It was a quiet day in Ponyville. Not a sound was heard other than that of nature, as the gentle Autumn breeze blew leaves to and fro.

The sun shone brightly down on the small town, bathing its citizens in its warm rays.

The blue sky was clear as crystal, not a cloud in sight to imply inclement weather. The pegasi must have done a masterful job today.

The melodious sounds of the birds as they sang their sweet songs rang throughout the forest, and the very air brimmed with a vitality that energized all who felt it.

Today was simply a picture perfect day for any and all who experienced it.

The only other sound to disturb this peaceful tranquility, was the sound of a portal opening somewhere near a hill just outside Ponyville proper.

A girl with red and yellow two tone hair stepped carefully out of the portal and onto the hilltop, where an overview of Ponyville awaited her.

And as the portal behind her closed, and she got a good look at her homeworld, what she saw below the hill, shocked her to no end.

"Wh-what's going on?" Sunset said as she looked on from her perch on the hilltop. As she surveyed her surroundings, she looked down at the town she had known so well so long ago.

Ponyville...was in ruins.

It was a quiet day because no one was there. Everyone was gone. No shopkeepers, no people walking back and forth to their jobs and homes respectively. They were all just...gone.

The breeze was not gentle. In fact, it was almost nonexistent. The only evidence that it was still there was the occasional ashes that flew past her field of vision.

The sun was not shining. In fact, as far as sunset was concerned, it wasn't even there. And if it was, it certainly wasn't warm.

The sky was covered in gray clouds, obscuring its presence with a blanket of ominous darkness that made Sunset shiver and spoke of the sheer magnitude of the scene she saw before her.

The pegasi had not done a good job at all.

The birds were not singing. Instead, their corpses littered the ground around the path that cut ponyville in half. And as Sunset walked it, the smell of death hit her nose, forcing her to let loose her lunch all over the ground off to the side of the middle of the path.

The air was thick with ash, aiding the clouds in blotting out the sun and blocking off all light, rendering the world awash with darkness. The ash caught in her throat and made it hard to breathe, sending her into a violent coughing fit. The scent of death and blood stuck in her nostrils, stirring her gag reflex once again and making her cover her nose with her hand to block the smell at least a little. This particular smell stood out to her, as her heightened sense of smell returned to her now that she was back on Equus.

After managing to regain her composure at least a little, she was finally able to take in Ponyville up close and personal.

She immediately wished she had stayed in the human world.

Almost nothing was standing. Nothing! Sugar Cube Corner was in ruins, and Carousel Boutique was much the same.

A look to her left showed Sweet Apple Acres, completely destroyed and bereft of its occupants, the only things left of it were a pile of rubble, and the trees in the orchard, which had long since died and shed all their leaves. Some forcibly so, if the charred looked they, along with the rest of Ponyville's trees, had were any indication.

The only places left standing were Twilight's castle, and Fluttershy's cottage, it's position on the outskirts of town having spared it from most of the damage.

It was still quite worn out from the looks of it however. Windows were broken, the walls were scorched black, and the door looked as if it had been ripped clean off it's hinges and left there with no intention of it being put back.

Sunset decided to check Twilight's castle first, going over to it and knocking, just in case her friend had survived all this madness.

'If anyone can stay alive in all this, she can.' Sunset thought to herself as she waited for a response from the other side of the door.

When none came, she grew worried. "Twilight?" she called, "Twilight?! Open up!"

Still nothing.

"Cmon' Twi! I know you're in there! You can stop pretending now. It's really bad out here, you know?" Throughout all of her yelling, she never stopped knocking. And yet still, even after all this, she received no answer.

Sunset lowered her hand and looked down at her feet. 'Don't tell me she's not here, either...'

But then, suddenly, Sunset heard a small creak, drawing her attention back to the door. It was open, with Twilight standing just inside the door frame. She beckoned with a hand for her to come inside.

"I knew it!" Sunset cheered. "I knew she was still here!"

With that, Sunset walked inside the castle, Her stride more confident as she saw that her friend was in the building.

"Jeez, Twilight. Don't scare me like that. I almost thought you were gone, too." Sunset said in a relieved tone.

Twilight however, did not answer, and simply kept walking, Sunset right next to her as they made their way through the castle corridors.

"You know, I figured you would be the one to survive all this. You're such a great leader and you always know just what to do. Of course, you are a princess."

Still no answer. The two simply kept walking down the long corridor, with Sunset the only one making any attempts at conversation.

"I mean, look at me. You saved me from myself after I tried to hypnotize the entire student body, and here I am. Back home and ready to make things right."

Still nothing.

"I owe you, Twilight. I really do. You- Uhhh....Twilight? You've been quiet for quite a while now. Is something wrong?"

Sunset stops walking and grabs Twilight's shoulder, turning her around. She finally gets an answer.

"Nothing's wrong. Nothing at all. I'm perfectly fine." Twilight smiles at her.

Sunset doesn't quite buy it. It was something about Twilight's eyes. So vacant. They looked...dead. Almost...lifeless "Are you sure? You don't look so good, you know? I think we should get you to a-"

"I'm fine, I promise. Let's just keep walking." Twilight turns and continues walking, leaving Sunset behind as she just stands there, soon joining her in her walk.

After a while of walking, Sunset starts to get suspicious. "You know, Twilight. We've been walking down this hallway for quite some time now..."

"This is the way we need to go to get there." Was all Twilight said, not even a look back in her direction.

'At least she's answering my questions now...' "But Twilight. This is the same hallway. Surely if we're trying to get somewhere it'll be a little harder to find than just walking down some long hallway. And where exactly is 'There'?"

Twilight says nothing.

'Back to the silent treatment, I see.' Sunset grumbles. This was getting tiresome.

"Twilight, I asked you a question. Where exactly is-" Sunset walked a little faster, catching up to Twilight. She lifted a hand and grabbed her shoulder, turning her around again. Only this time, what she saw, wasn't Twilight.

"It's the demon world!" The non-Twilight said.

Sunset almost threw up her lunch for the third time that day. Whatever this was, it wasn't Twilight. It looked like her, and sounded like her, but it couldn't be her.

It's eyes were cat-like, and while they were still purple, they glowed menacingly, surrounded by a blue flame that burned eternally.

"You-You're not Twilight, are you?" Sunset asked as she backed away.

"What gave it away?" The non-Twilight said, her tone dripping with sarcasm as she floated into the air. It's voice was like Twilight's but it had a sinister, seductive feel to it that sent chills up her spine.

"My name is Midnight Sparkle, and it's time I send you to hell!"

Midnight lunged at Sunset, arm extended to reach out and grab her. It looked as though Sunset was about to be devoured. That is until...

"Aaarrggh!" Midnight yelled out as blood spurted from her arm in all directions. "Argh! My arm! My arm!" She looked down at Sunset to see her holding up a sword.

It was a massive double-edged obsidian claymore with gold edges that seemed to shimmer with their own light. The guard was golden as well, and had the appearance of a blazing flame

"That sword... Don't tell me you're...his..."

"That's right. And I guess that would make you a demon. Seems dad's been leaving his door open again."

"Arrgh, whatever! Whether you're his child or not, you'll still die by my hand!" Twilight charges at Sunset, who blocks a swipe at her midsection with her sword.

The two remain like this for a few moments before Midnight flies upwards, blasting magic at Sunset, which she easily dodges by simply jumping backward a few feet.

She then proceeds to take out her guns and fire them off, negating Midnight's magic blasts with every shot. She runs along the walls of Twilight's castle and jumps off once she felt she was close enough.

With a cry of rage, she lifts her sword into the air and brings it down. Another clash ensues, with the two staring directly into each other's eyes.

Suddenly, Midnight smirks and uses one hand to open a portal, which she then proceeds to throw Sunset into, only to have her come back out in front of her, where she grabs Sunset and simply squeezes, crushing her slowly.

"Aaaarrrrgh!" Sunset howls in pain, unable to do anything as Midnight crushes her.

"Ahahahahahahahaha! I knew it! Even if you are his daughter, there's one thing you two don't share. You don't have his power, and thus you cannot defeat me!"

"I wouldn't be so sure of that if I were you." Sunset said, causing Midnight to look confused. HOwever, she soon discarded it as the ravings of a dying girl and continued crushing her, only to find resistance when she did. Sunset was...pushing back?

"But how! How could you have this much power when you're only a fledgling?"

"I don't know..." Sunset said as she broke free of Midnight's grip and fell to the ground, where she caught herself and began running up to her.

She jumped into the air and once again, brought her sword down upon Midnight. "Why don't you ask my father...when you see him in hell!"

With that, she cleaved Midnight down the middle and landed, putting her sword away into its scabbard and her guns into their holsters.

She turned around and walked away, brushing the dirt from the battle off her jacket.

Before she could leave the castle however, she felt a presence from behind her.

She grabbed her sword, turned around and swung, catching her attacker head on and stopping them before they could hurt her.

But then something strange happened. The presence she felt wasn't an attack, but a ball of energy. One that absorbed into her sword, causing it to glow a sinister purple.

The glow faded and Sunset sighed in relief, putting her sword away.

But then she felt another strange sensation, this one in her arms.

She lifted them to check, and saw that they were covered by dark purple gauntlets that glowed with power.

Sunset shrugged and turned back around, continuing her walk.

As she made her way down the path between the Everfree Forest and Ponyville, she spotted a figure coming out of the Forest, carrying what looked to be quite a heavy load. As she got closer, she saw that it was someone unfamiliar to her.

To be honest, it didn't matter whether she knew them or not, having anyone at all to talk about this with was a blessing.

She made her way over to them. "Um...need any help?"

The figure looked up at the sound of Sunset's voice. "How kind of you to offer me your aid. I have quite a lot to carry I'm afraid."

Sunset smiled. "Don't worry about it. We all need a little help here and there. I'm Sunset Shimmer, by the way." She offered her hand to shake.

The figure accepted her hand. "And my name is Zecora. Nice to meet you Sunset. I'm a traveling shaman, although i lost my wares in a bet."

"What kind of bet?" Sunset asked. Surely it wasn't worth her entire livelihood?

"A bet with the devil himself I'm sad to say. It is one I still regret to this day. In exchange for my survival of all this chaos, I'm afraid all my possessions had to be lost. Now I roam in search of my scattered things, hoping and praying I find something."

"Who would do such a thing?" Sunset asked, appalled.

"A man with no room for remorse in his heart. He lives for fun, and tears order apart. In the shadows he does lurk. I can assure you, all of this is his work. Like a dragon he holds his own hoard, a man with greed beyond end, named Discord."

This name seemed to strike a chord with Sunset, and a scowl crossed her face, even as she easily carried the cauldron full of knick knacks and trinkets.

"Friend, why do you scowl so. It is as if I talk of someone you know." Zecora asks with a worried look

"Yeah, you could say we have... a bit of a history with each other." Sunset answered, still scowling, which was soon replaced with as she asked, "Where do you want this?"

"You can place it anywhere you wish, I simply needed time to gather my strength for something like this."

"I see..." Sunset said, placing it down in the center of the path.

Zecora spoke again. "I will be able to carry this on my own, now that I have the strength to make my way alone. You, however, look prepared for a quest. Will you travel the lands and rid us of this pest?"

Sunset turned away and smiled, looking over her shoulder as she walked away, waving. "That's the plan!"

With that said she turned back to face ahead of her, looking up to the sky, Where a misshapen cloud stared back at her.

'Discord... I'm coming for you, so be ready."

Author's Note

You're down to 89/100 health.

By defeating Midnight, you earned 1000 apples.

These can be used in the story's newest mechanic, Traveling Shaman!

Here you can upgrade your weapons, and their abilities! As well as buy healing items!

By defeating Midnight, you've earned new Abilities

1. Dark Magic: Enhance your attacks with magic to make them stronger!
   Current: 50
   Magic:75
   You can also create portals to trap enemies, and return to previously visited locations. (This will take you back to Zecora's shop.)

Currently available locations: Ponyville

From this point forward, you will have a choice to make. However, since you haven't unlocked all of her abilities, the only choices you have right now are, where mission 2 starts, which style she should make use of in mission 2, and which boss she should fight in mission 2, if any at all.

Depending on where the mission starts, her boss choices change. The weapons and skills she receives depends on the boss she fights, so choose wisely. (I won't include the children of Twilight's school.)

(Discord will act as the environmental part of the game. Basically any part that involves puzzles and or secret missions.)

Ponyville
The Main 6-
Twilight Sparkle
~~Midnight Sparkle~~
Rainbow Dash
Rainbow (Factory) Dash
Apple Jack
Rarity
Nightmare Rarity
Pinkie Pie
Pinkamena
Fluttershy
Spike
Spike (Greed)

The CMC-(You can choose just one, two, or all three.)
Scootaloo
Sweetie Belle
Apple Bloom

Side Characters
Big Mac
Vinyl Scratch
Snips and Snails
Derpy

Canterlot
Celestia
Luna
Daybreaker
Nightmare Moon

The Crystal Empire
Cadence
Shining Armor
Flurry Heart
Sombra

The Badlands
Thorax
Chrysalis

Griffonstone
Gilda

The Dragon Lands
Ember
Garble
Torch
(The voting closes at 12:00 P.M. tomorrow.)