The Hardest Fight...

Twilight remembered all too clearly how this began six years ago. It was a warm day in Ponyville. The sun was beating down on the residents with its welcoming glow. She just assumed it would be a normal day. Looking back on it, she wish it had been. On that day, she received a note from her assistant, Spike. It was an urgent request from the princess of the sun, Celestia. Twilight's presence was needed for an emergency meeting between the two. Not another soul was to hear of it. Without hesitation, Twilight packed her satchel and prepared to fly to Canterlot.

"Take care of the castle while I'm gone."

"I've got you covered."

Twilight rushed out the doors and took to the air.

"I feel uneasy..."

"You've arrived."

"What's the trouble?"

"I sense a very disturbing energy through the mirror portal. It's far more ominous than anything we've ever encountered before. The very feeling made me sick to my core."

"You mean...From that world?"

"I don't think it's the same place you've been before. The world you described on your previous journeys never felt like this."

"Another location?"

"It seems likely. I need you to investigate. I have no idea how far whatever's happening there could reach. We must attempt to put an end to it."

"I won't have my magic. How will i defend myself?"

"We will send you with a spear. It should remain intact through the transition."

"What's the danger level?"

"We think it's code black."

"The death level..."

"I'm afraid so. I'm not going to lie, Twilight Sparkle, you may not make it back. Are you prepared to give your life to defend Equestria?"

"I have been for a long time."

"We'll notify your friends and family of the situation. Please, use extreme caution."

"Roger."

"I must inform you, if you don't make it back, we will have no other choice but to commence operation heavenly storm."

"Heavenly storm?"

"If one of our operatives is killed in another world, the only solution to ensure the safety of our home is to destroy that world completely."

"I see."

"If possible, find warriors to join forces with. It will be a lot easier if you join their defense units."

"Understood."

"i wish you luck."

December 31st, 2000

When Twilight made her way to the other world, the sky was covered in dark, sad-looking clouds, though the leaves of the forest she found herself in obscured the sky to an extent. While gathering her bearings, she noticed something extremely odd.

"My form didn't change?"

While examining the lack of transformation that had occurred, she felt something wet drop on her head.

"Rain...?"

it was indeed raining. When the princess said this world was dangerous, she expected something more chaotic. What lay before Twilight now was a quiet gloom.

"This is like something out of a horror novel. I don't like this..."

She looked around for a moment before deciding on a course of action.

"Shelter is a priority. I'd better get out of here."

After making her way to what appeared to be a concrete road, Twilight quickly scouted the area.

"It looks like I'll have to travel a little farther."

When Twilight was about to leave, she detected a noise coming from the opposite direction of the road. Upon inspection, she realized someone was coming. It was a young woman. Twilight wasn't sure what to do. She ultimately decided to try to make contact.

"Hey!"

The woman ignored her and eventually began walking past her.

"What's going on? Can she not see me?"

While Twilight was trying to wrap her head around the strange place she now found herself in, the woman suddenly collapsed on the ground.

"Uh oh! What do i do!? Think, Twilight, think!"

After some time had passed, she remembered something.

"Wait, maybe I can still perform a healing spell!"

Twilight quickly galloped over to the woman. A light green glow emanated from her horn.

"Please, work!"

The woman began to open her eyes. Beyond the long, black strands of hair that covered them, she could see something; a purple figure standing over her.

"Am I...Dead...?"

"No, but you were unconscious for a while."

"So...You're real?"

"Flesh and blood, just like you."

"What...What are you?"

"My name is Twilight; Twilight Sparkle. I'm an Alicorn from the planet Equestria. I was sent here to investigate a catastrophe that's been affecting this world."

"That's putting it mildly."

"You seem to be taking this pretty well."

"My whole life fell apart in a matter of hours last night. I can believe anything at this point."

"Can you tell me what happened?"

The woman began to rise to her feet.

"Do you have clowns in your world?"

"Clowns? I don't think so."

"They were originally meant to entertain people. At some point, companies started producing creepy clown masks for Halloween. Last night, there were massive clown raids all over the country. A lot of people got killed."

"Halloween? Is that like Nightmare Night?"

"Sounds close enough."

"So members of your species kill each other on this planet?"

"Yeah. Since you asked, I'm assuming they don't on yours."

Twilight shook her head in response.

"Hallucination or not, I wish I had what you have."

"Can you tell me what world I'm on?"

"Earth."

"So this is Earth..."

"What?"

"Never mind. Can you tell me where we are."

"The outskirts of my hometown, Americus. We're in the United States right now; specifically the state of Georgia."

"What's the date?"

"It's the 31st of December in the year 2000. What date are you from?"

"August 25th, 1400215."

"You were sent into the past?"

"It looks that way."

"I think i get what's going on now."

"Explain it to me, because I'm lost."

"Have you ever heard of multiverse theory?"

"Yeah, actually. There are virtually infinite universes, right?"

"I think so."

"What's that have to do with me?"

"Because of how much farther in the future you are, it's possible that humans used to exist in your world too, but they died off, and your species evolved to become the dominant one."

"The theory of evolution..."

"Exactly."

"What I said a minute ago; I've been to Earth before, but this is a different universe. That would explain your skin color and clothing."

"That makes sense. So now what do we do?"

"I need to get back to Equestria. This is vital information for my mission."

"By the way, what race are you supposed to be anyway? You said you were an Alicorn, but I'm assuming not everyone on your planet looks the same."

"You're right. We're an evolved pony species with magical abilities."

"I should've known by the bodily structure. We have ponies here, but they don't look like you."

"Interesting. I'll have to study them sometime."

"I noticed that you're carrying a weapon."

"You know what spears are?"

The woman nodded.

"I have to get going. We're in deeper trouble than I thought. I'll probably be back soon."

"Take care."

Twilight began to walk off, but she remembered something that made her stop.

"I never asked you your name."

"It's Maria; Maria Drake."

"Drake like in dragon?"

"How did you know?"

"My best friend is a dragon. He's like a younger brother to me."

"Neat."

"What are you going to do, Maria?"

"Whatever I can to stay alive."

"I'll try to find you when I come back. I think we need to stick together."

"I agree."

"Goodbye."

With that, Twilight returned to the forest to find the portal.

"You made it back," the princess stated gleefully.

"I haven't encountered the threat yet. I need to submit a report now. What I found out could change our entire future. I'll need to go back first thing tomorrow."

"But the portal will be closed by then."

"I don't think I'll need it."

"What?"

"Read the report and you'll understand everything, princess."

"...Very well."

The guards escorted Twilight to her quarters for the evening. The real nightmare was about to begin.