Revenge of the Shadow Pony

Inside the prison, Starlight had a hard time breathing. She couldn’t believe what Apple Bloom said when she was being rescued. Spike was the very being that they were struggling against and she was at a loss for words.

“That thing back at the cave…” Starlight muttered.

“Starlight…?” Sunset asked, leaning in to hear her.

“Spike told me that he was going to explore the cave to search for gems. I told him not to leave and to return in one hour. The next thing I knew while he was down, I heard this terrifying roar deep in the cave and I went to check it out. I thought he was dead. But he was in front of me the entire time… covered by that disgusting ooze and possessed by the Malachite Crystal carrying his beating heart. What are we gonna do?” Starlight said, traumatized by the outcome.

“Starlight… whatever’s left of Spike is now dead. All I see is a monster doing everything he can to kill us.” Sunset said.

“Even so, we have to figure out how to stop him. We just need to-” Starlight said before being cut off by Tempest.

“Talk to him? Look over there, Starlight. Those heads belonged to two fillies. We’d have a more likely chance of asking an Ursa Major to share its meal than talking to your friend.” Tempest said in an angry tone.

“And how do you know that? If we can just find him, we-” Starlight said before being interrupted by Sunset.

“Starlight, there is nothing we can do to save him. Whatever remained inside Spike is now gone. All we can hope now is that sooner or later, the creatures will start killing each other and minimizing their hold on us.” Sunset said as she grabbed Apple Bloom.

“I don’t care what you two have to say. I’m gonna find Spike and talk to him before I can figure out what to do next. And whether you two join me or not, I am going to him and you are not going to stop me. When we make it back to Zecora’s hut, I’m leaving.” Starlight declared.

“And where to, exactly?” a familiar, feminine voice asked.

They were immediately startled by the voice. They looked around to see who it was, but she was nowhere to be seen. Though they already knew who it was.

“Twilight…?” Sunset nervously asked as she looked around.

“How kind of you to remember, Sunset Shimmer. I was beginning to think you would forget about little old me~.” Midnight taunted.

“Where are you?! I know you want Flurry Heart!” Starlight shouted.

“Astute as always, Starlight Glimmer. Though I am starting to find your suspicious feelings of me annoying…” Midnight taunted.

“Enough! We have been separated long enough! Just show yourself and we can work something out!” Tempest reasoned.

“Oh? You want to work something out, Tempest Shadow? Or should I say Fizzlepop Berrytwist? Especially after what you tried to pull against Equestria with the Storm King?” MIdnight menaced.

“Your name is Fizzlepop Berrytwist...?” Starlight asked, shocked by her real name.

“Not now, Starlight…” Tempest said in an irritated tone.

“Where are you?! We didn’t come here to fight!” Sunset shouted.

“Silly little Sunset~. You know exactly where I am~.” Midnight taunted.

Starlight and Sunset proceeded to look around for their former friend while Tempest remained close to Apple Bloom. They checked every inch of the prison block, but there was no sign of the rogue alicorn. Sweat trickled down their faces as they kept searching for Midnight, but to no avail. Just then, they heard rattling.

“Did you hear that?” Starlight whispered as her eyes widened.

“I heard it too.” Sunset whispered while getting back.

They started to hear this unholy, guttural sound approach them while they both tried backing away. It had a mixture of laughing and wheezing as it approached the two unicorns. It grew louder and louder the closer it got to them and it only made the duo back away even further. Starlight glowed her horn ever more brighter and it was revealed to be those grotesque ponies they passed by while searching for Apple Bloom. Except that it was too late to save them. The one in front of them had horns sticking out of its eye socket while a massive tentacle stuck out of its mouth. The rest of the others were far too indescribable to even catch a glimpse of.

“We need to get out of here.” Sunset whispered to Starlight.

“Like you even need to tell me…” Starlight said before immediately dashing towards Apple Bloom’s cell.

The two sprinted towards the cell with the mutated ponies in hot pursuit. Running towards Apple Bloom and Tempest, Starlight grabbed Sunset as well as the former two before teleporting out of the prison.

“Oh Celestia, we made it.” Tempest said, trying to regain her breath.

“Not yet…” Sunset said, facing forward.

The three looked forward as well and saw that it was none other than Midnight.

"Twilight…?" Apple Bloom asked in a shocked tone.

“So… it seems you received some sort of extreme make-over. Care to tell me the details, Twilight?” Starlight taunted.

“This Twilight you speak of is dead. All that remains now is Midnight Sparkle. And you will do well to remember me by that name.” Midnight threatened.

“What happened to you, Twilight? What made you become this monstrosity?” Sunset asked, trying to make sense of her former friend’s situation.

“Why should I have to tell you, Sunset Shimmer? You already know what made me become this. After all, you tried to destroy Equestria with your short-sighted endeavors and your pathetic minions back in the human world.” Midnight sneered.

Hearing this shocked Sunset down to her very core. The Twilight she knew long ago was most certainly dead all that now existed was the monster that is right in front of her.

"Now… where is Flurry Heart?" Midnight asked with a menacing grin.

"You honestly think we will just give her away to a monster like you? Some power-hungry alicorn who thinks she is the center of Equestria and the perfect candidate to take over our home? Besides, haven't you looked in the mirror lately!?" Starlight taunted.

"Oh, that is rich coming from the unicorn who nearly came close to destroying the timeline of Equestria, never mind the fact that you enslaved a whole village to bend to your every whim!" Midnight countered.

Starlight was speechless from hearing Midnight's verbal smackdown on her past self.

"You think you are any different from us!? Just look at what you've become! You were a fool to have made this slime your conduit to your own powers! You are worse than all three of us and every other foe combined!" Tempest shouted.

"Yet you foolishly teamed up with the Storm King because he promised to fix that pathetic little chip on your forehead! The three of you are no heroes! None of you! You are just trying to make up whatever excuse you have to keep going and I'm not fooled!" Midnight shouted before firing a shot at the four of them.

Starlight immediately activated a force field and it deflected towards a random tree.

"A real hero never harms a filly." Starlight countered with a venomous tone.

"Can you handle her, Starlight?" Sunset asked as she grabbed Apple Bloom.

"I'll see you three in a bit…" Starlight said as she glowed her horn.

Understandably nodding, Sunset took Apple Bloom and ran away along with Tempest, leaving only Midnight and Starlight left.

"You should never have banished him in the first place…" Starlight said in an angry voice as her horn glowed brighter.

"You have interfered with my plans… FOR THE LAST TIME!!!" Midnight roared before charging at Starlight.