her dead, and you let them leave after her? I swear, after you’ve so eagerly followed my command, why do you know try to defy me now.”

“I didn’t, in fact I didn’t even know they left until you informed-”

“I saw those drawings, idiot, and I know what you tried to do,” The tone that Neon spoke with was more maniacal than Swift Spell had imagined. “This was Twilight’s backup plan… your mother’s backup plan. I would imprison you if I could, but you destroyed the elements long ago.”

“Neon, that’s not you speaking… isn’t it?” Swift asked, standing tall as he prepared for what was to come. He got no response, but that was enough to tell him what was going on. “You lost, I’m sure you know that by now. Without the elements to tamper with anyone's beliefs, without your power or body to wipe me out of existence, you have no authority over me. No longer do you control the world as if it is a game of chess weighed heavily in your favor. So if your going to kill me, torture me, or turn my body to stone, I have one last thing to say to you: to the empress who forced everyone to follow her vision and crushed all who gave the peasants and poor ponies of Equestria hope, you have no pieces left to defend yourself. I have won without a single piece lost, save for my queen and knight, so consider it checkmate.”

“You’re very fun, Swift, but you haven’t answer my question,” Neon, or the pony who had possessed her, turned as she spoke. “Why isn’t Luminous dead?!”

“Twilight, I don’t know why this is all happening, and I don’t truly understand myself, but for some reason you and me are the same pony. Two with entirely different lives, but the same nonetheless. Was everything that Arcane said really true? Was I just a puppet controlled by Princess Celestia? I want to believe him, but my mind is torn in half. One side tells me she’s good, but the other tells me I’m wrong.

“I guess how I acted earlier with the Tantabus may have been me saying I reject you, but that isn’t true. Yes, you were once me, and at the same time I’m your fractured soul, but we aren’t the same. Our lives, though somewhat similar, were very different. You never led your mother to her death, or became the captain of the royal guard, something that I only obtained because of my status as royalty! I never had to earn anything, and you had to obtain everything from your place in history to your friendship. I didn’t need to fail, or rather they never told me I failed, and that’s why we are not the same.

“So Twilight, please tell me… what is this world that I live in?”

…

“Luminous, I can’t tell you much, but I understand what your trying to say. Never for a moment did I feel you reject my existence, but instead of becoming who I was you followed who you are. Yes, Celestia used me but she was in many cases right! I know how your sister and family follow Luna more, but just because our perspectives are different doesn’t mean you’re wrong. If I could do one thing in my life again, it would be to reject Celestia’s offer of ascension.

“I can’t tell you what to believe, you’ll just have to see where you find your truth, because I’ve learned something. In my time, I have never seen truth, but at the same time I’ve never seen lies. One ponies truth is another ponies lie, one correct mark on history could be seen as propaganda, and one ponies emotions can turn them into someone entirely different from who you really are. It’s up to you to believe whether or not Arcane is true and the ponies around you and what your perspective is. The only truth that I can tell you, if you want to believe it, is this.

“The beginning of your story is over, and you are about to see what my life was truly like, and please stop blaming yourself. Your mother’s death was not your fault.”

Author's Note

And so ends the first part of Descendant of the Night. It was quiet a journey and at many times one that I that I took a little too personal. I've said some harsh things to some people who probably don't deserve it, and if you are one of those people then I am truly sorry. I can be an emotional wreck at times, and I'm even more of naive kid then I like to admit. So, even if you aren't really reading this, just now that I'm sorry and I shouldn't have said some of the things I did.

Still, I started this story and I have a duty to finish it, but due to the above mentioned issues I've caused due to this story I'm going to take a break. I need to reevaluate a few things, so I hope you understand.

And to Raw Cringe, with some of the things I've said and how bad I was acting, I don't expect you to forgive me, but I understand some of the stuff you said now. You didn't deserve the amount of harsh words that I threw at you no matter what happened. So, if it means anything to you by this point, I'm truly sorry for everything I said and did.

See you in part two, if you so wish, and live a good life. Same goes to the rest of you, and don't let other peoples perspectives make you think lowly of them. Be open, and know that no matter what someone says, don't base them just on that.

-Vaatidj