Author's Note

"There is no shame in defeat, so long as the spirit remains unconquered" - Fenix, Starcraft

New morning

Mean Twilight was laying on the bed. Quite a large bed. Definitely not something a normal pony would have. Not that it would fit in a normal room anyway.

As sunlight made its way right into the mare's eye, she rolled over, slowly waking up.

Did I die? After she opened her eyes and looked around, she realized it isn't likely. Hell doesn't have soft beds. Or maybe it does, and a bunch of timberwolves will jump out and rape me to death? Mean Twilight shrugged off that thought, pulling her brain out of sleep, and slowly got out of the bed.

Room was large. Near walls stood pillars made of crystal. She was still inside the princess of friendships castle, this much is obvious. Why did they keep her alive? To torture for information? But then, why the bed and not a cell.

As mean Twilight started to inspect her wounds, or more specifically, the lack for them, a voice interrupted her.

"You're awake," said Twilight in a happy tone, standing next to the open door.

"Did you wait all this time, just staring at me sleeping?" Mean Twilight said as a distraction to cast a teleportation spell. Upon doing so, nothing happened, and she just stared at the real Twilight, confused.

"No, I did not. I used a movement detection spell and came as it activated. Now, please, calm down. No need to teleport away again. I'm not going to hurt you. I just want to talk," said Twilight with a face of compassion. While she was facing a mare who tried to assassinate her, the plea for mercy definitely affected her. An ideological villain wouldn't do that. Someone misguided would. Perhaps this pony, or not pony, was blackmailed or threatened into doing this?

Mean Twilight considered her options. She cannot teleport and she does not know why. The mare before her beat her last time, and that's considering she had the advantage. She didn't kill me because she's good. That realization struck our villain like lightning. Kindness can be abused. She doesn't need to tell her true intentions, neither does she need to come up with a ridiculous lie. She can just pretend she's sorry. Her face took an evil grin as she finished her line of thought. "Okay. Let's talk"

"Good," said Twilight, ignoring the obvious sign on her clone's face. "First off, who are you?"

This question had mean Twilight dead. What does she even say? That Chrysalis made her out of dark magic to destroy ponykind? Great idea in case she wants to make it to tartarus by evening. "I'm uhhhhh... My name is...Uhm." She looked around, seeing a trophy with a quarter of the moon. "Night. Dark Night," she said. This was pathetic. Even Chrysalis sounds more convincing. Ugh, this mare got so lucky, and she did so twice in a row.

Twilight noticed the hesitation. It was clear as day that the mare before her hid something. But what could she possibly accuse her of? Saying a name? That's not the brightest idea, especially if she wants to have a normal conversation. "So, why did you attack me. And why do you look like me?"

Night(mean Twilight, yes that's her name now) was glad Twilight ignored her lie for some reason. She didn't know everything about this pony, but she did share some memories. Princess of Friendship was not an imbecile. The least she would do is notice. "Well it's, you understand, ugghhh, it's complex." That much was truth.

"We have all the time, and you're safe here. Don't be afraid to tell whatever it is that made you do this. I promise, no matter what you say, I will not hurt you," said Twilight, now with a happy face again. That was the truth, with very few exceptions. Mentioning that, however, would ruin quite a lot of trust between, so the purple princess decided to ignore those details.

"It's uhmm... It's hard. Can you ask more precisely?" That was a nice save. Making things look more complex than they are tended to work in the favor of the evil.

"Okay. What were your intentions when you attacked me?" Said Twilight, effectively doing nothing more than a simple rephrasal. She knew those tricks back from 5, when she read some psychology books. Her horn glowed for a moment, then turned itself off.

"I wanted to kill you and take your place. Then, I would use your position to take over Equestria, and-" Night stopped herself here. This was a royal fuckup. Why did she even say this when she meant to say something completely different. A truth spell of some sort. AGH. Again that animal got lucky. she boiled with rage, but that wasn't the issue now. She needed to say something before she learns what comes after death the hard way. "I-it's all Chrysalises fault!" Bingo! The truth spell could save you from lies, but not from twisting the truth.

Twilight did not expect such revelations. She imagined it to be something dumb, as usual with equestrian ponies. After a moment she decided to ask an interesting question. "If Chrysalis is the architect of this, why does your plan not involve her at all?"

This was a reasonable question. It's as if Twilight knew everything. But our villain got a great idea on how to dodge this. "Do you have a crush on one of your close friends?"

"Yes, it's-h-hold on!" Twilight didn't expect her own truth spell used against her. It was considered dirty to use it in the first place, and now she saw why. "Alright, I'm willing to turn off the truth spell. I get the hint. But please listen first. I am not your enemy. I'm willing to help you, and I will not punish you for just saying the truth," Said Twilight, turning off the truth spell.

That's when Night got confused. Twilight did say the latter under the effect of a truth spell. Perhaps she could twist it, so that she's punishing for actions and not words, but that would mean she'd get punished for her failed murder regardless. At this moment, if she lies, Twilight will never believe her again. This was a lot to consider, but she made the choice. To tartarus with it. "Chrysalis created me to use the elements of harmony, and destroy you and your friends. Then we had a fight and I escaped, so I decided to conquer Equestria on my own... What are you going to do to me now?"

Twilights jaw was on the floor. Chrysalis was back in the game? There is a way to create powerful clones without the original even involved? And what does she do with the mare before her? The last question was more relevant, so she focused on it. On one hoof, before her stood a cruel construct of magic, which was perfectly fine with murdering her in cold blood. On the other hoof, the pony before her was indeed a pony, with feelings and emotions. For a normal person, this would be at the very least a problematic situation. For Twilight, it was an opportunity for one great friendship lesson. "As I said, I won't hurt you. I won't even imprison you. I'm curious, when exactly did Chrysalis create you?"

"Yesterday," answered Night, now thinking on whether she should've lied or not.

Twilight instantly felt bad after that. While not a foal, this was definitely not an adult in its natural meaning. Night wasn't at fault for getting manipulated into being evil. She got lucky she even made it out alive after fighting Chrysalis. On the other hoof, this also made things easier. Without any ideals yet drilled into her, making her a good pony should be relatively simple. "I can see the influence of Chrysalis has taken it's toll on you. But I'm sure you have the potential to do good. World domination will not bring you any comfort, even in case you succeed. What you need is a friend. So how about it? Let me show you the world of friendship and you'll see how beautiful it is." Twilight was proud of herself. She used the speech she had memorized, adjusting it just so that it fits the context.

Mean Twilight stood in confusion, then a memory struck her. How Twilight reformed Starlight. It's reasonable to say I accept. I don't have much choice. Maybe I should just do it for real? It does look like a happy life. The last thought got her thinking, but she shrugged it off. No. I won't go down this way ending up a nobody. I will have Equestria, one way or another. I will bury all those who dare stand in the way with the real magic, not some miserable friendship. "I-I'm not sure. I don't know. I'm scared." This was exactly what Twilight wanted to hear, Night knew this much. Making the enemy underestimating her was a great way to ensure she'll be a step ahead at all times. Simple saying "Yes" would be suspicious. Denying outright could be too much. But hesitation? That both gave Twilight hope and didn't give herself out.

"It's okay to be scared. Everyone feels fear at one point or the other. Even someone like princess Celestia," said Twilight, although the latter was a huge blow to her when she learned it.

"Even king Sombra?" Night decided to ask a stupid question. This both lowered the tension, and distracted Twilight from important matters.

"Well, okay, he in particular might be the only one pony who didn't fear. But see where that led him."

This wasn't really something to argue against, not that Night wanted it anyway. A tyrannical regime would only work if all the heroes are dead, and they will never be. After some time, new ones will rise and eventually break down your rule. But tell ponies you're good, save them from something completely unthreatening and your propaganda will do the rest. Not many have a brain to think with, and even less in this damned nation use it.

"So, Night, is that how should I call you?"

"Yeah, sure. And I'll call you Twilight, is that okay?"

"No problem. My friends call me Twi, so you can too!" Twilight was in an excited mood. Being a headmare was three times more boring than you can possibly imagine. Documents, documents, documents, Neighsay, again documents. In this school of friendship, her problem was that she almost never taught it. So this was a gift of fate no less.

Suddenly the room doors burst fully open, showing Pinkie in the middle. Behind her was Starlight, huffing and sweating. "I'm sorry, Twilight. I could only delay her by a few seconds."

How in tartarus did somebody like her not stop a single earth pony? What can she possibly do? Suddenly, Night heard an explosion right behind the back, her heart nearly stopping. She turned around only to see that pinkie was already there, and she somehow got a party cannon. This makes no sense. Even I wouldn't teleport that thing this fast.

"Twilight, you never told us you had a secret twin. Is she older? Since you're Twilight, she must be Onelight. Sheesh, your brother is lucky he wasn't called Zerolight. Hold on, that isn't such bad of a name now that I think about it." Night couldn't process all the degeneracy coming from this pony. It's like if someone pointed a horn charged up with an obliteration spell at the mare and told to never shut up.

This worked in her favor, though. She told quite a bit to Twilight, but skipped the fact she was made of dark magic. Or the fact she doesn't want to become friends with her at all. Or that she would be glad to have everyone in this room dead.

"I'm Dark Night," mean Twilight said, deciding to sneak in at least an introduction before the yapping continues.

"Ahem ahem," said Starlight, both bringing attention to herself and clearing some confetti from the mouth. "What if we go for a breakfast first? Spike made enough pancakes to feed everyone"

"Great idea! Then we throw a party for the entire ponyville to meet Darksty!" Pinkie pie came up with a nickname, and Night was visibly annoyed.

"Do not ever call me that again, pinkie," said Dark Night in a grim tone, as everyone was walking towards the dining room.

"Okie dokie lokie, Darky." Mean Twilight was still not very happy with the name, but it was acceptable. Better this than whatever else the pink mare comes up with.