Author's Note

"There is a ghost in all of us! There are many that try to open their minds deciphering the intellect of spiritual design!"

-Erra, White Noise

Phantom Pulse

One year has gone by since Twilight's meeting with her own split soul. Her mane grew long over the course of her training, covering her right eye. Currently, she was completing the last of her calisthenic exercises in the forest of summer's warmth, topping out at 9200 reps for each one. Her final struggle against her soul was expected to take place earlier in the evening than usual. The explanation for this was that it just seemed more fitting to the separated entity. All that was standing between them now was time and what little remaining cardio Twilight had left to finish.

"I guess this is the end," the inner self claimed with honesty.

"..."

"I know it must've been a tough road for you."

"..."

"Would you please say something?"

Not a word escaped the original Twilight's mouth. However, there was a most unusual body language. Without any prior knowledge of this ability, the inner self watched as the original's body became momentarily translucent before returning to normal.

"Dude, what the hell was that!?"

That was the last thought to cross the inner self's mind before Twilight phased over to her. The motion was so swift it created a multi-frame afterimage. The inner self tried to strike Twilight with her hoof, but it only went through her body. Twilight Sparkle was somehow defensively intangible. With speed only matched by a god, Twilight lifted the inner self high above the forest. Before the inner self knew it, they were over Twilight's home of Ponyville.

"You know what I was thinking after Shining left that night," She finally spoke inquisitively.

"Holy shit! Calm down for a minute, alright!?"

"You're telling me to calm down when my body was destroyed every night for an entire year; when I lost my first home here because I couldn't stop a power hungry monster from throwing a temper tantrum? None of that's even the worst part. When my big brother left the forest the day after meeting you, I had to ask myself if I was even fit to be around my niece while she grew up in a loving, happy home. You stole my entire personality and replaced who I was with an empty shell full of grief and remorse. My nature was changed forever, and I can't go back to the way I used to be, so I think it's only fair you pay the price for the role you played."

Twilight tossed the inner self to the ground with enough speed and force to break every bone within a normal creature's anatomy. The inner self crashed where the charred remains of the library had long ago been removed. Twilight phased to the ground.

"What are you gonna' do? You can't kill me."

"I can expose you."

"For what? I'm just part of you."

"An unnecessary part that shouldn't exist."

"Did you ever stop to think that maybe having me around was useful!? I triggered your fucking survival instinct! The least you could do is show me a little appreciation here!"

"What am I supposed to survive? We handled everything just fine before."

"Did you ever stop and think you could die in one of you and your friends' little escapades!? Maintaining yourself is kind of important, don't ya' think!?"

"I'll die one day anyway, and all of us will be remembered as heroes when we go. I'm not afraid when my time comes."

"You're stupid."

"Compared to you, my knowledge is limited, but you did your worst, and I came out on top."

"You don't get it at all. Without a desire for self-preservation, you're just leaving yourself vulnerable to worse mental deterioration."

"I only need to stay alive long enough to beat the next threat. That's what my purpose is."

"You're telling me you think giving up like that is defeating me!? Are you that dense!?"

"You tell me what I'm supposed to do then."

"For fuck's sake! Just live life with love, sympathy, and empathy for others! At least if you go out before your time, you'll have done your best!"

Twilight was dumbstruck at the shift in tone this conversation was taking.

"If you want to expose me, whatever! Fine! Just stop with this ghost power crap and fight me with the strength and character you're familiar with! That's all I ask!"

"...You know what? You're right."

"Thank you!"

The inner self breathed a sigh of relief.

"Before you start wailing on me though, I should warn you that the burst of deadly energy you created probably woke up the spirits of the dead. You might have to contend with some pretty vicious apparitions when this is all over."

"I'll take whatever they can dish out."

"Now you're talking like the Twilight I remember."

The battle between the two connected forces didn't last as long as they expected. Twilight's immense physical strength quickly overwhelmed her internal counterpart. Once the inner self was beaten into submission, Twilight threw her through each of her friends' homes, explaining the situation as best she could in the least amount of words. Also, just for effect, she wanted to make something of a dramatic entrance. She could worry about the consequences later.

"You can be a real pain in your friends' rumps sometimes, you know that?"

"We're all like that. It's why we love each other."

"Guess I can't argue with that logic."

"I'll let the princess deal with you. I think we've both taken enough beatings for one lifetime."

"What about Shining?"

"He got enough of you the first time around."

"Fair enough."

With the defeated half of her soul at her side, Twilight went forward to Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

"Dear goodness, Twilight! What is that thing," Celestia asked.

"I'll let her explain."

"Good evening, your royal highnesses. I am Twilight Sparkle, or more specifically, half of her soul she was born with that never saw the light of day."

"Preposterous," Luna declared, "One cannot separate themselves into two different ponies."

"Not on a conscious level," the inner self replied, "However, through extreme isolation and deep thought, a new physical specimen can be created when the seal of the mind is broken."

"Seal of the mind," Celestia wondered out loud.

"Everyone in Equestria was born with a safety lock in their heads. It keeps dark thoughts from taking control of the brain."

"I see. So you're Twilight's dark thoughts?"

"Yes."

"Why did you awaken?"

"To trigger her survival instinct."

"I don't follow."

"I'll give an example. What's the hardest thing you've ever done?"

"Well, banishing Luna to the moon."

"Okay. So say Twilight's brother Shining Armor died. It's unlikely as it currently stands, but not beyond the realm of possibility. I would drive Twilight into one of two directions; self-destructive and insane, or heartfelt with a predisposition for more strength than she thought possible. Judging by the thrashing she gave me from the woods to here, I'm confident it would be the latter, because I was winning our fights up until today."

"Twilight was fighting with herself?"

"Correct."

"And you say she won today? Why is that significant?"

"Because it was our final struggle, and she bested me. She's mastered control over her emotions."

"If I'm honest," Twilight added, "I stopped feeling the physical pain after the first two months."

"There you go! The only thing that was holding her back was her own head. Once she decided enough was enough, I was easy pickings."

"What will you do now," Celestia wondered again.

"My job is done. I can be destroyed with a simple light spell, but I need you to unlock her magic."

"Very well. I shall do as you request."

Removing herself from her throne, Celestia came face to face with her pupil. There was a hardened look deep behind Twilight's content expression.

"Was the journey difficult?"

"There was a lot of heartache, but I'm still here."

"Indeed you are."

Once again touching Twilight's horn with her own, Celestia broke the seal that had cut off Twilight's natural talent of magic.

"There's one more thing I should probably mention," the inner self stated, "Be extremely cautious. There's spiritual power lurking around now. Your pupil lost her temper with me, and I discovered she has powers you would only expect to see from ghosts. That may very well have summoned the spirits of the dead to this world."

"Thank you for the warning," Celestia acknowledged.

"Don't mention it."

Twilight faced herself for what would be the last time.

"Don't show your face here again," She joked.

"What face?"

Twilight and her inner self burst out laughing. When the fit was over, Twilight cast the light spell, and the half of her soul which had plagued her for so long was no more.

"I have to go, princess. I kind of overdid it earlier, so I need to help my friends fix their homes."

"I wish you well, Twilight Sparkle."

"Take heart, young one," Luna said, "If what we heard with our ears is true, there is hope for us all."

"Thank you, princess Luna."

Twilight left the castle with balanced spirits. Now in control of her own fate, there was a new task at hand: Vanquishing whatever malevolent entities she might have unleashed.