The Midnight Zone

Twilight looked around. She, Rainbow and Applejack were standing in the living room of a small house. The roof had been blown off, and a few of the walls had crumbled.

“Woah,” said Rainbow. “Looks like a bombshell went off in here.”

“Sure does,” said Applejack. “Whaddya reckon happen’d here?”

Twilight looked around and got instant trauma. Sprawled out near a wardrobe was Shining Armor. His face was pale and ghostly. Rainbow gasped.

Twilight walked numbly over to her fallen brother. She cast a spell at him. Shining Armor twitched. Twilight sighed in relief, before casting a spell over him. A purple bubble surrounded him.

“He’ll be okay,” said Twilight, and her friends sighed in relief.

“When do you think Rarity and the others will arrive?” asked Rainbow.

“I’m not sure,” said Twilight. “They should have arrived already.”

“They must’ve gotten lost,” said Applejack.

A scroll materialized out of thin air.

Spike had gone with Rarity and the others, so Twilight read the scroll. “My teleportation spell failed, and me, Fluttershy, Spike, and Pinkie are still stuck in Ponyville. I’ll try to make the spell work, but chances are slim. You should go ahead with the plan without us.

“– Rarity”

“Is she crazy?!” Rainbow exploded. “Go ahead with the plan, we can’t! The plan is to use the Elements, and if all of them aren’t there, Twilight’s Element won’t reveal itself!”

“I could go back and try to get them,” said Twilight.

“I don’t think so,” said Applejack. “As soon as Celestia realizes she’s been tricked by Midnight, she’ll head right back to Canterlot, and Midnight will leave.”

“And we’ll be back to square one,” admitted Rainbow. “I guess that makes sense. What was Spike saying before we left?”

“I don’t know,” admitted Twilight, “I should have listened…”

“Yeah,” said Rainbow mockingly. “You should have.”

“We can’t tear each other down!” said Applejack. “There’s only so many of us left!”

Rainbow sighed. “Sorry.”

“Thank you for apologizing,” said Twilight.

Rainbow giggled.

“Whatever,” sighed Twilight.

Applejack nodded. “Let’s go.”

Twilight and her friends had no trouble getting into the castle: the Royal Guard had been defeated.

Once inside, the group headed right to the top.

Twilight stared at the imposing doors. She felt woefully undefended, without her Element.

“Think we can take her?” asked Rainbow.

“No,” said Twilight. “We just have to stall her until Celestia or the rest of our friends come.”

“Are you sure about this plan?” asked Rainbow.

“No,” said Twilight. She suddenly thought about leaving.

“Celestia’s coming,” came a voice from behind the door. Twilight recognised it as Midnight’s. “Time to leave…”

“Now or never,” whispered Rainbow, and before Twilight could do anything, Applejack slammed the door open.

Midnight actually seemed to be caught off guard. “Hey!” she yelled accusingly.

Twilight sent a stunning spell at her. It glanced off of a shield that midnight summoned.

Rainbow and Applejack charged. Midnight blasted Rainbow down. Applejack jumped into the air, just to get blasted down as well.

Twilight sent a spell that Midnight blocked.

“What do you think you’re doing?!?” yelled Midnight.

“Stopping you!” retorted Twilight, and it wasn’t really a lie.

Midnight sent a curse directly at Twilight, who dodged, and sent a stunning spell back. It hit one of the pillars that supported the roof…

…With a CRACK! the pillar gave way, and the roof started to droop.

Twilight realized this was the worst plan she’d ever made.

Sparks flew from the tip of Midnight’s horn. Twilight put up a shield. Midnight’s sparks ate through it.

And then Midnight sent a curse that hit Twilight in the chest.

Twilight flew backwards, sliding across the floor, before coming to a rest.

She thought hard about defeating Midnight, and decided not to think about the rest.

And then something happened.