Hooves, heavy and tired, dragged themselves from the bedroom to the bathroom just down the hall. There, the creature glanced up into its reflection, noting that she appeared every bit as awful as she felt. Her hair was a mess, deep bags pulled at her eyes, her lips were thin, her cheeks sunken, and seconds ticked by before she finally blinked.
For a moment a flicker of hope wormed its way into her chest, only to be stomped out by the specter that flickered into existence just left of her.
“Stars above, you’re hideous,” spat the specter, lip curled into a snarl. “No wonder you avoid mirrors. I would too if I were you.”
Twilight's frown deepened.
“No, I take that back,” added the ghost. “I’d kill myself immediately if I ever woke up as you.”
The ethereal creature cackled at Twilight's irritation, laughing madly while its mortal target began their day. A comb fixed the worst of her hair, and a bit of water banished a bit of the dark circles, but nothing could help how exhausted she appeared. All she could do was cover it up as best as she was able, donning a thin mask that any who knew her could see right through.
On the way down the stairs, she listened as the specter of Nightmare Moon continued to prod her. It remarked more about her wretched appearance, about how she had no one to wake up next to but it was all just noise to her. At this point, she had heard every jab, and been poked, or prodded everywhere she was sensitive about. The floating creature following her knew this, however, and simply didn't care, pressing in constantly, giving the woman barely a moment to think.
“Good morning Twilight,” greeted the young dragon standing at the metal cook stove, arm reached up over the edge. “Want some pancakes?”
“Please,” Twilight muttered, plunking down in the open chair.
“He only helps you out of pity,” the specter remarked. “If not for him you would have wasted away into nothing.”
Twilight ignored the comment, and dragged over a book, opening it to the spot she had marked.
“It's pathetic, honestly,” the ghost continued. “If not for some feeling of obligation one would ever willingly enter your presence nevermind speak to you, you wretched hag.”
Twilight licked her finger and turned the page.
“The protagonist dies in the third act and the entire thing ends on a cliffhanger,” Nightmare Moon claimed.
“No, it doesn't,” Twilight murmured.
“What was that?” Spike asked.
“Nothing,” Twilight dismissed.
“Fine. Enjoy your book, it won't make you any smarter you stupid pathetic little worm,” Nightmare Moon spat viciously.
Spike appeared on Twilight's left, pushing a plate of pancakes onto the table along with a glass bottle filled with dark brown liquid.
“Here, this should be enough to start the day,” Spike offered.
Twilight grunted, using her fork to drop a pair of the pastries on her plate before covering them with syrup.
“You got another letter by the way,” Spike murmured, tapping his clawed fingers together. “It's uh… Celestia.”
Twilight paused and sighed. “Don't tell me,” she began. “She is sending over another of her quack doctors to test me again.”
“She says this one can help. Really help,” Spike exclaimed, his tone pleading and tinged with desperation. “This guy is supposed to be really good at what he does.”
“Unlike the one who tried to shout the ghost out of my head or the one who prescribed mineral water enemas,” Twilight tiredly listed. “Or what about the one who thought she could electrocute the insanity out of me.”
“You know that last one was a mistake,” Spike muttered, his voice barely louder than a whisper. “She wasn't supposed to do that.”
“I’m not hungry anymore,” Twilight proclaimed rising from the table and walking away.
Spike looked like he was about to follow her, but gave up, her last look of him being one of downcast sorrow.
“You know you’re pretty good at this whole ruining your life thing,” Nightmare Moon remarked. “Honestly I feel like you’re doing a better job making yourself miserable than I ever could. I’d feel a bit put out if I wasn't thrilled.”
Twilight grunted.
“So, feel like taking a short hop and a quick drop?” Nightmare Moon offered, her smile twisting into a hideous grin. “I could show you how to tie the knot if you don't know how.”
“Never,” Twilight growled, throwing a heavy coat over her shoulders and striding out into the cool winter air.
“Come now it wouldn't be so bad. You could just lie down in the snow, and when you wake up it will all be over,” Nightmare Moon offered, floating across the snow’s surface, a hand caressing the soft white mounds.
“Give up, spirit,” Twilight spat. “You are only wasting your time.”
“On the contrary, I am never-ending,” the spirit began, floating before the woman as she trudged through the snow. “And I am absolutely winning.”
“How was work?” Spike greeted, the dragon trodding in from Twilight's left, and accepting her jacket. “Lots of patrons at the library today?”
“No,” Twilight replied simply.
“The weather hasn't been very nice recently,” Spike murmured absently. “I’m sure it will pick up soon.”
“Maybe,” Twilight muttered.
“Oh uh, Rainbow Dash is here!” Spike added, walking out in front of Twilight. “She’s waiting for you in your lab, downstairs.”
“Really?” Twilight asked, eyes lighting up.
“Uh huh!” Spike eagerly replied. “She said she just got back from some big adventure and only got your letter now.”
“That is… excellent,” Twilight declared, reaching into one of her shirt pockets and producing a large gold coin. “Here, take this and enjoy an evening, on me.”
“R-really? But this is more than nearly my entire yearly allowance!” Spike exclaimed.
“I insist,” Twilight replied, thrusting it into his shaking hands. “You’ve been such a good help recently and I really must thank you for all your assistance.”
“Well if you are sure,” Spike mumbled while staring down at the coin.
“Go on then and don't worry about dinner. I grabbed something from the cafe,” Twilight lied.
“Okay Twilight, thanks!” Spike exclaimed.
Twilight watched as the young dragon threw on his jacket, and the rest of his winter gear before all but sprinting out into the evening air. He knew that money would be gone soon, spent on sweets, books, and probably a toy or two. Perhaps he’d take whatever remained after all that and-
“What a poor investment,” Nightmare Moon spat, interrupting Twilight's thoughts. “You should have given him a platinum piece and told him to go live with someone else. Someone less miserable than you.”
“So anyone else in town then,” Twilight retorted.
“I…” Nightmare Moon began, only to frown. “Why did you do that? Where did this sudden rebellion come from hmm?”
“Who says I ever stopped?” Twilight shot back.
“You’ve done nothing but take my abuse for over a year. Hell, you’ve barely even acknowledged my existence,” Nightmare Moon exclaimed.
“So I have,” Twilight stated simply.
The unicorn ignored the spirit’s comments and made her way downstairs, entering the small lab that lay beneath her cottage. There Rainbow Dash waited, reclining in Twilight's chair, flipping through a book of spells. She came unarmed and unarmored, the adventurous woman having ditched the defenses she usually had on her.
“Oh hey Twi, what's up?” Rainbow Dash asked, the front two chair legs hitting the ground with a harsh clack. “You said you needed me for something?”
“I did, though first I’d like to hear about your little adventure,” Twilight questioned, moving about the room and gathering a few materials from a chest of drawers next to a towering wardrobe.
“It was awesome,” Rainbow Dash proclaimed. “I beat up this crazy guy that was trying to raise the dead. The guards were all super impressed and I made thirty gold in like, a day. That used to be my year’s salary at the weather patrol.”
“I’m glad I brought up a change in profession then,” Twilight offered.
“I’m so glad you did. At first, I was pissed that I couldn't get into the wonderbolts, but then you talked me into adventuring…” The woman paused. “That was about a year ago wasn't it?”
“It was,” Twilight replied, tucking a large quartz crystal under her arm.
“Yeah so anyway. I wasn't super thrilled about the idea but bills and whatever,” Rainbow Dash continued, rolling her eyes dismissively. “But after that first time I busted that weird guy robbing graves up in Canterlot and the princess gave me a medal, I was hooked.”
“It seems as though it's been profitable,” Twilight added.
“Oh yeah here's your cut by the way,” Rainbow Dash remarked, placing three coins on the table. “He was right where you said he was going to be. How did you know that anyway?”
“Process of elimination really,” Twilight exclaimed.
“More like sheer luck. You are way too stupid to have figured that one out alone,” Nightmare Moon added.
“Yeah, anyway its been totally fun even those missions where I picked stuff up for you were cool. Never thought I’d say doing errands would be fun but here I am,” Rainbow Dash muttered, chuckling to herself.
“Wait. I don't remember you sending any of these letters. How have you been doing this?” Nightmare Moon demanded, glaring at Twilight out of the corner of her vision.
“So, what's the deal this time? Loot some ancient temple? Help the guard defend a noble from some dastardly assassination plot?” Rainbow Dash asked, punching the air a few times and pretending to fight some unseen creature.
“Just a small magical test first,” Twilight began. “Necromantic energy has a tendency to cling to people for extended periods of time. Don't want that coming back up later.”
“Heck no. Lay it on me,” Rainbow Dash declared, rising from the chair and extending her arms.
“Hold still for two seconds now,” Twilight muttered.
A blast of magic struck Rainbow Dash in the chest, the strange light sinking under her flesh and flowing throughout her body.
“Huh that feels kinda- hurk,” Rainbow Dash tensed suddenly before falling back into the chair, her entire body as rigid as a board.
“Wow, you really fucked that one up,” Nightmare Moon remarked.
Twilight ignored the comment, and pulled aside the rug to reveal a complex magical array already carved into the ground.
“What the hell is all this?” Nightmare Moon demanded.
“After I wake up there is a five-minute window where you don't manifest,” Twilight began, continuing her preparations as she spoke. “I’ve used this time over the last year to set everything into motion, gathering the necessary materials.”
“To do what? Fuck with your friend?” Nightmare Moon pressed, gesturing to the wide-eyed Rainbow Dash half sitting and half laying on the chair.
“To forcibly imprison you in Rainbow Dash’s mind,” Twilight retorted.
“That's not how possession works,” Nightmare Moon shot back. “The moment you killed me we became soulbound. Nothing can undo that.”
“Oh, we both know that isn't true,” Twilight exclaimed, chuckling to herself. “You are attached to my soul, yes but you are a tumor, and with the right equipment you can be excised.”
“But you-”
“Yes,” you would return if left without a host,” Twilight interrupted, cutting Nightmare Moon off before she could speak. “Which is where Rainbow Dash comes in.”
“You’re going to force me to possess her? Impossible,” Nightmare Moon scoffed. “I was the greatest mage of my time and I have never heard of such a spell.”
“That's because it's a recent invention, and not something a time-displaced soul demon would know anything about,” Twilight retorted, standing back up and straightening her spine. “There, perfect.”
“You’re theories are just that, theories,” Nightmare Moon proclaimed, confidence rising. “You can't know if that's actually going to happen or not. Such magic surely isn't legal.”
“Oh it isn't, but thankfully Rainbow Dash has been happy to acquire it for me under the guise of safeguarding dangerous magical artifacts from the grasp of would-be villains,” Twilight explained.
“That means…” Nightmare Moon’s jaw hung open. “You’ve been planning this from the moment I possessed you!”
“Actually the month after,” Twilight shrugged. “At first I really did believe you might have been some sort of manifestation of trauma, but that passed quickly.”
Twilight used a spell to lift the still-paralyzed Rainbow Dash into the center of the room, her body placed atop the sigil.
“I gotta hand it to you this is the most evil thing I’ve seen someone else do,” Nightmare Moon declared. “You would have made an excellent general in my army.”
“I admit this act is a vile one, but it is necessary for me to be rid of you,” Twilight proclaimed.
“Even if you could dispel me I’ll be back once this one expires,” Nightmare Moon stated.
Twilight ignored her, lighting each candle in turn and before muttering a quick incantation.
“Ha, you failed. Nothing has changed,” Nightmare Moon mocked. “Give it up, fool. You’ll never be rid of me.”
Twilight kept her head bowed, a string of strange, foreign words spilling from her lips.
“Muttering nonsense won't help you!” Nightmare Moon shouted, floating before the mage and waving her hands in the living creature’s face. “Give up already! Only in death will you’re torment end!”
The magic user ignored the comments, and after another few seconds, completed her spell, shouting the final word as loud as she could.
“Hecat!” Twilight bellowed.
“Was… something supposed to happen?” Nightmare Moon muttered, looking around.
“It did,” Twilight proclaimed, dragging Rainbow Dash aside, and retrieving a pry board from a nearby table.
“This is pathetic. Not only are you insane, but you’ve lost even the ability to feel the stinging shame of failure,” Nightmare Moon remarked.
With a heave, Twilight pulled aside another board, revealing that under her cottage basement was a deep, dark hole.
“So what, you put her in a hole and wait until she expires then repeat this every few weeks? You’re crappy little village will be depopulated before the year is through,” Nightmare Moon scoffed.
Twilight ignored the remark, and grabbed the quartz crystal, pulling back her arm. With a harsh stab, she jammed the rock into Rainbow Dash’s chest, stabbing deep enough for half the thing to vanish into the other woman’s body.
“Or just kill her right now I guess,” Nightmare Moon muttered, evidently confused.
“The crystal will keep her alive indefinitely,” Twilight replied. “She will have no need to eat, sleep, or do anything. Not only that but even the crushing weight of being buried under thirty feet of dirt won't be enough to kill her.”
“That’s sick. You know that right?” Nightmare Moon exclaimed. “You are putting me through a hell not even I would consider.”
“And by extension, you’ll be going through the same torture,” Twilight added. “I hope you enjoy the sensation of being buried alive.”
“Curious. Though how exactly do you plan on covering for her disappearance?” Nightmare Moon calmly inquired. “You weren't exactly subtle about her being in your home.”
Twilight stood up, and strode over to the wardrobe, drawing open the doors to reveal that a seemingly identical copy of Rainbow Dash was already standing there, eyes closed.
“It's time. Take her place,” Twilight ordered.
The creature’s eyes flickered open and it gazed down at Twilight with amusement.
“I almost didn't think you’d hold up your end of the bargain,” it cooly declared. “Color me intrigued.”
“Our transaction is finished. Go to your new life,” Twilight demanded, waving a hand at the shapeshifter.
“Fine by me. A pleasure doing business with you,” the copy exclaimed, chuckling to themself as they strode away, disappearing up the stairs.
“Well well well,” Nightmare Moon murmured. “You certainly have thought of everything.”
“I have, now begone specter,” Twilight exclaimed, heaving her former friend into the pit below.
As she tumbled downward, Twilight caught a glimpse of Rainbow Dash’s terror-filled eyes before she was swallowed by darkness. For a moment guilt filled her heart, but Twilight pushed it aside. Glancing about the room, she noticed that for the first time in a long time, she was truly and utterly alone.
“Don't get excited. The true test isn't here yet,” she murmured to herself.
Casting another spell, she caused the ground to heave, and the hole to fill itself back up. After that, it didn't take long to nail the boards back into place and return the carpet to where it had been a minute earlier. She inspected the room, and after finding nothing out of place, she pocketed the gold before heading upstairs.
Twilight's careful, almost dainty steps quickly picked up pace until she was all but sprinting to the second story. There she took a left, going into the only other room other than her bedroom, the bathroom. Standing in front of the grimy mirror, she stared into her own reflection with wide, wild eyes.
Her grip on the sink tightened until her knuckles turned white, and her fingertips started to throb with pain. Her pupils flicked left and then right, searching for any sign of the specter that had haunted her for so long. Yet seemingly no longer where she looked or how long she stared unblinking into the mirror, nothing moved.
“It… it worked,” she dared utter. “I can't believe it worked.”
Then she saw it, the smallest of shapes entering her vision from her reflection’s right and all at once her world fell apart for a second time.
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