Portents of Shadow

by Starry Wisdom

Rating: everyone
Tags: Original Character, Adventure, Twilight Sparkle, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 7826

A glimps at the past reveals the future. Twilight Sparkle remembers the warnings that presaged the fall of the shadows, the return of a Tyrant and the second Great Flame War.

Many years have passed since Twilight Sparkle and her friends first met. During that time they have faced many challenges; from rogue dragons to descending swarms of Parasprites. The threat of two wars and chaos’ return, at long last Twilight is able to tell the full extent of the events leading up to the greatest trials in Equestrian history since the last changeling war.

Published 2013-01-02 01:00:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-01-08 00:20:24 UTC

Chapter 1: The Forgotten City

The Forgotten City: The Journey of Twilight Sparkle

My name is Twilight Sparkle, Chief Librarian of Canterlot Royal Library, and Chronicler of the Tales of Harmony. Previous to this past month, I wasn’t called upon to wield the Elements of Harmony in nearly a decade.

I record the events so that they will not fade into the mists of time. I record them so the future rulers of Equestria, and the Celestial realm of the most Noble Alicorns may learn from our triumphs, and more importantly from our mistakes and consequently our sacrifices.

The story begins some thirteen years ago, just prior to the grand wedding at Canterlot castle of Princess Cadence and my brother Shining Armor. My mentor Princess Celestia asked that I journey to the far-off lands of the Gryphus to settle a dispute between the gryphons of the high northern mountains and the Pegasi of New Talos.

The gryphon’s specifically stated that they would tolerate no flying above their mountain cities, and only one pony was permitted to cross their realm by ground; so since I did not know the land, I was forced to take the journey on foot alone.

It was cold, hard and rough travel through some of the worst weather in Equestria. During my travels, I often wished for the company of a skilled Weather Pony; who could manipulate the winds or dispel the clouds. However, this far north of Cloudsdale that was very unlikely and if anything they’d likely only make the storms worse.

After all it’s where all used weather goes, a gentle push and the clouds are set to drift north and dissipate.

Twilight Sparkle put down her quill and closed her eyes remembering the past.

The freezing snow and ice of the mountain passes whipped my mane around, tugged at my tail and made it all but impossible to see without the use of magic. Not for the first time did I wish for the companionship of my friends.

“Thank Celestia for this cloak Rarity gave me. I would have frozen long since without it.” Twilight muttered to herself. Her horn glowed briefly, and the hood and cloak dragged itself up on her back and close around.

I plodded along through the ever deepening snow to my eventual destination, the pegasi ground colony of New Talos.

‘With luck, I’ll be there by nightfall,’ I muttered to myself watching the sun slide from the sky as the hours passed. Eventually I made my way through the snow packed mountain paths and the settlement finally came into sight.

A collection of low to the ground, domed structures very different to those in the more temperate southern regions of Equestria dotted the small section of the encampment. For some reason, the snow didn’t seem to accumulate inside the settlement’s bounds. From the moment I stepped into city, I felt why. A single fierce blast of wind and utter and total calm; the cold, still omnipresent but with no wind, no blinding snow. The overwhelming aura of heavy pegasus weather magic hung like a dense shroud over the community.

No sooner did I approach the largest of the structures; a full three stories tall then four large, heavily armored pegasi stormed out from the upper floors, assaulted with me with blasts of wind that nearly tossed me backward and out of the settlement before the lead one landed and spoke.

“Who are you, what are you doing here?” the older of the three said in a gruff manner. He was a smoky grey male who looked positively ancient. Solidly built, almost as large as Big Mac and looked as though he'd been left out in the sun too long. With a colored faded coat and heavily worn feathered wings. All in all, he looked as tough as old tree roots.

“I am Twilight Sparkle. My mentor Princess Celestia of Equestria sends her highest regards and accepts the request given for mediation by the Pegasi of New Talos and the Gryphons of Gryphus Reach…”

That was as far as I got, the leftmost pegasus lashed out, lunging forward in a single great hopping half-flight. Landing directly in front of me, broadside on spreading his wings with enough force to throw me to the ground hard; from my new position I caught sight of what I at first thought was a baby unicorn until she fluttered her wings nervously and tossed her mane. A tiny alicorn child with a pitch black coat and turquoise eyes, the filly, barely old enough be out alone cowered against the middle pegasus’ back hooves.

“We sent no request! We need no aid,” he said as more pegasi gathered to watch since my arrival. And without realizing it I had found myself completely surrounded by a very hostile crowd of highly agitated winged ponies.

The elder glanced around and shook his storm-colored mane, stamped his hooves loudly and with an obviously practiced voice shouted to be heard by everypony throughout the town, “Enough! Is this how you all welcome guests? Alone at the top of the world, forgotten by the rest of the all. You all have forgotten your manners.”

His words were gruff, but bore no hint or trace of hostility; even so, I couldn’t help but notice that he made no mention of the gryphons.

He pushed forward, brushing aside the other Pegasus, slipping out of the grasp of the black-coated filly. The pegasus who had wing-tossed me reached down and offered his hoof to help me to my feet. With a nod I accepted it and used my magic to straighten my cloak which had gotten horribly tangled.

“You must forgive us, as I said at the top of the world things are… difficult, and it causes some to lose what manners they were born with.”

“I... It is quite alright,” I said with a shaky glance at my surroundings. Keeping my eyes peeled, watching the crowd for trouble. I can remember they were still very hostile at this point, but at least they weren’t ready to tear me apart like before, especially since their apparent leader was still speaking with me.

“Walk with me, Miss Sparkle,” the elder Pegasi said in a deep tone, “we need to speak.” He turned to the growing crowd and raised his voice. “You all have your jobs do you not? Get to them!”

With that he turned and floated off to the edge of town, his wings keeping him aloft a few short feet above the ground. As old as he was he was fast and strong, I had to quicken my stride to keep up. I felt the watching eyes of the townsfolk observing me suspiciously from the building as we passed.

“We never requested assistance from the Royal Pony Sister, nor would we,” I opened my mouth to voice my objections but the old pony just kept right on speaking, “not since what happened with the ancient symbols of balance twenty years ago.”

I was intrigued. I knew of the symbols of balance; the Elements of Harmony, yes, but the symbols, no, and I said as much. The elder Pegasus stopped his stormy wings folded nervously to his side as he landed feet barely making a sound or stirring the snow as he touched down.

“How can you not know of them; I sense they—you are connected to them even now. Well, you are connected to their counterparts,” the elder paused for a moment eyeing me carefully, taking in every detail and I was being measured to the inch and weighed to the ounce. “I cannot tell you of them; it is part of the binding. Sufficed to say that one of them was here in Talos for a time, before they were returned to their respective guardians, an order from Orion himself.”

“Who in name of Celestia is Orion?” I asked, quickly becoming impatient with his slow and ponderous way of speaking.

“Orion, Lord of Equestria; Keeper of the Elements of Honesty, Kindness and Generosity; Lord of the Celestials; Ruler of Equestria. How can you not know of your own King?” Silence descended on us both for a long moment, the terrible void was broken only infrequently by the howling of barrier of wind that swirled around the town. Before the overwhelming oppressiveness grew unbearable I spoke again.

“Equestria doesn’t have a King, it has two Princesses. Princess Celestia and Princess Luna; I’ve never heard of this Lord Orion.” I replied confused.

“Celestia is the only Surviving child of Orion, Lord of the Stars and Nebula the Lady of the Heavens. It is good that you remember Lunestia fondly, few do. However she was lost to darkness and shadow a very long time ago. In any event, she is gone now, and soon enough Equestria will only one ruler, when the royals depart this world that they love for another that they do not.”

It dawned on me that this old Pegasus might not be entirely sane, ‘a few colors short of a full rainbow,’ as Dash would say. Carefully considering my words I told of the events of two years, at least briefly as the old one watched with a childlike sense of wonder plain on his face.

When he finally finished with his story I spoke the confusion thick and heavy in my voice, “I’ve never heard of Orion or Nebula, and as for Lunestia, I can only assume you must be referring to Luna, the younger of the two Pony Sisters. She is, as I stated, alive and well cleansed of the shadow, darkness banished forever.”

If the older pegasi had been flying he would have fallen from the sky, his wings were sagging along his sides as if his muscles could no longer hold them folded and locked. His brown eyes turned inward and far away, glazing over with a wistfully sad expression and a tear game to one liquid eye.

“If what you say is true—and I do not doubt it is—then our time nearly done and we can finally have peace,” he spoke his words in a whisper barely heard over the wind. They were so filled with sadness and a wistful childlike longing it made me feel the weight of all the long years the elderly pony had seen. “Starswirl spoke of this day before he left for the heavens.”

“But Starswirl is dead and gone, by nearly a thousand years. And he predates the founding of Equestria.” I said in shock, glancing at the back of the pegasus, noticing something odd happening to his main and tail.

The years seemed to slowly lift away from him as he stretched his wings the raggedy look vanished from him and the color that had been leached away by the snowscape seemed to return to his mane and tail. Faint wispy colors appearing; red, yellow, blue, purple, green, all the colors of the rainbow; still faded and not as well distinguished as Dash but still the only other pony to bear such markings that I had ever seen.

I stared back in mild interest, despite myself and my ever-growing unease about this old Pegasus I couldn’t help but ask about Starswirl and his connection with this place. So little was ever recorded about that ancient unicorn wizard. Even as I watched his coat began to fade again, flickering between solidity and insubstantiality.

“It was Starswirl who helped convince his people with the aid of his student, Clover the Clever to leave their hate-poisoned lands for a better. Though winter had finally began departing, the earth and sky were so fouled by mistrust and jealousy that nothing would grow. When they arrived back in Equestria, they found it was actually inhabited. Or at least part of it was; a grand castle in the middle of a wonderous forest.”

I watched, my attention totally focused on the story told by this pegasus, I remember later on that I was in some way of what was happening to the settlement. It too was vanishing, like the Pegasus himself.

“They called themselves the alicorns; celestial beings, guardians and that this was once their home. But the flavor of their magic was changing, evolving and those who dwelt in that castle were the very last of their kind in Equestria, fewer than a hundred. They welcomed us as kin and told us that so long as our three races, pegasi, unicorn and earth ponies remained at peace with each other, the land that had once been theirs was now ours.”

The whipping wind tore at my cloak and stung my skin, in fact it was the biting cold that finally broke my spellbound trance long enough to see the town was now nearly invisible and the ancient Pegasus was holding on to his form with only a sheer force of will.

“I have little time, listen well. I was born in sight of the castle. It was my home. I played in the warm dappled sunlight and slept protected by the loving night. Gifts granted by two of the most powerful Alicorns, Celestia and Lunestia. But shadows came to the land, tainted the forest and took our beloved night from us all. All but three of the Alicorns fled, Celestia and her parents. For months, they did everything they could to fight the darkness. And for months Lunestia fought the welling darkness in her heart, keeping inside the now ruined castle.”

The old pegasi’s eyes went starry, looking a million miles away and filled with tears. “Nearly a year later the native ponies built a new place to live at the base of a mountain overlooked by spectacular waterfalls. The remaining Celestial Alicorns were using their immense magic to construct a new city built right into the face of the cliff. As the sun began to set, and the moon rise, there was a flash from the Royal Castle in the woods. No pony paid it much heed until out of the night sky Lunestia flew, triumphal and radiant as any of us remembered.”

I opened my muzzle as if to speak again but the old pegasus raised one hoof and pressed it to my muzzle as if I was a young filly constantly interrupting with questions. A firm but gentle pressure, very much like Celestia used to do when I first became her student.

“Celestia saw her sister and bolted toward her with an aura so full of joy. It made the stars in the heaven's weep. ‘Sister Luna! Thank all the stars in the heaven and the—' is all Celestia had time for before faster than lightning Luna lashed out with all the power of the moon and heavens. Celestia was pelted with thousands of tiny stars and lightning bolts rained from the clear night sky striking the countryside as Luna laughed, her form twisting and distorting as she assumed the true form of the nightmare that had overtaken her.”

“With Celestia falling out of control from the sky, Orion and Nebula had to make a choice, a terrible choice. And so they did, as they dove to save their falling daughter. Nightmare Moon turned her attention on the new settlement by the mountain. The full disk of the moon flared blindingly bright, and the light went from cold and loving to cold and deadly. The spell was called Moonscalding. Every Stallion, mare and foal in the city died. Two hundred ponies instantly gone. Not a single building, tree or hair left of them… Not even ash. It was… the day I died.”

“That’s… Not possible, they would have told us… Ghosts aren’t real… you can’t be…” I stammered.

The old pegasi looked warmly at me, with a soft sad smile spreading across his pale face. “I never believed in ghosts either, but if you doubt my words, ask the sisters about it. About us, ask them about the Moonscalding of Talos. Ask them of me, Hailstorm, son of Hurricane. They must remember us if we are to have any peace. Go now child of the stars, the darkness returns, and our village I fear cannot shelter you from the night, or the coming storm.”

I turned from the village that was slowly but surely fading from existence. A Maniacal laughter filled the skies. A sound I remembered from my nightmares. High in the heavens she saw the shadowy form of Nightmare moon, streaking from the village like the black bolt of lightning was the tiny alicorn.

I couldn’t be sure but I thought I caught a single world contained in the little filly’s terrified scream as bright white light flashed from somewhere above Nightmare Moon and lanced where the city had been. When Twilight blinked away the tears from eyes there was nothing, no village, no foal, no Nightmare Moon.

Chapter 2: Vault of Past and Present Dawns

Chapter Two
The Vault of Past and Present Dawns

Twilight Sparkle shook her head softly from side to side examining the damp spots on the page of her book and shook herself.

The most frightening part of my vision was that I somehow could feel the terrible pain of that little foal. It was like a telepathic echo crying out begging for help, for comfort, for a mother’s embrace. The whole scene played out again and again in my mind for the next few hours despite my best efforts to push it to the back of my mind.

The single word she spoke was just outside understanding each time; yet somehow I knew out of all the things I had seen or heard that day it was the most important part of a very large puzzle.

It is probably why I was so distracted, I admit now, though I’d never have then, that so lost was I in my thoughts that I became hopelessly lost in truth. It was fortunate for me that I came across the cave. Or perhaps not fortune considering what I found inside.

The cave was aglow with the warm flickering light of a campfire. As the sun set I hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward into the shadowed lip, where the firelight couldn’t quite reach. The walls of the cave made from some bluish crystals which at first I mistook for ice refracted and reflected the dancing flames in all directions.

Beside the campfire was another unicorn, a handsome male maybe a little older than myself. Wrapped heavily in his blanket it was hard at first to see what his coat was or his cutie mark. But he shifted and I saw that he was a sort of dark blue. Much like the Stallions of the Lunar Guard, only far larger, his horn was long, spiraled and sharp, unlike any other unicorn I’d ever met.

At first he looked asleep. But as I approached he spoke not even lifting his head. “Welcome, child. I so rarely see new faces that it is always a pleasure.”

Stunned I froze where I stood, one front hoof raised. Placing it down I took a step backward toward the cave mouth and heard him chuckle.

“I don’t think going back out in this weather would be very wise.” The stallion turned his head and smiled warmly. The fires reflecting in his amber eyes making them seem warm and liquid. “Come sit by the fire, I don’t often get visitors in my little cave.”

Hesitantly I approached the stallion by the fire and noticed what at first I thought were saddlebags next to the fire were in fact cooking tools. A kettle and a camping pan, various flasks with what looked to be an assortment of liquids. Another step and the smells made my mouth water, the faint flowery aroma of daffodil and daisy sandwich being grilled near the flames, one of my favorite foods.

The stallion must have seen something for although he didn’t make a move he chuckled a rich rolling sound that filled the cave, his horn lit up and a small flat panned cooking iron lifted out of the embers and drifted to a flat rock with a quick movement there was a steaming perfectly grilled sandwich sitting there.

“Please have what you like, I can make more. I am sure you must be hungry. If you require a drink, I keep tea here but on nights like these I prefer something a little stronger. A little fire blossom wine from the dragon kingdoms.”

I watched the unusual stallion in a daze, accepting the toasted sandwich mutely as he slid a small flask towards me and smiled disarmingly. Lifting the food to my mouth taking a cautious bite; it was perfection, the light flavor of daffodils and daisies mixed with a tangier something, a sauce of some kind. Pulling it away to examine it more carefully it positively dripped yellowish paste with black flecks.

“With mustard and cheese, a little taste of the Royal Court,” the blue stallion replied to the unspoken question, “I don’t suppose you have much access to that here it doesn’t grow in Equestria. It’s a plant found in the far south, in the land of the Zebra.”

After the stallion had mentioned the name, mustard, I almost remembered hearing of it before then. And the few fragments I had from that time the meal was one of the few things I managed to hold on afterwards. “So, who exactly are you?” I asked, “I don’t believe you’ve introduced yourself.” I took another bite of my meal while waiting for his response savoring each bite.

“Forgive me,” the stallion dipped his head and shifted slightly. “My name is Equinox, at least for the present. I’ve been called other things in the past and I do not doubt that I’ll be called others in the future.”

I knew I remembered the name from somewhere the moment he spoke it, but it was hard to think, the firelight flickering, and the cave getting warmer by the moment. Or was it the cave, even now the events seem to be jumbled. Something in my heart tugged at me, like it was desperately trying to warn me of something.

Equinox’s horn glowed softly and the flask at his side floated up as he offered me a drink, “drink my friend, the night is cold even in the cave and by the warmth of the flame this will give you heart.” Equinox’s voice was soft and melodious, the firelight dancing hypnotically in his liquid amber eyes. Without thinking I had the flask to my lips and tilted it back. I didn’t even remember taking it from his magic.

At first it tasted much like cool, clean Cloudsdale water, but that temperature rose rapidly as it slid down my throat. Sending waves of warmth through every limb, and making everything in the cave spin.

Coughing and spluttering I lost my grip on the magic and Equinox seemed to be ready grinning wildly he caught the flask before it could hit the floor and chuckled.

“Careful there, it’s powerful stuff,” Equinox grinned, eyes twinkling clearly expecting the reaction.

When I regained my senses and my eyes stopped watering I glared back at the stallion, who couldn’t seem to control his amusement. “You knew that was going to happen, didn’t you!” I managed between errant choking gasps.

The insufferable unicorn simply nodded and burst out in a full and rich laugh his entire body shaking with mirth. The firelight seemed to dance across the crystal walls echoing the sound. The interplay made my eyes begin to flutter, I couldn’t keep my magic up and my horn flickered out.

Equinox was at my side steadying me before I could strike the floor, he seemed to move with the very grace of the wind. One moment he was laying on his side across the fire the next he was at my side, without needing to bother with trivial things like walking to my side.

As I slowly drifted off to sleep, being supported to a moss covered patch of floor I caught sight of something out of the corner of my eyes. The faintest glimmer of wings surrounded by a midnight blue aura, but I was already half asleep, too far gone to care, and the lights of the cave were dancing in my dreams before my eyes were even closed.

As the stallion placed a blanket of moss over me and my last thoughts before I drifted off to sleep was how strong and handsome this stallion was... and the soft chocolate laughter of Equinox as he laid to sleep.

Now thinking back on the situation, I realized what happened-- I did not then. Hard journeying, freezing cold and exposure to high magic. It can do strange things to a mare who isn’t prepared, and I certainly wasn’t. So when the lights in the cave danced hypnotically and the strong spirits hit me like a runaway applecart all of my magic fled, all of my control vanished. And eventually, inhibition as well.

When I awoke the sunlight was streaming into the cave and igniting the beautiful walls alight with golden fire. Prismatic shards shattering the light in a multicolored and wondrous wash, my first thought was that it looked as if Rainbow Dash had sprayed her sonic rainboom all over the cave. My second thought was how comfortable I was.

Nuzzling deeper against the firm bulk of something, I pressed my muzzle into a pile of soft stringy fibers and my eyes fluttered closed. Reveling in the warmth that was radiating from it; the smells, cool dew drenched grass before the dawn and a hint of sunlight dappling on freshly tilled soil.

When memories of the previous night returned my eyes flashed open when I realized who I was leaning against. Scuttling backwards, I slammed my flank into one of the crystal edges and winced with the pain.

“Some way to be woken up,” Equinox said rubbing his side which had been violently smacked into one wall of the cave from the force of Twilight’s shove.

“What’s the big idea?” I glared, wincing at the pain from the cut; reaching into my saddlebags for something to place on the cut, “you think you can slip into anypony’s bed during the night?”

The large stallion glanced quizzically back at me and shook his head in amusement, trotting over to her and dipping his horn to her flank. “Would you like me to heal that?”

I nodded and Equinox lowered his horn to the cut as a glowing light blossomed from his horn. Warm like the sun, yet veiled behind clouds, it reminded Twilight of something.

“How…” I asked as the wound simply closed and vanished.

“No time for that,” Equinox said shaking his mane vigorously, “we should get you back to Canterlot as quickly as possible. I can take you through these caverns and it will save you almost two weeks of travel off of your journey. If we don’t stop for anything we’ll be at Canterlot in just under a week.”

I couldn’t believe him, he wanted me to travel with him back to Canterlot. Underground? And he actually thought it would only take a week? I was not much of an adventurer but I knew how long it took me to get as far as I did, at least three times that. “I believe I would rather take my chances with the road,” I said turning back to the cave mouth.

Trotting back to the entrance and I was assaulted by a blast of frigid wind. So strong was the wind that I would have fallen over if Equinox hadn’t been at my side, displaying once again his uncanny ability to seemingly be in one place and then another without bothering with the intermediate motions.

Twilight dips her quill in ink and stretches briefly before continuing.

Three days later Equinox and I took our first steps into to the great crystal chamber that he called the heart of Equestria. Massive columns made of black and white marble with gold and silver veins running throughout. Tiled floors, giant octagonal pieces alternating between gleaming obsidian and polished ivory, but the most beautiful of all was the vaulted walls and ceiling made of multi-faceted polyhedral crystals with faces twice our height.

I could only find one flaw that marred its perfection, a massive crack running across the center of the chamber from one end of the hall to another at least eighteen inches across. The edges of the rift were pitted and cracked as if corroded by some acid. And the gaping maw simply oozed a damp menace that I could almost taste.

On the opposite side of the hall there were three pathways, the right was blocked by a door that was half crystal and half stone and a bright light shown from somewhere deep within. The left was a door made of the same black material as the tiles inscribed with a design of four tall creatures on two legs with arms stretched in front of them holding back a shapeless thing that even carved on stone radiated hatred. Above each of the four was a symbol and surrounding the shadow keeping it contained were ten runes. Six of which I knew instantly as the symbols representing the Elements of Harmony. The remaining ones I’d never seen. The final path led up a winding ramp and into darkness.

“Behold, the Vault of Past and Present Dawns; no pony has set foot in these halls in centuries. Not even the Princesses of Equestria. Do not gaze into the crystals they will entrap your soul.

“It’s amazing,” I whispered approaching one of the slabs of black polished crystal and pressed my hoof to its surface. It felt, wet. Gazing into it I saw my reflection and many shadowy forms that bubbled up from somewhere deep within.

I never noticed when my horn’s magic ignited of its own accord or when Equinox cried out in alarm for me to stop. It was far too late at that point, I was already caught, falling into a shadowy world of terror and fearful images that even now, after they had come to pass, haunt my dreams.

The world lurched and I found myself bound, unable to move except to shift my vision. I had no body. I was an entity, able only to see, feel, taste and hear what was happening around me. The edges of my vision seemed watered and blurry, dominated by ripple-edged shadows. Sounds were watered and distant as if my ears were constantly ringing from a blow. But even still things were all too clear.

I watched myself, standing surrounded by dozens of shelves in the Royal Canterlot Library. The pale sun shone through massive stained-glass windows lighting up the stacks but not touching where I—my future self was standing.

My double stood there, her horn a blaze with magical light firing of burst of magic after burst into the shadows. I couldn’t see what she—I was fighting, until one of the shadows detached themselves from a clump on the ground and lunged for her. It flowed from a two dimensional shade to a fully animate monstrosity from the depths of hell. I saw my own magic--her magic, pierce it causing it to vanish into nothing.

Again and again, she used her magic until she was staggering. I knew my limitations, and at this point I knew that I was already well past the point of exhaustion. I watched myself as I dipped my head in seeming defeat and felt my heart clench until I saw myself lift my head eyes glowing and the tiara of magic flicker into view and a protective bubble made of pure light surrounded me pushing the shadows back.

I hoped that she had finally won against the horrible things that were just oozing up from the floor. But I was wrong, the more light that is shone, the more shadows that are cast. And eventually the spell weakened.

The shadows still kept coming; they crept along the ground and slid along the floor, like liquid darkness they ate into the light until her horn finally dimmed. It was at that point that one of the shadows finally made contact with her.

I heard myself scream, saw my head whip around and blast the shadow off with magic but it was too late. My attention diverted the shadows had a chance to flow in and smother Twilight with a cocoon of darkness.

I watched unable to do anything as the shadows sank into the purple unicorn, feeding on some darkness and growing as it flowed into her. On and on shadows came from all over the room rushing in like a torrent until abruptly the surge of darkness stopped; the tiara of harmony flickered fitfully and the light in the gem died.

Sickened and weak kneed, I watched myself spread her newly shadow-granted wings and fly off cackling insanely.

The image flickered and I was outside Ponyville, somewhere near the edge of the Everfree forest. My dark nightmarish self was above laughing madly. Dipping and diving madly she was an expert flier. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were just barely able to keep up with the sheer speed and dexterity my evil self had. And even with my terror of the new creature, I couldn’t help feeling the tiniest bit envious.

“Twilight I’m sorry I have to do this, but you wouldn’t want to be like this,” I heard Rainbow Dash call from high above the trees. There was a ripple and a blur of motion and the sky filled with sonic rainboom just under the canopy of the forest.

With shock I saw myself simply slide out of the way of Rainbow Dash’s attack and fire off a wave of force knocking dash completely off balance. An instant later, a gargled shriek cut off by a squelching crack as Rainbow Dash smashed into the ground at full Rainboom velocity.

Fluttershy went nuts and dive bombed the monster I had become and my darker half simply laughed at her. Spinning midair Shadow Sparkle bucked Fluttershy straight in the face. The yellow maned pegasus’ wings went limp and just tumbled from the sky hitting the ground with a sickening crunch.

I wanted to cry but couldn’t; I wanted to empty myself but couldn’t. Rainbow Dash dead, pulped on the forest floor, Fluttershy if not dead, horribly injured. One by one I watched as she killed my best friends using their own magic or talents against them.

Rarity entombed in a solid crystal, a look of terror on her face. Pinkie exploded in a shower of multi colored confetti. Applejack turned to run but didn’t even make a full stride before she screamed once and turned into an apple tree.

Moments later three new ponies, all alicorns, very young—burst into view, teleporting practically into the center of the carnage. The youngest of them instantly went from pony to pony, or the remains of each and examined them briefly before looking up with tears in his eyes standing next to Rarity, “They’re all gone Sparky, I’m so sorry.”

The middle one also a male was standing near the splintered body of Rainbow with a look of pure hate on his face. Sparking electricity from all over his body, the oldest one purple in color with two color hair. Walked forward with tears in her eyes.

“I know this isn’t you. I know deep down that you must want to crawl into a hole and die. I—” she choked and sobbed brokenly. “I wanted so much to believe you could be saved, but… I now see that even if we could, you wouldn’t—there isn’t enough of you left to come back to.” The oldest said.

The Shadowed Twilight laughed and giggled as she pointed her horn at the alicorn, sending a blast of magic barreling down at her. Quicker than lighting the blast struck a barrier and deflected in an arc around the alicorn’s glowing horn.

The alicorn spoke again, “You have caused so much pain, and I wanted to free you, bring you back to what you were. But I can see that even if I did, you wouldn’t be able to live with what you have done. I do now, the only thing that can be done.” The very heavens opened up and thousands of tiny stars began to fall the first few slammed into a black shield surrounding the nightmare form of Twilight Sparkle then the shield simply vanished. She had only a moment to look surprised as she was impaled by thousands of tiny glowing stars raining for the heavens.

Again the image flickered and I found myself on the grassy hill overlooking Ponyville. The night sky was streaked with clouds that were striated black and red with flashes of lightning that danced across the clouds, it looked like the end of the world. Cloudsdale was barely staying in the sky, Canterlot looked like it had been half blasted out of the mountain and the waterfalls were simply not there.

Looking up Twilight saw three alicorns fighting in the sky, or rather the last moments of a battle. A smaller pink alicorn tumbled from the sky her wings on fire with a midnight blue alicorn in royal armor dove to intercept. The upper alicorn took the opportunity to send a blast of fire in their direction and soon both of the smaller ones were tumbling head over tail uncontrollably from the sky.

The remaining alicorn white and red, with a mane and tail made of flowing flamed simply laughed. With a stab of pain, Twilight instantly knew the voice. Princess Celestia. With no word at all, the sun burned through the clouds and a line of light lanced through the sky and in less than a blink. Cloudsdale was simply gone, moments later Ponyville was ash as well.

At first Twilight thought her eyes were playing tricks on her when two wings of pegasi flew away from Cloudsdale. All were making all speed away from the quickly dissipating clouds. The inferno pony that Celestia had become simply grinned and turned to them, Twilight was certain that she was going to see hundreds of inflamed ponies falling from the sky when the second wing broke from the rest and turned to face Celestia. In the lead was proud Pegasus with a mane and tail of rainbow colors, she was far outstripping the others and moments later there was the telltale flash and multi colored explosion of a sonic rainboom as Rainbow Dash barreled straight into Celestia and vaporized.

For the first time since I had been trapped in this terrible nightmare I felt something, I mean truly felt a physical sensation. A wave of immense magic and a pressure on my shoulders. The world itself rippled, sights, sounds, smells and sensations returned to normal as my body—I had control of my body again. Everything felt real, no longer like a dream.

“Come now young Twilight Sparkle, this event you were never meant to see,” the voice resonated across the hilltop. I turned expecting to see a handsome stallion, but instead I saw a creature. Almost six feet tall in back star-dusted robes that made him look as though he was wrapped in the stars themselves. Around his neck and chest was V-shaped strip of cloth about four inches wide with ten charms sewn into the material.

On his back Twilight noticed a huge great sword made of shimmering rainbows etched with ten runes and a slot for a smaller sword to rest within it currently empty.

Tall and nearly hairless except for a thick main on the top of its head. He walked only two legs and had bright white wings that sprouted from his back.

“A bit surprising I know, but after all you’ve been through today can you be quite surprised at seeing new and unusual things?” The creature spoke again, the voice was disconcerting coming from such flat face and yet there was only kindness and sympathy in his tone.

“What are you?” I managed to breath between sobs. Released from spell that bound my movements I shook all over. If that strange creature hadn’t been holding me—obviously through magic despite the lack of a horn—I doubt I could have remained standing.

“What I am is unimportant, how you came here is, on the other hand,” he paused, “other hoof, is another matter.” His hesitation over the word hoof was clearly evident obviously aware of his lack he quickly continued to cover his slip. “The fact that you are still sane after this great an exposure to those crystals is quite extraordinary. You are a credit to your family, young child of the swirling stars. But it is time for you to return to your body, you are not ready for this kind of powerful of magic, not ready by many, many years.”

“Is… is this real? I’d never hurt them! NEVER! Oh Celestia…” I couldn’t continue, my hooves digging into the ground, the tall creature was on his knees in an instant taking my muzzle in his hands forcing her to look into his eyes.

“Yes. Yes and no,” he said with a soft smile, “but thanks in part to your actions here today and what you do based on what you’ve seen, things may change, at least for you… For this place, it is already too late; I may yet be able to save the realm from destruction but not those who have already fallen. We did not see the danger in time. Now you must return and I must go to protect the heart of Equestria. Tell Equinox that Unity is returning.

I opened my mouth to reply but the world began to spin. I felt dizzy and nauseous all over as if my body was being compressed and drawn through a tiny straw. When I came back to myself I was staring at the flat piece of black quartz it had a long straight edged crack through it and it was smoking slightly along the break. As I faded back to my body, heard the one named Unity call to me, “the burden of foresight is too great this blessing I give to you. Remember only what you must. Forget all else.”

Feeling the solid world around me again I crumpled to the floor sobbing uncontrollably the terrible weight of what had been seen crashing down on me. It could have been minutes or hours later that I slowly became aware of the soft comforting words of Equinox by my side. My head resting against his flank his hooves gently stroking my flank, and something more, I finally understood that during the past week I’d grown close to him, very close.

“I know, the crystals here always show dark things, but they aren’t true. They are never true. Shhh, hush now and rest little one.”

“You have to warn them! Warn the Celestials! They are coming; death, destruction…” I tried to continue but Equinox placed a hoof over my lips gently cutting off my words.

“It wasn’t real, trust me,” I had to speak, the message was too important, the compulsion too strong. I pushed him away and with a force of will I pushed the last vestiges of hysteria from my voice.

“He said it was, he said you must warn the Celestials.”

“Who is he?” Equinox asked calmly.

“Unity…” I said as calmly as I could, giving his words as much emphasis as I could. I was still on the verge of tears but something was nagging at the back of my mind, “tell me it wasn’t true!” With a shake of my head I started to wonder what I was asking about. I could feel that there was something important that needed to be said but as I reached out for it scuttled away. As the thought flickered through my mind I heard a kind voice whispering to her, “Forget little filly, until the time is right, enjoy your blessings, take comfort in love. Be safe, be comforted and remain ignorant of the terrors of the future.”

Equinox stared at me, opened up his mouth to speak when the ground itself shuddered and a cold vapor began to snake across the floor. His mouth snapped shut and eyes widened even more. “We have spent too long here, expended too much magic we need to leave now.”

I didn’t complain, I obeyed, remaining as close to Equinox as I could. When he dipped his head and cantered for the far side of the chamber I matched his speed. The moment we passed under the middle archway on the far side of the room the feeling of terrible dread slowly faded away causing me to sag against crystal wall and start to sob again.

The comforting voice of Equinox drifted over to me as he padded over and smiled, “Twilight, dry your tears, I wish to show you something.”

Blinking back the niggling feeling of some distant fear I looked back to Equinox, as he slowly raised his horn and shot a blast of pure radiant light high towards the distant cave ceiling. That beam of light, brighter than the sun slammed into the crystal faceted walls and sparkled, splitting billions of tiny shards reflecting light in every color of the rainbow.

“The darkness cannot exist in the same place and time as the light, only when it fades can it take hold in a pony’s heart.”

Regaining my strength I slid next to him and smiled. The vague memory of something still present like a shadow but quickly replaced by a need I believed was still months away. Eyes shining I pressed myself against Equinox and smiled, in barely more than a whisper I spoke, “I choose you; be with me.”

Equinox stiffened slightly, and a pink hue lightened his cheeks, quickly deepening across the bridge of his muzzle. “The shock of fear and loss is confusing you. Making you mistake companionship for love. I would be a poor choice for you.

“I know; at least I think I know, although I do not fully understand,” I replied with a grin on my face, “I am as clear headed now as I have ever been. I choose you.”

“It is this place; my presence, the power of Unity. Many things combined,” Equinox replied in a very quiet voice, “If you are certain of this decision, we will part soon and we will likely never meet again.”

I only nodded with soft smile, “I choose you,” turning slightly my flicking mane and tail invitingly.

With a sigh Equinox nodded. “It seems you are…

Author's Note

This chapter contains light blood and gore.