Celestia took a sip of her chamomile tea. Her eyes darted around occasionally, eyeing up the shadows in the dining room. She hasn't felt this paranoid sense she was a little filly. That strange dream she had about an hour ago really bothered her. She had a feeling that it was imported. REALLY imported. Something was awakening... something dark.... something insane..... something POWERFUL......

She shifted her wings and sighed. It didn't help her nerves that Spike sent a letter not that long ago saying that Discord was murdered (if that was even possible) and her faithful student/Element Of Magic, Twilight Sparkle, was missing. When Celestia heard that Twilight was missing she nearly didn't believe it, than it sunk in and than she sent a large search party, lead by the captain of the royal guard and Twilight's brother; Shining Armor, upon his request, out to find her.

"Sister?" Celestia jumped when she suddenly heard her younger sister, the keeper of the moon, Princess Luna speak from behind her. She plastered on an excellently perfected fake smile and turned towards the blue mare of the night.

"Yes, Luna?"

"What are thou doing up at this time?" Luna said, cocking her head to the side with a worried frown. Celestia turned away from Luna and took a sip of her tea.

"I'm sorry Luna, I couldn't sleep." Celestia mumbled. She heard the clip-clop of hooves approach her and the felt Luna lay a hoof on her shoulder.

"Tia, what is wrong?" Luna asked. Celestia wasn't sure what to do, she didn't want to worry her sister about this big of a matter when she only four and a half months ago escaped from the hold Nightmare Moon had on her for over a thousand years.

"It's okay, I've got it under control..."

"Please Tia, tell us what's wrong," Luna begged.

Celestia shifted her eyes to the floor. She broke and told Luna about her about Discord's murder, Twilight's disappearance, and her dream. When she was done Luna had a grave look on her face.

"Tia, thou knows what this means, right?"

Celestia nodded.

"Something big is about to happen and without the Element Of Magic, Equestria's biggest form of defence is useless." She then sighed and looked out the window and whispered, "Where ARE you Twilight...?"

It's been about a week since I left Ponyville. I walked through the Everfree without a care in the world. Creatures of all shapes and sizes were running out of my way in fear well I hummed absentmindedly a little song I felt the strange urge to sing;

"Hello little pitiful creatures, the game is about to begin.
I have some new ideas that'll make you're heads spin."

I plucked a lizard that was stupid enough not run away off a rock with my magic. I brought it up to my eyes and grinned, flashing my new pair of small fangs.

"You think you knew it all. You think you knew how this world worked. Ha! Don't make me laugh!
I can show you reality. I can set you all free, all you gotta do is give me the key!"

With a stomp of my hoof I turned the lizards skin inside out. I tapped my chin, thinking, before replaced it tongue with a poisonous snake. Its tail then became a lions tail. To finish up my new creation I made it sprout insect wings and grow about the size of a manticore. I snorted and threw it over my shoulder into the forest.

"You scream for me to stop, but I can't, don't you see? It's always been a part of me.
I'm a monster, I'm a demon, this is the way it has to be! So let the games begin!"

I laughed and came to a stop in front of a giant, well lived in tree.

Hm, Zecora...

I walked up to the window and watched the zebra fiddle with the caldron in the middle of the room. There was a bubbling purplish, reddish, and bluish sparkly liquid brewing. I scanned through the list of potions from around the world in my mind until I found one that fit the description. There was only one that fit that it.

I snorted. Zecora has some SERIOUS issues she needs to work out.

Then an Idea popped in my head making me smirk. For entertainment, I messed up her potions. Now when she gets within a few hoofs of it will blow up and a little something more.

And that's exactly what happened.

Zecora went flying and crashed into a wall. When she stood up she looked down and her eyes widened. SHE was now a HE. I cackle with glee when he swore and started running around like chicken with its head cut off.

Hm, I might just do that later.

I pulled away from the window and walked deeper into the forest. As I walked my thoughts started wander to that purple dragon of mine. I wonder what he's doing?

I looked through the triangles I have around the library, looking through them one at a time till I found him. Firestarter was talking to Diamond. He looked like he hasn't slept for a few days and has been crying a lot. I felt a little bad for leaving him... he kind of reminds me of Pine Tree.

Wait, who's Pine Tree?

I stopped walking and thought for a moment. Maybe... maybe the kid might be useful. That and (as much as I hate to admit it) I am rather fond of him. Soon a grin spread across my face, I should go back and get him!

But before that, a makeover!

I looked around and then stomped my hoof, creating a mirror in front of me. Stomping my hoof again I created a white, button-up dress shirt. Next I created a black bowtie and tophat that floated about 5 inches off my head. Then I created a black eyepatch over my left eye. Lastly, to complete the look, I cut my mane and tail to look like what I think it would look like if I was a stallion. I turned my head left, right, and then nodded in satisfaction.

Now for a new name. Sparkle just wouldn't do... Wait, I know! How about-

"Twilight Cipher!" I grinned "Ooh, I like the sound of that!"

I made the mirror disappear and looked up at the sky through the trees. It was dark. The perfect time to do what needs to be done.

"Time to go greet Firestarter."

I disappeared and then reappeared in ponyville. Making my way to the Ponyville library I noticed that almost nopony was out, indoors I guess.

Soon I stopped in front of the library door. I tried to open it. It didn't budge. Oh well, the polite way is out the window.

I teleported inside. It was dark. I lit my horn so that I could see and walked upstairs. Looking around I found the place empty.

Hmm... where did he go? Wait a minute, he was talking with Diamond last time I looked through my little peephole. Wait, of course! With me gone the kid probably wanted to be near the other pony he cares about the most: Diamond. Heh, he HAS had a crush on her sense he meet her.

I teleported to Diamond's dress shop/house. A quick survey of the place revealed it completely dark. Perfect, they're all asleep.

I teleported inside and lit my horn. I looked around and curled my nose in disgust. No matter what I led ponies to believe, I never liked dresses. Too frufru for my taste.

I wandered to the living area and up the stairs. Once I stepped on Diamond's stupid cat but I quickly silenced it in the most amusing way possible that didn't involve killing it.

I pushed Diamond's bedroom door open and walked in. Firestarter was sleeping cuddled up to Diamond. I pulled the kid away from the prissy unicorn with my magic and walked out the door, sleeping Firestarter floating close behind.

Once we were downstairs, me and the dragon teleported into the Everfree forest from Diamond's dress room.

Once we were in the forest, I set Firestarter on the ground. I hummed, thinking about how to wake him, until settling with the easiest way possible.

I grinned, conjuring up a bucket of water and dumping it on him. The baby dragon jumped up- wide awake.

"H-Hey! What was that-" He stopped and looked around. "Huh? How did I get here?"

"Hello, Firestarter," I said making myself known.

The baby dragon quickly snapped his head in my direction. His eyes widened with shock and fright than shuttered out, "W-W-Who are you?"

I put my hoof against my chest and said with mock hurt, "Aw, kid, you wound me! Don't you recognize me? After all, I HAVE taken care of you sense you hatched all those years ago."

If it was even possible, his eyes widened even further. "T-Twilight? Is... is that you?"

I smirked, "The one and only!"

Firestarter stared at me before unleashing a series of rapid fire questions, "What happened to you? Where did you go? Why are you floating? Why do you look like that? Why are you talking weird? Why does your voice sound so echoey?"

"Woah, woah, slow down kid! You're going to pop a blood vessel like that!" I laughed, "To answer your questions- Many things happened to me, I went here, I've always been able to do this, I thought it was time for a change of appearance, I don't know what your talking about, and honestly I don't know."

Firestarter stared for a moment longer before tears begun falling from his eyes. He sniffled and started hiccuping out sobs.

I frowned in confusion, a feeling mixed between pity and guilt rose from within me. Finally I sighed and floated down to the ground. I sat on my hunches and opened my forelegs, inviting him in for a hug. The kid quickly ran into my embrace and begun bawling his eyes out. I gently rubbed his scaly back comfortably well he let out his pent up emotions.

Eventually the baby dragon's crying slowed to a stop. He pulled away.

"I missed you, Twilight..." Firestarter mumbled, wiping his eyes with the back of his hand.

"I know," I smiled and begun floating again. He watched me with a look of childish wonder.

"How do you do that?" He asked.

I tapped my chin, "I not sure. As I told you before, I've always been able to do this. Among other things..." I projected images of my other abilities in my eye making his dragonic eyes widen once again.

"That is wicked..." He whispered before what I said dawned on him making him frown in confusion, "Wait, you've always been able to do this? Why haven't you ever told me? Or anypony else for that matter?"

I shifted my eye and looked away. "I... I was afraid...." I mumbled before stiffening up, looking back at Firestarter, and saying with a cocky grin, "Ha! Afraid? I'm never afraid! Fear is for weaker lifeforms!"

The baby dragon raised an eyebrow at my (likely very strange) behavior, "Uh, okay?"

I coughed awkwardly and brushed off nonexistent dirt off my shirt. "Anyway, kid, I have a proposition for you."

He blinked stupidly, "Huh?"

"A deal." I corrected, rolling my eye at his ignorance,

"Oh! Uh, what kind of deal?"

A rather large grin spread across my face, "I want you to come with me and help me out. In return I can promise you anything you want." Images passed by my eye again, showing him anything he could possibly want, "Bits, power, knowledge- anything!"

Firestarter tapped his chin with thought "Anything?"

"Yup!"

I could practically see the gears turning in his head. After a moment he focused back on me with a determined look in his eyes.

"Okay, I'll come with you and help you out. But in return I want you never abandon me again." A depressed look passed by his eyes for a moment, "It was horrible without you with me....... I... I felt like I wasn't ever going to be happy again."

That guilty feeling returned again. I pushed it back down and reached a hoof engulfed in blue flames out.

"It's a DEAL!"

Firestarter nervously looked at my flaming hoof. He hesitatly reached a clawed hand out and grasped my hoof. When he realized that it didn't hurt, he grinned.

We shook on it. The deal was sealed.

I nodded in satisfaction.

"Good choice, kid."

Author's Note

Spike has made a deal with the devil, what will become of this?