"Don't worry everypony I have a plan!!!"

"Of course you do sugarcube!" Said Applejack.

Twilight lightly blushed, "hehe you girls know me too well!"

"So, what's the plan!" Said Dash eagerly.

"So we'll move out tomorrow early so it's best to get some shut-eye early today but I will ask Chrysalis for some help and info on Grogar and how to infiltrate the castle without being seen and not causing a scene," said Twilight.

"Alright y'all you heard Twi let's get ready and bunker down for the night!" Said Applejack. The six ponies followed Applejack into this small cave. The cave was like a mouth of impenetrable blackness, as they stepped in they watched their shadows dissolve into the surrounding darkness. It was dank and the only sound was the dripping water.

Meanwhile Twilight went over to Chrysalis to ask her to help. "Hey Chrysalis I was wondering if you-"

"Whatever your asking my answer is no!" Snapped the bug queen.

Twilight sighed in frustration and annoyance, "I was going to say that if I could have some info on Grogar and what would be the best strategy to get into the castle undetected."

"Hmph, fine well for starters Grogar is a legendary tyrant that declared himself ruler of ancient Equestria. He's a powerful mage with incredible power! He gave Tirek raw strength and power with a little yellow orb. Also, me, Tirek, and Cozy retrieved his bewitching bell but kept it from him. Until he found out by Cozy's ignorance and plain stupidity so Grogar cast us out. I barely escaped with my life! Unfortunately for Cozy, she was captured and I have no idea where Tirek is or where he went!" Said Chrysalis.

"Wow! Well does that mean you will help-"

"No! I gave you more insight on Grogar now leave me alone!" Replied Chrysalis

"Okay fair enough but do you know how to sneak into the Canterlot Castle without being undetected! SInce well you have, experience," said Twilight frowning.

"Well, the only way is if you were a changeling but I have no idea how'd you get in undetected, to be honest! You would have to go around the back of the castle or sneak in through the sewer. Also, the guards have been brainwashed so they may look normal but they have been corrupted by Grogar's magic. There I told you now if you don't mind me asking for the second time, LEAVE ME ALONE!" Exclaimed Chrysalis.

"Alright alright! Jeez okay but you are welcome to join us int defeating Grogar!" Smiled Twilight.

"Yeah, I'd rather stay here, although it would be nice to see you guys get obliterated by Grogar but... yeah I'm just gonna stay here!" Said Chrysalis giving Twilight a smug look.

"Alright fine, bye Chrysalis," said Twilight before walking back to the campsite.

Once Twilight got back the seven ponies cocooned themselves into a fetal position feeling the rock beneath their hooves.
"So what did Chrysalis say?" Asked Fluttershy.

Twilight lightly sighed, "She gave me more insight on Grogar and told me some suggestions on how to get into the Canterlot Castle."

"So, how is this Grogar guy?!" Asked Rainbow Dash

Twilight sighed once again from exhaustion. "So apparently Grogar is a legendary tyrant that declared himself ruler of ancient Equestria. He's a powerful mage with incredible power! She told me she gave Tirek some magic to make him stronger and more intimidating. She also told me that her, Tirek and Cozy stole one of his powerful items called the bewitching bell. But Grogar found out that they hid the artifact from him and he cast them out. Lucky for Chrysalis she got out safe but Tirek is nowhere to be found and Cozy Glow was captured. Also, the guards have been brainwashed and the best way to get into the castle undetected is through the sewer or behind the castle."

"Awk we have to go through the icky sewer!" Complained Rarity.

"It might be are the safest option!" Said Twilight.

"Ah well if it's for the fate of Equestria then I'm willing to do it!" Replied Rarity.

"Well, y'all we should all really hit the hay!" Said Applejack.

"Yah *yawn* I agree," said Rainbow Dash plopping down next to Pinkie Pie's tail using it as a pillow.

Twilight sat next to Starlight. Starlight lightly rubbed her body against Twilights. Twilight's fur was like a pillow to Starlight, well a breathing pillow at that. Twilight wrapped her wing around her once enemy and student. Twilights wing acted as a blanket to Starlight. Starlight nudged her muzzle against Twilights. Twilight lightly blushed, she in return gave Starlight a kiss on the cheek. Applejack, a few feet away from the two fillyfoolers could hear them purring to each other like cats. She rolled her eyes and placed her hat over her face and slowly drifted off to sleep.

"Where am I?" Starlight hastily looked around looking for Twilight. "Twi? Babe? Where are you!" Starlight quickly whirled around to find... herself? But this wasn't her? Her mane was different, a set of bangs slightly covered each eye. An evil grin spread throughout her face. Starlight stepped back in terror. "Get away from me, y-y-you you MONSTER!!" The scenery that was once an inky void changed into Cloudsdale. Starlight looked around at her surroundings she looked at her evil counterpart.

"Look," said evil Starlight.

Twilight held her hoof out to Starlight but instead of Starlight accepting her hoof she slapped it and growled like a dog. Starlight charged up her horn and fired at Twilight and Spike which caused them to faze right threw the clouds. They screamed in agony as they fell to their death. Starlight's eyes widened, once that first tear broke free, the rest followed in an unbroken stream. "NO!" She screamed but evil Starlight put a hoof over her chest stopping her from moving. The scenery changed once again, it changed back into the inky blackness. Evil Starlight glared at Starlight before disappearing. A depressed yet furious Twilight walked up to Starlight, with pure rage in her eyes.

"How could you!" Stammered Twilight.

"Pardon me?!" Said Starlight. Starlight backed up lowering her head and raising her back in the air as if she was about to pounce on something.

"I gave you friendship and acceptance when nopony did, then I loved you, I thought you were the one for me! But instead, you used me for your own personal gain, you haven't changed one-bit Starlight Glimmer. I should've just sent you to Tartarus!" Yelled Twilight.

Tears upon tears flowed heavily down Starlight's eyes. "B-B-Babe I..."

"Don't call me babe Starlight," interrupted Twilight. "I should've never given you a second chance because all you villains use it to your advantage so you can abuse and manipulate us!" Shouted Twilight.

"T-T-Twilight I'm so confused?!" Stuttered Starlight.

"So am I Starlight, so am I," Twilight turned around and walked slowly back into the inky void.

"Twilight wait!" Said Starlight.

Twilight turned around and stared at a frighten and remorseful Starlight. "What do you want Starlight Glimmer!" Exclaimed Twilight.

"Please at least give me a chance to explain myself, I-I mean I am still really confused and if you could give me more detail I'm sure..."

"No, I don't wanna hear it Starlight! I don't think we should be friends anymore Starlight," said Twilight.

Those words shattered Starlight's heart, panic starts to set in and her muscles tensed up, Starlight began to gag, Her remaining thread of strength and hope frayed before breaking completely, sending her plummeting over the edge and into the darkness. Hysterical sobs shook her thin frame, threatening to tear her apart from the inside. She fought to reclaim control over her body, shocked by the sounds escaping from deep within her chest. "I knew this wouldn't last hahaha!" Said Starlight. "I'm a lost cause, I was better off before Twilight and her friends came to my village! They ruined everything and I thought that friendship could redeem me?!" Snapped Starlight. A swarm of mixed emotions plagued Starlight's mind. Anger boiled deep in her system, as hot as lava. It churned within, hungry for destruction, and she knew it was too much for her to handle. The anger turned into sadness and regret. Starlight bent forward she began to weep with the force of a person vomiting on all fours. "I hate myself."

Starlight woke up panting heavily as all of the Mane Six stared at her. She felt embarrassed and covered herself up with Twilight's wing. Her eyes shifted to the side again and became glazed with a glossy layer of tears. As she blinked, they dripped from her eyelids and slid down her cheeks. She bit her lip tightly in an attempt to hide any sound that wanted to escape from her mouth.

"Starlight? Baby, please tell me what's the matter!?" Said Twilight in a soft voice. Everypony looked concerned.

Starlight lightly pushed Twilight's wing to the side and lightly mumbled, "I-I-It was just a nightmare."

"What was that babe? I couldn't hear you?" Asked Twilight.

"I-I just had a nightmare its nothing serious," said Starlight hoping she would not get caught for lying.

"Sugarcube we all heard you scream and moan and Twilight tried to wake you up but you wouldn't stop crying. So don't tell me nothing is wrong or that it's not a big deal!" Exclaimed Applejack.

"I'm sorry I just wanna go back to sleep right now we can talk about it in the morning or...." Starlight plopped down on Twilight's hoof and fell right asleep.

Applejack looked at the girls with even more concern, "Twilight I really think you should talk to her about it in the morning, it doesn't look like she's very comfortable with telling us," whispered Applejack trying not to wake up Starlight.

Twilight gave Applejack a stern look and nodded. She kissed Starlight on the cheek and whispered "goodnight Glimmer" and in a couple of minutes Twilight was fast asleep and so was everypony else.

Twilight woke up the gang extra early according to her plan. But Starlight wouldn't wake up. "Sparkle ugh go away," said Starlight waving her hoof in the air, she was unaware where she was waving her hoof. Her eyes were closed shut and she wouldn't get up.

"Alright you're going to get up no matter what Starlight," said Twilight. Twilight lightly shoved Starlight from the behind causing her to drift across the hard rocky floor. Starlight lightly chuckled as she was amused at Twilight's method for waking her up.

"Good morning Twi!" Said Applejack.

"I finally got this sleepy head up, well at least she's out of the cave but uh it looks like everypony is half asleep also," said Twilight. Applejack had set up a small fire and was cooking some eggs Chrysalis had brought them.

"Chrysalis was nice enough to bring us some eggs! But oh I hope no creature got hurt," Said Fluttershy bitting the tip of her hoof.

It took a while for Starlight to wake up but when she did she was up and ready! "Ahh your finally up eh?" Said Twilight nudging Starlight.

"Hey you can't blame me I had a pretty rough night," replied Starlight.

"Speaking of that, what happened?" Asked Twilight eager for an answer.

"I uh had a nightmare where I was watching the moment where you truly gave me acceptance and friendship and instead of grabbing your hoof and accepting friendship I slapped you hoof and I uh killed you and Spike. Then you walked up to me in this black inky void like place and said you didn't love me and we should be friends or lovers anymore and that I used you for my own personal gain! And then I went crazy and that's when I woke up to y'all staring at me!" Said Starlight. Her ears dropped down and sighed heavily.

"Star I... I can't imagine myself ever saying those things and you never have and hopefully never will use me!" Twilight chuckled and so did Starlight. "You have improved and I am proud of you for that sweetie! I understand it was a nightmare but do you have these often? Like having nightmares about what if's of your past or just your past haunting you!" Asked Twilight.

"I'd admit I do have these nightmares frequently but this one was like a lucid dream or something I felt like I was actually there but I couldn't control anything except my emotions I guess?" Said Starlight.

Twilight looked at her marefriend seeing she was truly disturbed and upset by these plaguing nightmares.

"Mmhmm well let's get our stuff ready and let's move out!" Exclaimed Applejack.

All seven ponies packed up, Queen Chrysalis watched them in the distance. "Good luck!" She whispered before laying her head down and falling asleep.

Author's Note

I know this chapter was longer than usual.