REGRET (Good Ending)

Last Page stood at the apex of Canterlot Castle’s throne room, his chest swelling with pride as Twilight Sparkle walked through the massive doors. The moonlight streaming in from the broken stained glass above cast shadows across his smirking face. He had waited for this moment, dreamed of it, and now it was finally here.

“Twilight! You made it!” he exclaimed, his voice brimming with triumph. “Look at what I’ve done! I’ve done what you couldn’t!”

Twilight’s expression didn’t change. Her eyes, sharp and calculating, remained locked on him as she approached, her hoofsteps echoing ominously in the vast chamber. “I trained you,” she said slowly, her tone heavy with disappointment. “I tried to steer you away from the path I took. I gave you the tools to rise above it… yet here we stand.”

Last Page’s grin faltered for a moment. Her calm demeanor, the lack of acknowledgment for his accomplishment, unsettled him. “Twilight… aren’t you proud?” he asked, a trace of desperation in his voice. “I completed your mission! I surpassed you!”

Twilight’s head tilted slightly, and her frown deepened. “You did not complete my mission,” she replied coldly. “My mission ended the day Celestia died.”

Her words cut deep, and Last Page’s face twisted with anger. “Fine,” he spat, his voice dripping with venom. “If you’re not with me, then you’re against me.”

With a flick of his hoof, he activated a pair of glowing runes, their magic surging to life as beams of energy shot toward Twilight. She didn’t flinch. Her horn glowed faintly, and a shimmering shield materialized around her, deflecting the attack with ease.

“You don’t know what you’re getting into, kid,” Twilight said as she stepped forward, her tone as steady as her unyielding gait. “Don’t make me hurt you.”

“Hurt me?” Last Page laughed, though there was a tremor in his voice. “You think you can hurt me? We’ll see!”

He reached for the magic-stealing rune he had used on Luna and hurled it toward her. Twilight sidestepped effortlessly, her eyes narrowing.

“You’re slow,” she said, her voice laced with disdain.

Her words ignited his fury, and he pulled out another rune—a bomb rune—and slammed it onto the ground. The ensuing explosion shook the throne room, filling it with smoke and debris. But as the dust settled, Twilight stood unscathed, her shield dissipating as she lowered it deliberately.

“You’re weak,” she said, her tone biting.

Last Page snarled, his teeth clenched in frustration. His mind raced, and then an idea struck him—a cruel, desperate gambit. “Let’s bring some memories from the past, hmm?” he shouted, throwing down six runes at once.

The air shimmered, and before Twilight, familiar forms began to materialize. Her friends. Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Spike. They stood before her, but something was wrong. Their faces were distorted, their features twisted as though smeared with ink.

Twilight hesitated, her heart aching at the sight. But then, the shadow that had accompanied her for so long hissed in her ear. “It’s not them, idiot,” it sneered. “Look closer.”

Twilight’s gaze sharpened, and she saw the truth—their faces were wrong, their movements jerky and unnatural. They were mockeries, illusions meant to manipulate her.

“I don’t think so,” she muttered, taking a step forward.

Suddenly, she felt a sharp pain in her chest. Bolts of magic from Last Page struck her, and she staggered back. The shadow sighed, its voice tinged with exasperation.

“It seems you need my help,” it said.

Twilight gritted her teeth, her resolve hardening. “Fine,” she whispered. “Kill this pretender.”

The shadow coiled around her, its cold tendrils sinking into her skin. Last Page’s triumphant expression faltered as he saw the change in Twilight. Her eyes darkened, her pupils narrowing into slits. A twisted smile spread across her face.

“Eheheheh,” she chuckled, her voice devoid of warmth. “You’ve made a huge mistake. It seems you’ve forgotten to fear me.” She stepped forward, her aura radiating a menacing energy. “Nightmare Eclipse was not just a foal’s tale. I’m real.”

Last Page took a step back, his confidence wavering.

“You’ve forgotten some important details,” she continued, her voice cold and cutting. “I killed them, child. I killed all of them. And now, with some help, I feel no regret.”

Her magic shifted, turning from dark purple to jet black. Inky tendrils began to emerge from her body, writhing and twisting as if alive.

“Time you met my animosity.”

Luna approached the throne room cautiously, the sound of a fierce battle drawing her closer. When she arrived, her breath caught in her throat.

Twilight—no, Nightmare Eclipse—was locked in combat with Last Page. The stallion was struggling, his guardian runes barely holding back the onslaught of inky tentacles that lashed out at him.

“You really thought you were better than me?” Nightmare Eclipse taunted, her voice dripping with mockery.

“I am better than you!” Last Page screamed, his frustration boiling over. “You showed remorse when I did not!”

He unleashed a barrage of magic, beams of energy slamming into her. But where they struck, an inky liquid absorbed the damage, leaving her unscathed.

“You’re a fool,” Nightmare Eclipse said, her voice low and venomous. Another tentacle shot forward, wrapping around Last Page’s leg and slamming him into the ground.

“The difference between then and now,” she hissed, leaning closer to him, “is that I will no longer show remorse.”

The inky sludge began to spread across the floor, consuming everything it touched. Nightmare Eclipse picked up the magic-stealing rune with her magic, examining it briefly before turning it against Last Page.

“No!” he screamed as his stolen power was drained away, leaving him helpless. The tentacles coiled around him, dragging him toward the dark pool of sludge.

“Please!” he begged, his voice filled with desperation. “Twilight! Don’t do this!”

But Nightmare Eclipse showed no mercy. Her eyes were cold, unfeeling. “You made your choice,” she said simply, and with that, he was pulled into the abyss.

The room fell silent. The inky tentacles and sludge dissipated, leaving no trace of the battle. Twilight stood in the center of the room, her eyes returning to their normal state. She let out a slow breath.

“How tragic,” she murmured. “I hope he learns.”

From the doorway, Luna gasped. “Where did you put him?” she asked, her voice trembling.

Twilight turned to her, her expression unreadable. “I put him in Tartarus temporarily. You can go claim him when you’re ready.”

As she began to walk away, Luna felt her strength returning. She took a step forward. “Twilight, wait!”

Twilight paused but didn’t look back.

“You… you can change,” Luna said, her voice filled with hope. “You don’t have to be a monster anymore.”

Twilight turned her head slightly, her gaze distant. “Maybe I can,” she said softly. “But it doesn’t feel like anypony believes that.”

Luna stepped closer, her voice firm. “I believe it. Come with me. Help me rule in Celestia’s place. You don’t need to carry this burden alone anymore.”

Twilight hesitated, the weight of her past decisions heavy on her shoulders. Finally, she nodded. “If you really think I can change… then I’ll try. The Twilight who tried to kill your sister is no longer me.”

Luna smiled, tears brimming in her eyes. “I’m so glad to hear that.”

The path to redemption would be long, and the shadow of Celestia’s legacy loomed large. But together, they would try to rebuild what had been lost. Together, they would face the future.