Darkness within the Twilight

Chapters

Prologue: A Somber Meeting
Ch1: Tea Fit for a Queen
Ch2: Shadowed Mind
Ch3: Lineage
Ch4: Ancestor
Ch5: The Notebook
Ch6: Can't Pick Your Family
Ch7: Just a Taste

Prologue: A Somber Meeting

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy
Prologue: A Somber Meeting

Darkness. An endless void of nothingness. This abyss was without warmth or comfort. It was empty, cold, and without a sense of hope. Yet for the lavender alicorn that walked methodically through this empty and barren plane, it wasn’t any of that. She looked upon it and thought differently; calm, soothing, peaceful, and strangely relaxing.

Princess Twilight Sparkle had been in dark places before, but none of those times ever brought such feelings to her senses. Here however, she felt almost right at home. As if she had been here before, but she dismissed that idea, as how could an empty plane be recognizable?

Unfortunately, even with the feeling of ease, it did not mean she was without worry. Being lost and alone in some random dark void wasn’t exactly the best position to be in. So, she did the only reasonable thing she could think of, call out for somepony to help her.

“Hello?” Her voice echoed around her like she had spoken into the cavernous maw of an Ursa Major’s cave. Her ears perked up as her voice carried around her and her shoulders sagged with the weight of her pink and yellow coronation dress. The element of magic began to feel heavier upon her brow as loneliness began to descend upon the princess.
She kept walking forward as her golden hoof slippers clipped clopped off the floor. After a moment she tried to examine said floor, but closer inspection revealed; well nothing. She could see her hooves plain as day, but the ground was indistinguishable from any kind of recognizable terrain. With a sigh she voiced her foremost thought in hope that some revelation would come to her, “Where am I?”

Though the dark didn’t answer her question; remain silent it did not. Twilight squinted her eyes as she thought she saw and heard movement from within the abyss. She frantically turned her head this way and that trying to track the movement of her invisible guest or possibly host. Her efforts were fruitless and with an annoyed tone she called out, “Who are you?”

She listened closely as her ears swiveled and realized that the movement had completely ceased. This was most certainly not a good sign, but that didn’t deter her. With a deep breath to calm her nerves she shouted with all the dignity and authority a new princess could muster, “Show yourself!”

The entity started to move again and when she heard a voice speak from behind her she grew a little worried that somepony was able to get that close to her without her sensing them. Strangely enough she didn’t feel threatened, even if the voice was sinister.

“AH HA HA… at last we meet face to face….” Twilight turned her head slightly to face her assumed host and was greeted by green eyes with dragon like pupils and irises of a dark red as he finished speaking, “…Twilight Sparkle,” King Sombra stepped out of the darkness. His eyes were leaking a magical purple mist, as though his very being was overflowing with magic. It seemed to be a common side effect to those who dipped into dark magic, something Twilight was familiar with.

The dark gray unicorn was whole instead of a shadow like he had been when Twilight first caught a glimpse of him back at the Crystal Empire. He proudly wore his armor and crown and she couldn’t help, but stare at his smooth and curved horn. She wondered for a moment if that was another “perk” of his dark magic’s or if he had merely been born that way. Regardless, realizing who was in front of her made her scowl, “What do you want, Sombra? And that’s Princess Twilight Sparkle to you!” She decided to add that last part trying to get the message across that she was not to be trifled with.

She continued to stand firm and glare at him even as he casually strolled up alongside her with a bit of boredom and aloofness. There weren’t any threatening motions in his gait as he approached, “Ah yesss… my apologies, I wasn’t invited to your… coronation,” He looked her up and down, barely taking in her features as Twilight retained her scowl, “I must say, you wear your new wings well,” He complimented, but his sincerity was questionable.

When he was finally standing side by side with her there was a bit disappointment on his face. It seemed like he was looking at something tragic and he voiced his thoughts to her, “Although, your new title is hardly befitting somepony of your stature.”

Twilight leaned away from him, more out of suspicion than fear. He was currently breaching her comfort zone and she leered over at him, “What’s that supposed to mean?” Her tone was very distinct of her distaste for him.

Sombra seemed to catch the hint and for a moment seemed to be sincere in his following apology or at least act it, “Oh, I meant no offense, my dear! I simply have to ask,” He paused for a moment to lift up his hoof, “Why be a princess…” a glowing ball of sickly green appeared in his hoof as a purple flame erupted around it and within this flame a dark silver crown with a very familiar six pointed pink star as its center piece at the head, “…When you could be a queen?”

Twilight was flabbergasted by the unexpected compliment and suggestion, “Wh-What?” She stared at the crown with her mouth agape. If somepony had told her a few days earlier she would be a princess, she would have thought they were crazy. If they had told her she was capable of becoming a queen though, her mind wouldn’t have even been able to comprehend the very notion of it.

Me, a queen? I couldn’t… Twilight’s mind raced at the thought. I mean, maybe, but I’m not ready for that. I’m not ready to rule, though Celestia seems to think I’m capable. If I read the right books I might be able to do it, but would being a queen make me evil? No, I guess it would mean I’d have more control over the kingdom. How would I even become a queen? She looked at the way Sombra was holding the crown and her mind jumped to a hasty conclusion. Wait, is he proposing to me?! He’s a king or was a king. Is he still a king? I guess marrying him would make me technically a queen, but I’m not ready for marriage! I haven’t even dated! Do you even need to be married to be a queen? I don’t want to marry Sombra! He’s evil and just so… so… old….

Sombra began to speak, completely ignorant of Twilight’s thoughts, “Back at my castle, when you first used dark magic… you took to it like a fish to water. But you’ve barely scratched the surface. There is so much more you do not know!”

Oh no, he’s about to propose. What do I say, what do I do? Twilight’s eyes were wide as dinner plates and to Sombra he merely thought he had her undivided attention.

He put on a cocky smile as he lazily looked over to the magically floating crown in his hoof, “But I know. I could teach you magic even Celestia cannot hope to control.”

Oh, thank Celestia and Luna! I thought he was about to ask me to marry… wait a second why does this sound familiar? I feel like I’ve heard this speech before. A quick realization put her thoughts back on track. Oh no, he’s not going to really start that old spiel is he?

“It’s funny; we’re not so different, you and I.”

Twilights bent her ears back and tried not to grown. Oh, he is. I can’t bear to listen to this.

“We both…“ He was quickly interrupted and he looked very peeved that his monologue was halted.

“Stop right there, Sombra!” Twilight shouted sternly as she went back to glaring at the unicorn king.

“What?” The irritation in his tone was very clear. It was just bad manners to interrupt a villain in the middle of a monologue. You don’t do that unless they’re at least half way through or if it is an emergency, like the hero escaping.

Twilight pointed an accusing hoof at him, “I’ve heard this bit a hundred times in a hundred stories!” She was really glad she wouldn’t have to suffer though such an overused villain rant. The fact he even got out such an overdone line to try and compare himself to her already had Twilight beyond irritated, “You’re gonna say we’re not ‘Not so different,’ rattle off a bunch of traits you think we share, and try to convince me to join your side!”

She stood up with all the dignity she could muster and motioned to herself, “Well, let me tell you, ‘Your Highness’, we are nothing alike!” As she spoke her confidence and voice grew louder, “I earned my friends, my wings, and my crown!” She started to even get angry as she spoke, “You took your throne by force and enslaved other ponies for your own selfish gain!”

Twilight stomped right up to him and stared right into his eyes completely ignoring the floating crown, “I got to where I am through love and friendship!” She lightly slammed her hoof accusingly against his metal chest plate, her gold slipper making a slight clinging sound as it pushed against his armor, “You tried to get there through fear and violence, and you were defeated for it!” She gave a little sneer and decided to rub salt into the wound, “Twice!”

Sombra face remained indifferent as she retracted her hoof and closed her eyes for a moment trying to calm down as she continued to speak, “You are not my equal. You’re not even a real king,” She then made the final verbal slap to his face, “You’re just a clichéd bad guy straight out of a mediocre fantasy book.”

For a moment Sombra just frowned and looked at her with pity. Not quite the reaction Twilight had been expecting. The crown with her cutie mark emblazoned onto it popped out of existence without even a glance from the insulted king. He spoke very calmly to her, “So, I’m just a ‘clichéd bad guy’, eh?”

He looked away from her in thought, “From a ‘mediocre fantasy book’?” For a moment Twilight felt a bit of guilt, thinking she had actually hurt his feelings. That was, till he spoke up again, Dark purple energy suddenly bubbled around his horn and his eyes glowed completely green, “…a PLOT TWIST!”

From around Twilight dark, glowing purple tentacles erupted from the ground, surrounding her. She jerked her head around to look at them, her eyes wide with fear and her new wings flared instinctively. However, her reaction time was far too slow. The tentacles in front of her snatched at her fore hooves as she reared back, pulling her back to the ground and making her lose one of her golden slippers. Next, one of her wings became entangled and though she tugged and pulled with her feathery limb, but the constricting tentacle refused to let go.

She saw more tendrils appear as one shot toward her face and wrapped itself around her neck, choking off her supply of air. She gasped and gagged, desperately for even the slightest breath. With all her might, Twilight struggled against the onslaught, but more tentacles kept emerging, ripping away her coronation dress and keeping her bound.

Sombra let off a deep sinister laugh as he cockily marched over to the constricted princess, “Final chapter, Scene One,” he taunted her as he got closer, “The big, bad villain kills the plucky young protagonist,” Twilight continued her struggle, but with each passing second her strength waned and Sombra kept up his speech, “Fade to black.”

She looked pleadingly at him for mercy. Anything at all. Hoping for some small amount of goodness in the old unicorn's blackened heart, but she realized she would find none as her vision began to fade and he spoke his next words, “End scene.”

Twilight started to cry, from the pain, from the thought of dying, and from the fact she was all alone. Her mind screamed for her to resist, to struggle, but her body lacked the energy to continue. She could barely register and focus on what Sombra was even saying as he got right up into her face, “How’s that for a change of pace… princess?”

Twilight closed her eyes in defeat, tears pouring out of her as she seemed to resign to her fate. She was about to lose everything. All that she had worked for and gained would amount to nothing. She would disappoint and bring her friends and loved ones a terrible sorrow from her sudden departure. That very thought tore her heart asunder.

I don’t want to die…

Then why are you fighting it?

Fighting what?

The pain, the fear, the end, the fury, the sorrow. You deny those feelings or you let them rule you, but if you embrace them you could have anything! They can give you strength beyond measure.

They can?

Yes, all you must do is accept and acknowledge them then ask yourself, “What do you want?”

I want… to live.

What else?

I want to see me friends again.

Good, and what do you want of our terrible host?

I want… I want…

Yes?

I want him to… SUFFER!

Twilight’s eyes shot right open, glowing completely pink as a dark purple mist erupted from the sides of her eyes, very similar to the way Sombra’s did. Magic began to overflow from her as she gritted her teeth and her horn was illuminated in a dark violet aura.

The purple tentacles began to shift in color to a bright pink and loosen their grip upon Twilight. The one around her neck was the first to let go, allowing her to take a deep breath of air as she was completely released.

Her wings flared as she hovered in the air and stared menacingly at the unicorn king with her new pink tentacles poised to strike their former master. Sombra had barely anytime to react as the tendrils lashed out at him. He barely managed to take a step back before they all struck, one of them snapping like a whip against his right eye.

Sombra landed indignantly face first into the ground of the endless dark plane while Twilight landed with all the grace of a princess as she dismissed her dark tendrils. Each one of the pink tentacles bubbled and melted away from existence and one gave a slight goodbye wave as if faded into nothing.

The dark magical mist faded away behind Twilights closed eyes and as it did she collapsed the floor. She was exhausted and looked like a wreck. Her dress was ruined and her mane was such a disaster that it would make Rarity faint. She took deep, greedy breaths of air trying to regain her stamina.

To her dismay she heard King Sombra stir, groaning in pain as he struggled to get back up from her recent attack. A hiss escaped from his lips and when he turned his head to her they both took noticed to the large scar that ran vertically across his eye, practically blinding it.

Twilight expected him to be enraged, but then he started to chuckle and gave a sly toothy grin in her direction, “What did I tell you, princess?” His sadistic smile seemed to get even wider, “Not. So. Different.”

Twilight just stared back at him because truthfully, she didn’t know what to think…

Author's Note

Opening Chapter and story was inspired by the following comic:
http://omny87.deviantart.com/art/A-Somber-Meeting-359962328?offset=550#comments

Special thanks to Omny87 for giving me permission to use his comic and dialog as the opening for this story.
Also, a cookie to anyone who catches the MGS reference.

Ch1: Tea Fit for a Queen

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy
Ch1: Tea Fit for a Queen

A sharp gasp escaped Twilights lips as her eyes shot open. Her pupils darted in every direction as she breathed quickly and heavily, taking in her surroundings. For a moment she had no clue where she was, but soon her breaths started to slow down and she began to calm herself. With one last breath Twilight sighed with relief.

She was in her room within the Ponyville Library which was hosted inside a giant tree. The familiar scent of books, parchment, and ink filled her nostrils with their soothing aroma. One she had associated with home for a long time.

It took Twilight a moment to remember that she had just been dreaming about… something. It had been important and had to do with a king? A queen? She could no longer recall in detail, but she definitely remembered being bound and gagged by tendrils that were controlled by… somepony. It was becoming fuzzier with each second and she shook her head only to wince when her eyes became blinded by the morning sun. Reflexively a lavender wing shot up to block the rays.

This caused Twilight to stop thinking about her dream and focus more on the fact that she was indeed an alicorn now. Her eyes studied each individual feather on her newly acquired appendage and a mirthful smile spread across her face. Twilight reached out with her hoof to touch the wing, causing it to involuntarily twitch for a moment and illicit a giggle out of the mare.

She extended her other wing and proceeded to stretch out both appendages with a few flaps. She nearly knocked over a book on her desk in the process and was more careful as she continued. Flapping them like that started to make her think how nice it would be to fly.

That’s when she let off a gasp and sat up looking at the clock. Twilight was relieved that it was still early as she hopped out of bed. She had important plans today for today was the first day she would go flying with Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy. It would be routine akin to Fluttershy and Rarity’s weekly spa trip.

She had been looking forward to this over the past week and wouldn’t miss it for all the books in Equestria. Though if one offered all the books in the world then I’d be a little hard pressed. Twilight thought with a chuckle.

Stretching as she walked to her bathroom, Twilight began to go through her morning routine. Spike wasn’t anywhere to be found, she knew he had planned to spend the day helping out Rarity since Twilight would be busy and today the library wasn’t open. Everything was working perfectly with her schedule.

Twilight trotted out of the library with a bright smile on her face. She would be having breakfast at Fluttershy’s where Dash would meet up with the two of them. After eating they would go out for their first flying outing. The thought of it made her giddy as she trotted merrily through Ponyville’s streets.

The other ponies would often stop to wave at her or give her praise. They were even going out of their way just to do so. Occasionally, one or two would bow before her and call her princess. This was one of the things she was still getting used to, becoming an alicorn was one thing, but princess on top of that was fairly overwhelming.

Thankfully it didn’t get in the way of her life too much. Princess Celestia allowed her to return to Ponyville. She would have plenty of time to take on royal duties later. It was in her best interest to stay close with her friends and enjoy her life without any major duties to fill. At least any more major ones like being the element of magic.

Besides, she thought, I’ll have plenty of time to learn how to be a queen later. Twilight immediately stopped in her tracks. Queen? I meant princess… She shook her head and shrugged it off as a slipped thought.

A shadow hovered over Twilight and she looked up to see a very angry chromatic cyan pegasi. Rainbow Dash was scowling at her with disgust and looked over her and scrutinizing Twilights every movement.

Twilight spoke hesitantly to RD as she continued to move forward while Rainbow hovered along ahead of her, “Oh, hey Dash. Um, is something wrong?”

“What are you doing?” Rainbow replied back with an undermining tone.

Twilight was unsure what was irking her friend, but answered anyway, “I’m heading to Fluttershy’s.”

“Yeah, and you’re doing it wrong,” Rainbow quickly snapped back while crossing her hooves and intensifying her glare.

Twilight stopped in her tracks as Dash hovered in front of her. For a moment she thought she was going the wrong way, but a quick check of her surroundings showed that the path she was taking was correct. She looked back to her friend and asked, “What exactly is wrong?”

Dash facehooved. “Twilight, when you have the choice between walking somewhere and flying somewhere, do you know what you should always choose?”

“Flying,” she replied seeing where her friend was going with this.

“That was a radical question,” Rainbow answered as she eased up on her harsh gaze.

“You mean rhetorical,” Twilight corrected.

“That too! When you can fly, you fly! When it’s clear skies, you fly. When it’s raining, you fly. When it’s snowing, you fly. When it’s storming, you fly. When it’s storming with wind gusts that can tear your wings apart… well you probably stay indoors, but if your awesome like me, you fly!” she just about finished her little rant, but added one more to it, “The only time you don’t is if you break your wings from performing an awesome trick. In that case you read Daring Do that a good friend left you so you wouldn’t be bored,” she landed and placed a hoof on Twilights shoulder, smiling warmly at her as she said this.

Twilight was quick to return the gesture. She was a bit touched by that last part. “Well, guess I¬- we should get flying to Fluttershy’s then?” Twilight flapped her wings a couple of times carefully hovering, a bit unsteadily, over the ground.

Rainbow was quick to rise with her and she reached out to carefully help Twilight fly higher and higher as she lead the two of them to Fluttershy’s.

After a short flight Dash descended to the ground before Fluttershy’s tree cottage at the edge of Everfree Forest. She did this easily while looking awesome at it. Twilight landed… well she landed right next to Rainbow only proceeding to trip up her descent and face plant right into the ground.

“Uhh, we’ll work on your landings,” Dash commented as she knocked on her friend’s door.

The sounds of scurrying animals could be heard inside as the timid buttermilk pegasus with a long pink mane and tail answered the door. “Oh, hello Rainbow! You’re here early,” She said quietly, but cheerfully. Then Fluttershy then looked down, “Twilight? Why are you on the ground?”

Twilight slowly stood up and answered with sarcasm, “I was eating dirt.”

“Oh, I didn’t know you liked to eat dirt?”

“No, I was being… oh never mind,” she sighed as the Fluttershy moved out of the way for the two of them to enter her humble abode.

Shortly after coming in, Twilight could smell something similar to honey. She looked around as various critters bounded about until her eyes focused on the centerpiece. Sitting on a wooden table was a quaint tea set with three tea cups set out along with some fresh toast.

“Oh hey, thanks for breakfast Flutters!” Dash grinned and quickly took her seat munching on her toast as soon as her plot hit the wooden chair.

“Yes, this was very nice of you Fluttershy,” Twilight beamed as she took a place next to Dash, leaving Fluttershy to sit across from her.

Fluttershy fluttered over and started pouring tea for all of them. “It really wasn’t any trouble,” shy shied away from their gaze as the cups were filled with the honey scented nectar.

Twilight took a sip of her beverage and hummed out in delight while her wings involuntarily flapped in agreement like a humming bird, “Mmm, what kind of tea is this Fluttershy?”

“Honeysuckle, I find it very tasty and a good remedy for a sore throat,” Fluttershy smiled softly and sipped her own cup.

Dash hastily chugged down her tea and smacked her lips, “Hey, not bad!”

Twilight just smiled and rolled her eyes as she slowly drank at a much more reasonable pace. She wasn’t going to challenge Dash in any kind of race today. Twilight didn’t need to get her in a competitive mood if she wanted any hope of taking her flying lessons slow and steady.

Fluttershy stopped her sipping after a moment when Angel, her pet rabbit, started to tug at her hair. “Oh I’m sorry Angel Bunny! Did mommy forget to feed you?” The little demon fluff ball scowled at her, nodding his head rabidly while opening his maw and pointed at it with one paw.

“Oh, mommy’s so sorry Angel! Let me go fix you something real quick,” Fluttershy hovered off to the kitchen, clutching Angel tightly as she did.

“Don’t know how she puts up with that little rat sometimes,” Rainbow commented as she finished off the last of her toast. Twilight didn’t want to start anything and just proceeded to put some jelly on her toast using her magic. The color of the jelly and magic started to spark something about that dream she had, but it quickly faded back into obscurity.

Fluttershy returned, but a moment later, leaving Angel in the kitchen with a bowl full of lettuce to hold the cranky bunny over. She smiled at her friends and took her seat again while beginning to nibble on her toast. She kept hers plain so her friends could have more butter and jelly to use on theirs.

Twilight licked her lips as she took another sip of the honeysuckle. She let out a satisfied sigh. “When I’m queen and finally start taking on my royal duties, I’ll definitely have to have this more often when I need to relax.”

Her friends stopped what they were doing and looked at her with confusion. It was dash who spoke first, “What do you mean queen?”

“Huh?” Twilight replied back in bewilderment not aware of what she had just spoken.

“You just said when you become queen, if you don’t mind me pointing that out,” Fluttershy responded nervously while averting her gaze.

Twilight just shook her head, “I did? Must have been a slip of the tongue…” she trailed off as she examined her hooves and found her thoughts returning to the fuzzy dream she had last night. She knew it involved a queen somehow, but couldn’t for the life of her recall who or how.

Her attention quickly returned back to her friends when Rainbow Dash set a map of Ponyville and the nearby regions with a crudely drawn dotted path marked all over it. Rainbow pointed to the approximate location of Fluttershy’s house where the trail started and ended.

Dash clopped her hooves together and rubbed them. “Okay, I’ve got it all planned out. Have our whole path set and everything!” She beamed at her statement feeling proud that she put this all together.

“Wow, I’m very impressed Dash,” commented Twilight, but her face fell as she got a better look at their route. Any normal pegasi could tell this wasn’t exactly an amateur run.

“Um, Rainbow,” Fluttershy began, “Don’t you think this flight path is a bit, uh….”

“What?”

“Well, I think maybe it’s a little too um… well you see… oh how to put this?” Fluttershy shifted nervously in her seat.

Twilight quickly finished Fluttershy’s thoughts, “Advance?”

“Oh, yes! That’s it, if you don’t mind me thinking that, that is,” Fluttershy grinned sheepishly at Rainbow.

Dash rubbed her head. “Advance? What’s so advance about it?”

“Well Rainbow, you have an awfully long route here. It would probably take us all day to finish it,” Twilight said as she reached over to get a better look at the map.

“What?! I could finish this in no time!” Rainbow replied with pride and started to hover in the air.

“And we can?” Twilight inquired and added, “I think you forget we’re not as fast as you.”

Rainbow Dash impulsively opened her mouth to argue, but paused and then rubbed her chin, “Well, that’s true. I guess I can’t expect you to keep up with the fastest pegasus in Equestria!”

Fluttershy then added another concern, “It also looks pretty dangerous.”

“What?! How’s it dangerous?” Dash asked as she turned her attention to Fluttershy with an indignant glare.

Twilight deadpanned, “Dash, you’re route has us flying through Ghastly Gorge…”

Rainbow slowly floated back down into her seat and rubbed one of her fore hooves like she was filly being scolded by her mother. “Okay, I might have gotten a bit overboard. So, what are we gonna do about our flight session?”

Twilight tapped her chin a few times and smiled. “Well, we could just you know… wing it!” She giggled at her pun, but received an incredulous look from Rainbow and Fluttershy. Twilight frowned and tried to defend herself, “Hey, it’s better than me sputtering out a cliché or something,” she suddenly paused at the end of that statement. Her thoughts returned to that dream once more, she could swear it had something to do with a cliché as well, but could not recall what kind.

“Hey Twi, you okay? You’re kinda spacing out there,” Dash asked as she waved a hoof in front Twilight’s face.

She shook her head and saw the concerned looks that Fluttershy and Rainbow were giving her. Thinking about it for just a moment, she decided to tell them, “I had an odd dream last night, but I can’t seem to recall all of the details.”

“Oh? A dream about what?” Fluttershy asked as she scooted closer and leaned in.

“I don’t recall everything,” Twilight began, “But I remember there being these tentacles–“

She was suddenly cut off by Rainbow Dash or rather her hoof to be precise. “Twi, I’ve read enough of those Neighponese comics to have some idea of where this is heading. Is this going where I think it’s going?” She asked and Twilight shook her head in response. Dash lowered her hoof and nodded, “Alright, sorry about that.”

Fluttershy had scooted closer and was listening very intently as Twilight continued, “It’s all fuzzy, but first thing is that these tendrils started to wrap around and bind me. Then one of them–“

She was interrupted again, but this time by Fluttershy, “Were they slick and slimy? Did they have suction cups? Did they belong to some kind of monster?” Dash and Twilight just stared at her for a moment, a bit surprised she was asking those kinds of details.

“Well, no. I don’t know. They looked slick, not sure if they were slimy. There weren’t any suction cups like Octopi and as far as I could tell they didn’t belong to any kind of monster. I think they just came out of the shadows. Anyway,” She took a breath to clear her head as she tried to remember the details, “I was in my coronation dress and one of them started to gag me,” Dash grimaced at that statement while Fluttershy leaned in more, “Then they started to rip my clothes apart while they slowly slid up my legs–“

“And I’m done!” Rainbow shouted throwing her hooves into the air, “I’m not sticking around to listen to the rest of your fetish. See you girls outside!” Before anypony could say anything Dash, being true to her name, dashed out the front door.

Twilight just stared at where Rainbow had exited and then recalled her own words and could see how she might have jumped to such a bold conclusion even after reassuring her it wasn’t heading in that direction. She returned her attention to Fluttershy and saw that the yellow pegasus had scooted closer with small smile gracing her face as she spoke, “Go on...”

It wasn’t hard for Twilight to notice that her friend’s wings seemed very… stiff. Twilight found herself stumbling for words and a bit uncomfortable. Fluttershy however, for once in her life, seemed to have no trouble talking, “How many were there?”

“I’m not sure, five? M-m-maybe more?”

“Were they rough with you?”

“I want to say yes, but–“

“Were they long?” Fluttershy asked getting very close to Twilight.

“Y-y-yeah, I would think so,” Twilight replied while leaning away.

“Were they thick?

“I… guess?”

“While they were entangling you were you begging them to stop, but secretly not wanting them to,” Fluttershy was panting a little, “Hoping more and more would show up and then ever so slowly slide over every inch of your body as they coated you with their warm, slick goo. Teasing as they made their way up your legs till they finally penetrate–“

“WAS THAT RAINBOW DASH?! I THINK I HEARD RAINBOW DASH! I’LL CHECK UP ON RAINBOW DASH! SEE YOU OUTSIDE WITH RAINBOW DASH!” Twilight sputtered out as she rushed outside at a speed that would have filled Dash’s heart with pride.

Fluttershy just sat there staring blankly at the hasty exit and asked aloud, “Was it something I said?”

The first rule of Flight Club; you don’t talk about tentacles during Flight Club. Second rule of Flight Club; you don’t talk about tentacles during Flight Club! These were the laws that were silently agreed upon as the three flying mares prepared for their fun day of soaring. Snacks and drinks were packed, everypony stretched out so they wouldn’t get any cramps and the trio was ready to go.

That was until a blue jay came flying down into Fluttershy’s face chirping in a panic. Her two friends watched silently as the bird kept flapping in their friend’s eyes. Nopony said anything until Fluttershy let out a soft gasp, “Oh my, that poor thing!”

Dash face hooved and let out a groan, “Ugh, I see where this is going. Flutters do you really have to go take care of some animal that got a tiny scratch on it?”

“Now now Rainbow, this is what Fluttershy does and is her responsibility to take care of the animals regardless of how big or small their problems may be,” Twilight said while smiling warmly at Fluttershy, but avoiding her gaze a bit after their earlier conversation.

Dash just rolled her eyes as Fluttershy began to speak, “Yes, I couldn’t possibly let that poor Tortoise–“

She never got to finish that sentence as Rainbow Dash flew right up to her with panic in her eyes and cupped Fluttershy’s cheeks with her hooves. “A tortoise! Why didn’t you say so?!” She let go and then sped up into the sky so fast dust kicked up in the air.

Twilight was a little surprise by Dash’s actions, but understood why. Her pet was a tortoise after all and she had grown very attached to Tank. Of course this reaction didn’t stop her and Fluttershy to sit there a bit dumb founded by her speedy leave.

It was only a few seconds later before Rainbow returned and asked Fluttershy, “Uh, where is this tortoise?” She rubbed the back of her head in embarrassment.

Twilight chuckled at this until Fluttershy answered, “Froggy Bottom Bogg.”

Her mouth dropped as memories of her previous visit came to mind where she ended up being chased by a hydra. All of that because she couldn’t accept Pinkie Pie’s unusual sixth sense known as Pinkie Sense. As asinine as it was she couldn’t deny the results even if it did defy everything that science stood for.

Rainbow, on the other hoof, wasn’t bothered by this news, “Alright, adventure! This will be so awesome!” She added a hoof pump at the end of this statement and was off in a flash. Fluttershy was quick to follow after her, calling out for Rainbow to slow down.

Twilight just sighed and rubbed her forehead with one hoof. “Just one quiet afternoon of flying. Is that really too much to ask?”

Taking a few test flaps she started to hover off the ground and slowly flew after her friends. Her progress wasn’t quick, but the two pegasi waited for her to catch up as they began to give her pointers and help her along.

“You’re kidding,” Rainbow Dash deadpanned as she stared half lidded at the tortoise who had managed to get itself stuck upside down in the mud. She slowly face hoofed and shook her head, “This is the big emergency? Can’t it just, I dunno, roll over?”

“Now Rainbow,” Fluttershy chastised as she hovered over the creature while examining it for any damage, “This poor thing can’t roll in this sticky mud.”

Twilight watched as Dash kicked it while in the air causing the tortoise to somersault a couple of times before landing right side up. The old reptile head weaved from dizziness before slowly creaking a smile and went along its way. She couldn’t help, but ask, “How’d it even managed to get like that in the first place?”

“Meh, who knows? I just want to get back to flying!” Dash said as she began to fly higher.

“Me too, frankly I don’t want to be here any longer that we have to,” Twilight had been standing on the ground and started to hover, barely keeping afloat with her current skill level.

“Oh? Why’s that?” Fluttershy inquired as she floated next to Rainbow Dash.

Dash snickered, “Yeah, is the royal egghead afraid of the spooky swamp?”

Twilight scowled at the comment. “It’s not the swamp I dislike. Not that I liked it much to begin with. It’s what lives in the swamp that’s got me worried. Last time I was here I got chased by a hydra!”

Fluttershy gasped, “Oh dear, I forgot about that!” She involuntarily shivered at the thought of facing such a creature again.

“Pfft,” Dash waved her hoof dismissively, “I’m not afraid of some overgrown lizard that needs more than one head to think straight! If one showed up right now I’d be all like… POW! BAM! Right in the kisser!” She shouted out with bravado.

“Dash!” Twilight hissed while trying to keep her voice down, “You want one of those things to hear you?”

“I can only hope! I’d get it all dizzy and buck it right in its jaw!” She pumped her hooves and gave a few jabs. Unbeknownst to her, the swamp water behind her began to ripple and part way as something huge began to rise out of the water.

“R-R-R-Rainbow…” Fluttershy stuttered out as her pupils shrank to pinpricks.

“Yeah?” She answered coolly with a sly grin.

Twilight swallowed as she pointed with her hoof, “It looks like you get your wish!”

Dash blinked a few times. “Huh, what?” She said a bit dumbfounded and finally noticed it had gotten a lot darker. She turned around and her jaw dropped at the sight before her. Currently blocking out the sun was four headed brownish orange hydra, each of its dragon like heads licking their maws in anticipation for the meal before them. The only way it could have been better was if there was four ponies instead of three. It had been woken by Rainbow Dash’s boasting and now she was going to regret it.

Dash involuntarily shook for a moment before putting on a brave face and announced, “I’m not afraid of you!”

The hydra didn’t believe her for a second and decided to prove her wrong by roaring with all four heads into her face. The deafening sound wave blew Twilight away and sent Fluttershy and Rainbow soaring through the air and hitting some trees. Dash had the worst of it as when she hit her tree it knocked the wind right out of her. Fluttershy merely squeaked when she hit hers. Both of them tumbled to the ground not too far from Twilight as she slid in the muddy ground.

The earth quaked as the four headed beast began to lumber over to feast on its prey. Fluttershy and Twilight immediately took to the air as they noticed the creature approaching them, but stopped when Rainbow called out, “Guys, help!”

They turned back and saw that large tree branch had broken off the tree and had dash pinned to the ground. It was far too heavy for her to lift on her own and her two friends immediately rushed over.

Twilight’s horn lit up as she prepared to use magic to help toss the wood off of Dash, but there was one thing she hadn’t anticipated. That the hydra wasn’t going let her use magic. While this hydra was familiar with pegasi, unicorns, and earth ponies, it had never come across an alicorn before. However, that didn’t mean it didn’t know how to put two and two together. Well, actually each head could only count to four and no higher, but all of them were more than familiar with magic.

Thus, Twilight was quickly thwacked by the hydra’s whip like tail and sent sailing far away from her friends where she smacked against a rock before tumbling to the ground in agonizing pain. She found herself lacking the strength to get up and all she could do was turn her head to watch as the beast hovered over Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash. Dash was still pinned down and Fluttershy was too scared to even move. Rainbow was shouting at her to fly away, but her pleas fell on deaf ears.

Twilight was scared senseless and could only watch on in horror. Tears welled up in her eyes as she felt so powerless. She was an alicorn and a princess yet even that was not enough to save her friends.

You know…

Twilight’s ears twitched when she thought she heard a voice.

That lumbering bully should be fleeing in terror of you right now.

Twilight called out weakly in barely a whisper, “It should?”

It should fear your power…

“My power?”

You’re far more powerful than you realize. You just got to stop holding back. Let it have a taste of your power. Let it know true terror!

Twilight suddenly found herself getting to her hooves as though she was possessed. She began to bottle up her fear and mix in a bit of anger, concentrating it into a terrible dark energy. “I’ll show it my power…”

Yes, make it understand that you are not to be trifled with! Make it fear you!

“Make it fear… us!” Twilight said in a voice that echoed, but only loud enough for her to hear. Her eyes became red and the whites of her eyes changed to green as purple smoke emanated from out of them. It was then her horn bubbled with black magic and purple electricity. She took aim at the hydra and a beam shot out at the four heads leaning down to gobble her friends.

The black beam sped out and then split into four smaller ones, hitting each head with perfect precision. For a moment the hydra heads backed off, looking dizzy and confused. Twilight noticed that each of its eyes had the same effect as her own. All of them were red with green sclera and that same purple mist leaking out.

When the creature turned all four heads to look at Twilight it froze and just stared at her. A few seconds passed by before the hydra screeched out what one could have determined as a scream and began to backpedal away from her in sheer terror. After a few steps it managed to reorient its body so it could run away properly, fleeing deep into the swamp and away from Twilight as fast as its legs could take it.

The dark magic effect faded from her eyes and she couldn’t help, but wonder what the monster had seen that would have been so scary to have caused it to run in fear. Perhaps it was an army of ponies, maybe it was a monster even bigger than it, there was also the chance that hydras had a natural enemy they weren’t aware of, or maybe it simply saw its ex-wife without makeup?

None of that matter now. All that mattered was that her friends were safe and sound. She limped over to the two of them who were just gawking in the direction the hydra had left. Still awestruck by what had just happened. They didn’t see how Twilight had cast the spell as their eyes had never left the hydra during the face off.

As she finished her painful trek to her friends she breathed heavily and asked with hysterical smile, “So… who’s up for some tea?”

Author's Note

Okay, I made you guys wait way too long on this. It's not even that great of a chapter. Next ones i believe will be more interesting. I'd also want to say this isn't my best work, but it gets the ball rolling. Maybe I should get an editor to fix my grammatical mistakes seeing as I'm not too familiar with recognizing punctuation rules.

I'd like to point out that, yes, Twilight's eyes became pink in the prologue, but were green in this one. There's a reason and explanation for that. I'll actually be explaining it in my next chapter for my other story "Roses for the Grave". I plan to follow the rules define in that chapter and using it across all my stories when it deals with dark magic. Unless stated otherwise within the story. Hope you all enjoy.

Also from now on I consider Fluttershy having a tentacle fetish cannon within all my stories! XD

Ch2: Shadowed Mind

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch2: Shadowed Mind

Twilight yawned and stretched her wings as she made her way over to her bed. She didn't stop till she heard the crack of knotted joints loosening up, causing a pleased sigh to escape her while she stared half lidded at her covers. Her gaze only left for a moment to the basket containing her sleeping dragon assistant, Spike, who was snoring lightly while snuggling his pillow.

It had been a long day after the hydra incident. After returning to Fluttershy’s cottage she and her friends sat down for some more honeysuckle tea and then went out for their regularly scheduled flight. By the end of the day she was flying at just above a foal’s level. It wasn’t much, but it was a step in the right direction. Or would that be a flap?

It didn’t matter now. All that mattered was getting into bed and return to dreamland where her imagination could soar into a realm of wonderful impossibilities. Forts made of books, animals that could talk, and where she could fly… well that last one wasn’t a big deal now seeing as she could actually fly, just not very well.

Twilight pulled down the sheets with her magic, not even thinking about the magic she had used on the hydra. She would leave that thought for another day. All she wanted right now was to sleep and enter the realm of dreams.

The moment she pulled the covers over her and rested her head on the pillow she was out like a light. Her mind drifted into a blissful state of being. Except that bliss didn’t last as long as she had hoped. For soon she found herself walking in a very familiar void of darkness in her coronation dress except it was now torn up.

She called out into the abyss, “Hello? Where… am… I?” She slowed down as the feeling of déjà vu hit her. It didn’t take her long to have all the memories of her previous dream assault her in full force. Twilight wasn’t surprised at what happened next.

“Not. So. Different,” Sombra called out from behind her causing Twilight to make a 180 to face him with a growl. He just grinned at her, his eye still scarred from their previous encounter, but it didn’t seem he was too sore about it.

“You!” Twilight glared at him before taking a deep breath to calm herself, “It’s just a dream. You’re not real, just a manifestation of my subconscious mind.”

Sombra grinned at her statement and chuckled, “Well, you’re half right. I can assure you I’m very real and this isn’t exactly a dream. Allow me to welcome you to your subconscious!”

Twilight just stared at him before looking all around and asked in disbelief, “This is my subconscious? It’s so… so…”

“Dark?” Sombra suggested with a twisted grin.

“I was gonna say empty,” Twilight replied as she returned her attention back to him and hardened her gaze once more.

Sombra opened and closed his mouth a few times till he sighed and started to wave his hoof in a circle, “Yeah… I’ve been very bored back here.”

A realization struck Twilight and she stomped toward Sombra while gritting her teeth trying to restrain her rage. Sombra actually leaned back as she got right in his face, “Are you telling me that you’ve been in my mind for a while?”

The dark king shifted his gaze for a moment and then lightly pushed her away from him to get a little more space. He then calmly replied, “Now, no need to get so angry. I understand why you’re upset, but really now. We can discuss this like civilized ponies, can’t we?”

“Do civilized ponies try to choke one another with tentacles?” Twilight retorted venomously.

Sombra waved his hooves in a manner suggesting her to calm down while he spoke, “Point taken. I already proved my point before so there’s no reason for me to resort to such uncouth manners again. Allow me to apologize to you my dear princess for putting you through such a horrifying experience. If you will accept my apology I will gladly answer any questions you might have,” he added a sincere smile at the end, but some of the sincerity was lost due to his sharpened canines making it look more predatory.

Twilight stared him down, studying his features and hiding her surprise that he had apologized. She wasn’t ready to forgive him, but she wanted answers. Releasing a heavy sigh she answered, “Fine, I’ll let it slide for now. So, you can start by telling me when and how you got into my head.”

Sombra gave a bow of gratitude and chortled, “Thank you, your highness! I am most grateful!” He then cleared his throat, “To answer your question, it began when you first cast dark magic within the Crystal Empire. The moment you did so, a small part of my mind was transferred into you. It became even easier when you opened my nightmare door,” he grinned toothily, “I’m sure you remember that bit of unpleasantness,” he watched as Twilight winced at the memories of her worst fears and then continued, “When my body was destroyed the rest of me was brought here. Surprisingly enough, my sanity was restored during this. Quite the stroke of luck!”

Twilight hummed to herself considering what he had told her. She wasn’t happy about the situation, but she would make due until she could hopefully be rid of him. It disturbed her he had been here this long without her notice. That thought brought up her next question, “Tell me, have you been messing with my thoughts?” She doubted he would admit to that if he had been.

“Please princess! Give me the benefit of the doubt. I dare not mess with my saviors mind!” Sombra placed his hoof against his chest and acted a bit dramatic. He wasn’t on Rarity’s level of drama, but it was a still a little over done.

“So… you haven’t been doing anything with my thoughts or memories?” She asked once more in an almost motherly tone trying to guilt trip him like a baby foul who didn’t know their mother already knew they done something bad.

Sombra looked a bit nervous and didn’t meet her gaze before he answered, “Well… I might have just been… peeking through some of your memories,” Twilight’s gaze soured at this admission before Sombra try to justify this, “In my defense, it is very dull back here and I was very curious about you. Which I must say I’m very impressed. You’re truly one of a kind,” Twilight blushed a little at his praise and eased her gaze slightly before he continued; “Also it’s my only entertainment. It’s either that, talk to myself, or see what you’re up to while you’re awake.”

“Wait, you can see what I’m doing while I’m awake?!” Twilight gulped, “Like… everything?” She said quietly while her face heated up in embarrassment.

“It’s not like I’m watching all the time!” Sombra quickly replied catching onto her worry, “I tend to look away during some of your more,” he coughed, “private matters…” Twilight released a sigh of relief at this admission, but it quickly become awkward again, “By the way, I found that conversation with your friend… what was her name… futashy?”

“Fluttershy,” Twilight corrected.

“Yes, her. If you want I could teach that tendril spell so you could help her explore that–”

“NO!” Twilight shouted waving her hooves frantically while she spread out her wings almost defensively. Sombra was a little taken aback by the outburst, but started to chuckle and Twilight realized she had just been the butt end of a joke. She took a more dignified position and cleared her throat, “I mean… no. I’d rather not go there.”

“As you wish,” He replied while still laughing with mirth.

Twilight huffed, “Okay, so why? Why now? Why have you remained quiet for so long and not done anything?”

Sombra tapped his chin a few times in thought before replying, “Honestly? I was waiting for the right moment.”

“What made this the right moment?” Twilight asked curiously.

“I wouldn’t call this the right moment, per say. It became more of a now or never ordeal. After you ascended I thought it would be unwise for me to remain quiet any longer and reveal myself. I figured it would just make you angrier when I finally unveiled myself. Angering an alicorn isn’t exactly a smart idea and I would know better than anypony,” he smiled sheepishly, but it would be more comparable with a timberwolf’s smile.

Twilight sighed, she saw the logic behind it, but that didn’t make her any happier. She had cooled off slightly, but wasn’t letting him off the hook and finally asked, “Alright, time for me to stop beating around the bush. What do you want?”

“Want? What makes you think I want something, your highness?” Sombra asked, feigning innocence.

His response received a snort from Twilight and she wasn’t too fond of him calling her his highness. “Don’t insult my intellect, Sombra. I know you want something, so stop playing dumb and just ask me already so I can tell you no.”

Sombra frowned and then raised his head with some haughty dignity, “Fine, there is something,” He trotted her side before he began to explain, “You see, I was always hoping to leave a legacy. I had always dreamed to leave my mark on the world or at the very least leave something behind. The crystal kingdom and my dark magics were to be it. I somewhat had hoped that my son would inherit them,” He stopped for a moment, reminiscing something that had long passed.

Twilight stopped him before he could continue, “You had a son?” she asked in disbelief.

“Hmm? Oh yes, Sunder Shadows was his name. I had high hopes for him, but he was away when I was banished into the shadows and I sealed my empire. No clue what happened to him. I’ll probably never know,” he sighed and became very melancholy at that moment and Twilight thought she saw a tear form in his eyes.

At that moment she suddenly felt pity. If her friend Applejack had taught her anything, it was that family was important. She then believed it would be better to change the subject, “So… what was it like in the shadows?”

Sombra was brought out of his sad reverie and turned to her, “Well, it’s sort of like this,” He motioned to the empty void around them, “A realm of emptiness. Nothing, but you and your own thoughts. No pony else to keep you company. It wasn’t too bad… at first. You just wander around trying to test and see if it really goes on forever. Then you just sit around sifting through your own thoughts. After you do that you begin to lose all concept of time until finally you begin to descend into madness,” he shuddered and was surprised when Twilight put a comforting hoof on his shoulder. She didn’t smile at him, but he was still grateful for the gesture and went on, “Why I went through your memories and watched you. I was afraid I’d have a relapse if I just sat here and did nothing.”

Twilight was beginning to feel more forgiving of him, but she wasn’t about to let her guard down. For now she wouldn’t hold it against Sombra until he proved otherwise. Still, she felt he wasn’t pulling her leg and really wanted to believe him.

Sombra cleared his throat, “I’m getting off track. This is what I want; I can’t pass my kingdom, so I wish to pass on all my knowledge including my mastery of dark magic. Seeing as I have no family to give this to I have to give it to somepony else. Thus, I choose to leave my legacy to you, Princess Twilight Sparkle!”

Twilights jaw dropped, “R-really? Even though it’s sort of my fault you got destroyed?”

“I’ll admit, I’m a little bitter about that, but I’m not going to hold it against you. Your role was a bit small in the whole ordeal. Besides I believe you’d make me proud!”

Twilight teetered on the thought of learning dark magic, but knew this had to be some trick. “Alright, what’s the catch?” she deadpanned, still not trusting Sombra entirely.

“No catch!” Sombra paused for a moment. “Although…”

Twilight could feel the so called “fine print” coming up. “Uh-huh?”

“It would be much easier for me to teach pony to pony than in your head. If you were to restore my body–”

“No deal!” Twilight growled, “I’m not gonna help one of the most dangerous villains in Equestria regain his body. Besides why would I want to learn dark magic anyway?” trying to sound like she had no interest in even though it truly fascinated her.

Sombra grinned and took a step towards her as he spoke, “Oh, I think you know why,” Twilight stepped back as he approached, “Have you already forgotten what happened today?” she looked away in shame as he continued, “Using dark magic you saved your friends lives and you did without even having to take a life. Remember how powerless you felt before you used it?”

Twilight’s ears folded back as he mentioned how weak she had been. That feeling of being so useless as she watched on in terror as her friends were about to be torn apart. She never wanted to feel that again because next time she could lose so much more.

Sombra whispered into her ears, “Might controls everything. And without strength, you cannot protect anything. Let alone yourself…”

Twilight closed her eyes and dipped her head, ignoring the obvious quote and felt inclined to agree with his statement. Was it not power that Celestia and Luna controlled, that they were able to reign? Was it not the power of love that defeated the changeling army? Was it not the power of friendship that freed Luna of Nightmare Moon and sealed away Discord as well as reformed him? The answer was obviously, yes to all of those.

She finally looked up at Sombra, “You’re… right. You’re right,” she repeated and Sombra smirked, but his smile fell as a determined look entered her eyes, “However, that doesn’t mean I need to resort to restoring you to get such a power. I can learn dark magic without you!”

Sombra was taken aback, but was quick to regain his hoofing and retort, “And how will you do that? Who else could teach you? No pony, that’s who! You will be hard pressed to find any, let alone admit that they know dark magic. None would dare teach a princess or anypony close to Celestia!”

“Then I’ll teach myself! I’ll research and study up on it like I’ve done for most of my spells!” Twilight wasn’t going to give up so easily.

However, Sombra just chuckled, “Really now? And where would you find such materials to help you learn? I highly doubt there are any in your little library?” He smirked at her, believing he had poked all the holes he needed.

Twilight realized he was right. Where could she possibly learn about dark magic? She concentrated, thinking hard. There had to be some way to learn without Sombra, but how?

It took a few moments, but then Twilight’s face lit up in as she reached an epiphany. “The Royal Archives!” she beamed, “I bet there’s something in there, so take that Sombra!” She poked his chest as she grinned at him triumphantly.

Sombra on the other hoof wasn’t very amused, “Hmm, maybe. We’ll see though,” His ears perked up and he gave a mocking bow to her, “Huh, seems our time is up. Till next time princess, I wish you the best of luck.”

Before Twilight could say anything she began to drift off to sleep and fade away from her sub-conscious and wake up back in her library. Sombra watched on as she disappeared. A chill crawled up his back as he felt something stare down at him. He remained stoic as and asked, “Is she really going follow through?”

“Of course. She loves to prove others wrong,” A very familiar voice echoed throughout the empty plain, “And when she can’t find anything she’ll have no choice, but to come back to you. Though, I wouldn’t push your luck on having your body restored. Not yet anyway.”

Sombra shivered at the voice with its echo so familiar to his own. “And what if she is able to do it on her own?”

“Then you’ve outlived your usefulness,” It responded back coldly. That made him very nervous and the voice chuckled at this, “Now, don’t worry. Even if she can find a way, she’ll need you for guidance. She knows that.”

“Are you for certain?” He asked as he heard the hoof steps of the pony beginning to walk up beside him.

“Absolutely,” Sombra turned his head to acknowledge the lavender alicorn that was now next to him. She turned her head to look him in the eyes her own glowing pink as dark magic flowed from them in purple wisps. A wicked smile spread across her face as a corrupted element of magic sat upon her brow.

The Twilight doppelganger then asked, “Besides, who would know her better than… me?” she then began giggle and then chuckle, as her laugh slowly became maniacal.

Sombra didn’t say anything, but he had only one feeling about the whole situation. This wouldn’t end well for him…

Author's Note

I'm shocked that I got another one of these out so soon! I hope you all enjoyed. Let Twilight's descent commence!

I originally was going to write another chapter of "Roses for the Grave", but this story has been garnering more attention. Not that my other story hasn't been garnering attention. Most who read that one really like it. Check it out if you haven't. Thank you!

Ch3: Lineage

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch3: Lineage

The Royal Archives was one of the most treasured collections in both Canterlot and Equestria. Inside held knowledge and wisdom passed throughout the ages. The secrets contained within were accessed only by a select few and the deeper one got into the archives the more clearance one needed. Only the guards, scholars, princesses, and personal protégés of a certain alicorn were allowed in.

Seeing that Twilight was three for four, getting access was very easy. The moment she woke up from her dream, or rather subconscious, she hopped onto the next train to Canterlot with some supplies and was on her way to the archives.

Her sudden leave left Spike a bit confused, but he didn’t complain and got out a tub of ice cream to celebrate his so called “guy time” while Twilight was away. He’d probably get in trouble when she got back, but that was future Spike’s problem. Twilight was already half expecting this and would definitely scold him later.

Upon her arrival to Canterlot she decided it would be best to see Celestia first. Her former mentor was surprised by the visit to say the least and was curious why she had come. Twilight simply told her she was here to do some research in the Royal Archives. Had it been any other day Celestia would have inquired further, but it was especially busy today with many more petitioners than usual.

“I’m sorry Twilight, I would love to chat longer, but duty calls. Perhaps we could spend some more time later?” Celestia said in her warm and angelic voice as her aurora colored mane drifted in an unseen wind. Her attention drifted back to the throne room where more petitioners were waiting, the light shining off her alabaster form. She had used one of her five minute breaks to talk to Twilight. Unfortunately she didn’t get many of those, but in Celestia’s mind Twilight was always worth the small sacrifice.

Twilight was thankful for how busy Celestia was otherwise she might have noticed that she was feeling a bit nervous. She was about to dive into something that was probably a bit taboo and didn’t want Celestia to worry or even know about it. At least until she had a good handle on it.

She put on her best smile and nodded at toward her, “I would really like that princess.”

Celestia chuckled as she began to head back to the throne room, “Oh Twilight, you’re a princess now. You don’t have to call me by my title. Simply Celestia will do.”

Twilight flushed and replied, “Oh, of course pr– er… I mean Celestia!” Twilight felt very awkward talking to her beloved mentor on a first name basis, but if it was what she wanted then she would comply.

“Have fun with your research!” Celestia called out, and then with a smile and a wink she reentered the throne room to address the petitioners.

Twilight released a breath she didn’t know she was holding in. The hard part was over and now was time for the more tedious work of her journey. Thankfully it involved one of her favorite hobbies; research!

She quickly scurried off; finding her way to the Royal Archives where a guards pony was waiting. A quick nod to him and he let her inside while bowing to her. Normally she would be telling him that wasn’t necessary, but her focus was elsewhere at the time.

The smell of scrolls and parchment filled her nostrils and she let out a contented sigh. She loved that aroma and sometimes wished she could have a candle of that scent. Twilight actually once requested the scent from a candlestick maker, but she was denied. However, she hadn’t been a princess back then and wondered if the pony would reconsider her request if she asked again.

Twilight’s eyes browsed the many shelves of tomes and scrolls. The vastness of the royal archives held thousands upon thousands of some of the greatest literacy from across the ages. With a clap of her hooves she smiled. “This will be easy!”

Several hours later…

Twilight groaned while slamming her head against a workbench. “Okay, this might be harder than I thought.”

She had scoured the library from the highest shelves (made much easier now she had wings) to lowest of cabinets. To sum up her search, she found zilch. The only headway she got were a few scrolls mentioning a beginner’s guide to understanding the principals of dark magic and also including a few fundamental spells. It was called, “Fear Not the Dark” and unfortunately, most books stated that this tome was to be confiscated and burned.

Twilight’s heart actually stopped for a moment when she read that part. The mere thought of such an action being done to a book nearly brought her to tears.

What was even more annoying was that ponies found with a copy of it didn’t even get into trouble. It was just a light slap on the hooves as long as they gave it up without a fight. That would have been perfect for her if she had been found out. But no, everypony was too much of a superstitious prude to even lock up such a book in one of the most secure places in Equestria!

Twilight just sighed, ready to give up and admit defeat. Seemed Sombra really was the only pony she could turn to if she wanted to learn about dark magic. It wouldn’t help her that she had left him on a sour note. He probably wouldn’t even consider teaching her unless she actually restored his body. She wouldn’t even know how to do that, not that Twilight was even considering the option.

She got off the stool she had been sitting on and started to make her way out with her supplies when something caught her eye. It was a book registry for family blood lines. A very old one in fact, that was dated for over a millennia ago.

A faint smile crept onto her face as she pulled the tome down with her magic and returned to the desk she had been at before. She began to search through the large book while muttering to herself, “Hmm, let’s see… what was his name again? Sunder Shadows?”

Twilight figured she might be able to get Sombra in a more compliant mood if she could find out what happened to his son. Maybe this could even give her a lead on how to learn dark magic. That last part was a long shot, but you never know.

She hummed to herself as she found the name she was looking for. Wow, he actually married and had foals! Twilight thought as she started to note down the names. She then searched through the book to find his children and follow the family tree. She was quite surprised that they went on for quite a few generations.

Ignoring adopted family members and those who married into the family and didn’t have any offspring, Twilight carefully followed the bloodline. Occasionally the line would thin making her think it was about to end only for it to open up again. She reached a few dead ends narrowing her trail to only a few families.

Sometimes some of the Sombra’s descendants would marry, but never have any children while others never married, but had foals out of wedlock. Twilight thought this might get a smile out of him to know that his lineage had continued on for so long. It surprised her that some bloodlines actually managed to go on for a few centuries before dying off.

Twilight went at it for about it an hour before she finally reached the longest lasting bloodline ending with a unicorn named Black Armor. She made her last note and felt a little sad that that was the end of it. With a little sigh she was ready to put the book away when she noticed something. Wait… all the family bloodlines in this registry are ending around this time period. Which means…

She gasped with realization and went back to the shelf and picked up another registry. This one was from a later time period than the one she had had.

Placing the book next to one she had while moving her notes to the side as she looked through it and laughed once she realized that she had been correct. Black Armor was listed in this book too and he also had foals. This meant the bloodline continued!

Twilight was starting to find this very exciting. Tracing the family tree of a mad unicorn king was incredibly fascinating. To think, one of Equestria’s greatest villains managed to secretly sire a son and have his blood continue on was quite an amazing feat.

Thus the process continued. She would trace every relevant family bloodline to its end. Some ended while others bloomed and to her amazement the blood thinned again to one pony, a mare named Velvet Powder. However, like the book before, the line ended around the same time as all the other listed families.

Twilight quickly ran for another registry, but found that the archives didn’t have any more within the last four hundred to five hundred years. Well, guess I’ll have to go the Royal Library then. She wasn’t too upset about that. It would be a good chance to check out some other books while she was there.

Floating her notes to her while putting away the two registries, she then trotted out of the archives, giving the guards pony a smile and wave as she left. He returned the gesture while adding an awkward bow.

It was getting late, as Celestia’s sun was starting to set. Twilight wondered if she would have time to sit down with the princess to have tea. She decided she would need to book it then if she wanted to get to the library before it closed and have an afternoon dinner with her teacher.

Twilight began to run, but no sooner had she turned a corner did she hit somepony. Falling back on her haunches in a daze as her notes spilled, she found herself staring up at a familiar midnight blue alicorn.

Shaking her head Twilight chuckled, “Oh, sorry Luna!” She paused and then felt the need to ask, “Uh… you do want me to call you Luna and not Princess Luna… right?” She smiled sheepishly.

“Of course dearest Sparkle! We… I mean I like to think of us as friends, are we not?” She flashed a grin and helped Twilight pick up her notes, surrounding them in a blue aura as she lifted the first page before her. She regarded it for a moment before asking, “Sunder Shadows… why does that sound familiar?”

Twilight panicked for a moment and plucked the page away from Luna with her own magic and tucked her notes back under her wing. “Oh, it’s just little research project and I like to think of you as a friend too, Luna,” Twilight said, trying to quickly change the subject.

“Most excellent!” Luna beamed, “Now, if thou will excuse us… me… I must be off to raise the moon and stars soon!”

Luna began to trot off as what she just mentioned made Twilight suddenly look up at the time before quickly running off while berating herself, “Oh, I better hurry!”

Twilight was heaving as she left the library with all the books she checked out being carried with her magic along with a half-eaten muffin from the royal kitchens as a poor dinner substitute. She got the registries she needed, but being around so many tomes she couldn’t resist picking up a few more for a bit of light reading. Though light might have been putting it mildly with all the books she was levitating.

She was happy to learn that Celestia had prepared a room for her in case she was staying and was heading to it at that moment. Unfortunately, she missed her chance with Celestia as she would be spending some private bonding time with her sister, Luna. Twilight was disappointed to say the least, but was invited for breakfast the following morning. This mean she could finish up her little research before heading to bed.

A guard was waiting outside her room and nodded to her before unlocking the door and opening it for her. She nodded to him and said her thanks before the door was shut and locked by her to keep anypony out.

The room was very lavished and fancy, but Twilight felt it wasn’t quite her tastes. For one, it wasn’t in her colors and it felt small. Sure, it was really big for a guest room, but she needed it to be bigger. Hay, everything in the room needed to be bigger. Especially the bed which could also use an eager and submissive slave…

Twilight shook her head. Why was she thinking like that? This room was more than adequate. In fact it was overly generous now that she thought about it.

With a sigh she rubbed her temples, wonder where that thought about the slave came from. I’d rather think about anything else than to have that line of thought.

Tentacles.

Twilight face hoofed. No! Bad brain! Bad brain!

She groaned and set her books on the nearby desk before taking her seat. She wanted to finish tracing Sombra’s lineage to help take her mind off those last few stray thoughts.

Searching for the last known member of his family Twilight went through the slow and steady process of mapping out the family bloodlines while munching on her blueberry muffin. It didn’t take her long to quickly eat the pastry and trace out all the families.

She smirked as she found a few families survived to the end of the book instead of only one like the last few times. Best part about this was that the next registry went all the way to current modern Equestria. There was a distinct possibility that Sombra had a long lost descendent still living today!

Twilight found this exciting for a few reasons. If there really was a member of his family still around she could, just maybe, be able to learn dark magic from them instead. Assuming they knew it at all. It was also just plain fascinating and she would love to meet them even if they were just some average Joe. Also, she could use this knowledge to peak Sombra’s interests.

She figured she might be able to bargain with him to get her dark magic teachings in exchange for more information about his current descendent. The thought of having something over the old unicorns head made her feel strangely giddy as she opened up the last book.

Twilight was hard at work going down the entire family tree. She was so focused on finding the next pony down the line that she was hardly even paying attention to the names anymore. Slowly, but surely the bloodline began to narrow and become linear. She felt her heart race as the single bloodline hardly split up and made her worry it might end prematurely.

Then she reached the end and the latest generation. As it turned out, Sombra did still have living descendants! Twilight laughed gleefully as she read the names to herself.

However, her jaw dropped and she whispered to herself, “No…” Her eyes shrank to pinpricks, “No!” She shook her head in denial, “This… this has to be a mistake!”

Twilight frantically looked through her notes, tracing through all the registries. Double, triple, and even going so far as to quintuple checking her work. And each time she found absolutely no mistakes as much as she wished she had. She wanted to be wrong about the whole thing. She wanted to believe that Sombra had lied about having a son or even the name given to her, but she knew that he could never have such foresight or knowledge to predict this.

Twilight could only stare slacked jaw at the final names of Sombra’s lineage before finally coming to terms with the two ponies that were written down.

Shining Armor and Twilight Sparkle…

Author's Note

Wow, another quick chapter! Maybe a bit rushed, but after that many faves I felt I had to keep up the momentum. What's amazing is I still have surprises up my sleeve! Still, I definitely need to give Roses for the Grave some more love. I tend to make those chapters a lot longer. Mostly because I have a lot to tell. Anyway, hope you enjoyed!

Ch4: Ancestor

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch4: Ancestor

Twilight could do nothing, but stare mindlessly at her notes. She was still in a state of shock and disbelief. Against all insurmountable odds or perhaps by some cruel joke of the universe, she was related to one of the most terrible rulers ever to be conceived, King Sombra.

She breathed slowly and steadily, trying to calm herself down and figure out how to deal with this. So, she went with her usual go to plan when dealing with problems; make a list. Thus, Twilight began to create a pro and con sheet about this inconvenient fact that had been thrust onto her.

To sum up the list she made, the pro side was for the most part… lacking. She tried to cheese some of the positives. Unfortunately, it was useless and the negatives were a mile long, rapidly increasing her worry. Things like her friends believing she would turn evil at any moment or something ridiculous like having a sudden obsession with crystals.

Crystals are nice…

“Yeah, they are nice… oh no it’s already happening!” Twilight shrieked as her eyes widened and her hair became a little more tangled. If she were to listen to her own mind a little more closely at that moment, she’d hear it face hoof at her comment.

Will you quit your bellyaching and go to bed. You should discuss this with Sombra and get it over with.

“Oh no, I’d rather think about anything else than talk to that tyrant right now!” Twilight replied with a harrumph. She was feeling pretty stubborn at this point and procrastinate the meeting as long as possible.

Very well, let’s put that to the test… tentacles!

Twilight merely scoffed, “Please, that’s not going to work on me twice,” funny enough; if Twilight hadn’t been too distracted with the whole relation to Sombra she might have realized she was having a very unusual conversation with herself. She maybe even would have started to question if this was even her own mind she arguing with or if she had finally gone over the deep end and was going insane… again.

Oh really? Well this is very good, because we have come up with the most detailed and wonderfully erotic images of us being used and abused by a wide selection of tendrils in a variety of shapes and sizes. I hope you’ll enjoy them as much as I do!

Twilight just stared out into space blankly, “You lie…”

Oh, am I? Do you really want to take that chance?

Twilight snorted, “I don’t believe I’m so perverted to come up with…” Her words quickly died in her mouth

What is seen...

Within her mind’s eye an image of such grisly detail popped in her head that for a moment Twilight forgot that she was merely imagining it. And true to her promise, it involved her, tentacles, and a lot of other things she wished she hadn’t seen.

...can’t be unseen…

Her face was redder than apples and she shouted, “OH SWEET CELESTIA I NEED BRAIN BLEACH!”

Go to bed and I’ll stop showing it. Of course, we have many more stored up here in your noggin that I would love to share with you! Twilight’s mind said with a taunting sing-song voice. It was really enjoying this mental torture on her conscious self.

“Fine, fine! I’ll go to bed, just stop with the images!” Twilight requested pleadingly as rubbed her temples with her hooves and shook her head from side to side in a futile attempt to remove the pesky memory of the vile image.

Very well, but if you ever want to see more we’ve got plenty to show off up here!

The image faded and Twilight sighed at the moments reprieve. She breathed slowly trying to calm herself as her mind defragged from the mental strain she had just received.

With a tired groan and a sigh of annoyance, Twilight cantered over to her bed and launched herself into the comfy sheets. At first she didn’t think she would be able to sleep, but no sooner had she got herself comfortable did she find herself descending deep within her subconscious.

Once again, coronation dress, black void, an old Tyrant unicorn, and a very annoyed young alicorn met. Twilight begrudgingly approached the former king who was now wearing a very neutral expression. She stopped before him and took a deep breath and dared to look him in the eyes.

He stared back and broke the silence, “Twilight Sparkle, I am your ancestor!” Sombra pointed his armor clad hoof at her accusingly.

“No, that’s not true! That’s impossible!” She retorted and cringed back defensively from his hoof.

“Search your feelings; you know it to be true!”

“No! Noooooo!” She shouted out into the void hoping beyond hope that her call would reverse the reality she was now forced to face.

Sombra raised an eyebrow at her reaction and tapped his hoof impatiently, “Are you done being a drama queen?”

Twilight blushed and cleared her throat, “Umm, yes… I think I’m done- eek!” she quickly found herself being grabbed by Sombra and was being… hugged? Twilight had to take a minute to register what was happening just now and didn’t figure it out until Sombra started laughing gleefully.

“Hahaha, my bloodline lives on! This also means my family still rules the Crystal Empire!” Sombra let go of Twilight at that moment and then raised his hoof to the non-existing sky of her mind and shouted out, “Take that Luna and Celestia, I win! After all your efforts to try and remove me and my line from the throne we still have it!” he laughed wickedly at his triumph via a technicality before returning his attention to Twilight.

She just stared at him blankly and cocked her head and in response to this Sombra brought his hoof to his mouth and gave an embarrassed coughed. Twilight looked away and cleared her throat, “So… what now?”

“Hmm, well seeing as your family this changes things,” Sombra grinned toothily at Twilight and she backed up a little bit.

“In what way?” Twilight still kept her distance from him. She had no doubt he had something malicious planned for her and she didn’t want to have any part of it.

Sombra chuckled and explained, “Since you’re not eager to restore me so I can personally teach you, which I can’t blame you for, I’m going to give you the tools necessary to teach yourself.”

Twilight perked up thinking for a moment she had misheard him before she tried to get him to reconfirm. “Wait, really?”

“Yes, I just need two things in return…”

Twilight’s face soured. “And there it is,” She sighed and asked, “What do you want?”

“My demands are really simple. First, you don’t reveal that I’m still alive. If you were to do that my continued existence could be… threatened,” Sombra replied while looking away nonchalantly trying not to look as worried as he really was.

“That’s reasonable,” Twilight said while humming to herself.

Sombra smiled and chuckled, “Good, now my second demand is a little more complicated. I want you to recover a personal possession of mine.”

Twilight sat down and glared at him with suspicion while crossing her hooves against her chest. “Why do I get the feeling that this is something best left alone?” Her nostrils flared angrily and then asked, “So, what is it?”

Sombra pointed to his head and tapped his horn, “This.”

“Your... horn?” Twilight just stared at Sombra’s black, curved horn with a red tip. “I’m a little confused. Mind explaining?”

Sombra raised his head haughtily. “Gladly! You see, when my body was destroyed at my empire–”

“I think you mean Cadance’s empire,” Twilight interrupted with a satisfied smirk.

Sombra frowned and glared at her before continuing, “Yes… her empire. Anyway, my body was destroyed, but a small piece of me survived the explosion.”

“Your horn,” Twilight quickly assessed.

“Correct! You recover my horn and I’ll give you everything you need to learn dark magic on your own,” Sombra gave an award winning smile, but Twilight wasn’t looking too impressed.

“Let me guess, your horn is the key to you getting restored?” She scowled at him and took a few stomps toward him.

Now it was Sombra’s turn to back up, “Well, you would be right on such an assumption. However, just getting my horn won’t bring me back. I only want you to collect it and keep it safe. That’s it!”

“Really, why would you only stop there?” Twilight wasn’t being paranoid for nothing. This was Sombra after all; it could easily be a trick or a trap.

Sombra smirked knowingly, “Because it is my belief that you’ll willing want me around. It’s not just dark magic I can teach you after all. Let’s just say this is me investing into your future.”

Twilight looked down in thought, a bit ironic considering where she was. If Sombra kept his end of the bargain she would have access to a plethora of knowledge that could have been lost for well over a millennia. On the other hoof, if he was lying she could accidently release a terrible blight onto Equestria. There was terrible risk with all of this.

With a sigh Twilight responded, “Let me… think about it.”

Sombra trotted right up to her side and put one of his cold hooves around her shoulder before giving her a reply, “Very well, if you do decide to go with this, head to the Crystal Empire and wait for further instructions. Sound good?”

“Alright…” Twilight relented with a sigh as she began to fade away back into her dreams. Slowly she became more and more transparent before disappearing completely.

Once Twilight was gone Sombra involuntarily flinched when he heard a voice call from behind him, “I certainly hope you aren’t trying to trick us. It could be very hazardous to your continued existence.”

He didn’t need to turn around to know who had asked him that. He was somewhat used to the dark side that Twilight harbored deep in her mind. This side of her was her darkest ambitions and desires. It was what she was capable of if she were to embrace her inner darkness and relinquish her morals that held her back. Frankly, this side of her scared him with how ambitious she could be.

“Trust me, I’d dare not cross you,” Sombra answered honestly.

“You mean us,” the dark Twilight corrected, referring to herself and her conscious side.

“No, you’re the only one I’m wary of,” He replied while remaining completely still.

She chuckled and cantered in front of him. She was now wearing a get up similar to him, except with a rich purple robe and patted his cheek tauntingly with an armored covered hoof. Her choice of wear was somewhat flattering, but that didn’t ease the chill that ran through him. And it was even more disturbing when she started to speak to him in a sexy and haughty voice, especially since they were distantly related, “Oh, but soon enough you’ll learn to fear both of us.”

Sombra gulped and dark Twilight started to laugh as she lit her horn up with black magic and disappeared into the abyss, leaving Sombra alone with her haunting warning…

Twilight yawned as the morning sun shined through her guest window. She yawned and shielded her eyes before stretching out. Sitting up, Twilight wiped the sleep from her eyes as she pulled herself out of bed.

She wasn’t feeling perky and not just because it was early in the morning. There was a big decision she had to make here that could potentially affect all of Equestria… or only her. It really depended on how much she could trust Sombra. Twilight thought he was sincerely happy to find that she was related to him, even though she wasn’t that enthusiastic about it herself.

Pushing those thoughts out of her mind she found something to perk up to. She would get to spend this morning having breakfast with Celestia. This caused her to smile wider and get excited as she started to wake up.

She began her morning routine such as brushing her hair and teeth, but also made sure to pack up her books and organized her notes. She was still collecting them with her magic as she trotted out the door… and right into Luna.

Both of them lost their concentration and dropped their notes they had been carrying. Thankfully nothing spilled out of their respective binders and the two alicorns scrambled to retrieve their notebooks. Each princess was thankful that none of sensitive materials each one contained had fallen out. Neither wanted to be questioned about subject mattered within.

“Terribly sorry princess!” Twilight said as she scrambled to recover her belongings.

“Think nothing of it! And it’s Luna, Twilight. No need to address me like that,” Luna replied reassuringly as she placed the notes under her wing. “My sister awaits you for breakfast. Make haste for she is busy again today and can’t afford much time to spare.”

With a gallop Twilight ran off while calling back to her, “Thank you and see you later!”

Luna smiled and went on her way. If either had bothered to check their notebooks they would have realized that they had, to no one’s surprise, grab the wrong one. But they would realize that later…

Celestia and Twilight sat across from each other at a long elaborate table meant to hold up to fifty ponies at once, but they dined alone. A large selection of breakfast goodies had been placed before them. Far more than either one of them could eat, but having the selection was still nice. Piles of pancakes, eggs, hash browns, waffles, and other delicious delectable treats of the breakfast kind were set out for the two princesses. For now, both were satisfied with just having the stack of pancakes topped with maple syrup.

Twilight eagerly ate her food with delight, while Celestia was taking dainty bites and going over important documents. They were in regards to a futile hunt for a wanted pony by the name of Shop Keep that had eluded them for months without a trace. He had practically made a fool out of her guard with how he had managed to escape their clutches. Add onto the fact he was considered dangerous had made him a high priority on Equestria’s most wanted list. Of course, the reasons for his arrest had been downplayed and were on a need to know basis.

Not wanting to be a bore, Celestia asked without looking up from the folder, “So, Twilight, how did your research go?”

Twilight had to resist the urge to choke on her food as she swallowed. She took a moment to sip from her glass of orange juice before she spoke up, “Oh, good. It’s not like I discovered I was related to an insane and evil king who used dark magic to enslave ponies to do his bidding and probably wants me to someday become a tyrannical queen and possibly conquer all of Equestria while overthrowing you using said dark magic,” Twilight took a deep breath and gulped at what she just rambled out.

“That’s nice,” Celestia replied while still not looking up from what she was reading.

Twilight blinked and asked, “Prin- I mean Celestia,” She shook off how weird it felt to call her by name, “Are you not paying attention?”

“Uh-huh,” She replied obviously distracted.

Glaring annoyingly at the princess of the sun, Twilight decided to test how much she was paying attention. “Sombra is still alive and currently his essence is living in my head.”

“How interesting.”

Twilight resisted the urge to facehoof, but then thought she could have a bit of fun with this. She cleared her throat and spoke, “I’m planning to start expanding my knowledge of dark magic so I can protect my friends at the risk of possibly restoring Sombra and maybe overthrow you while I’m at it.”

“I wish you the best luck.”

“I secretly have a tentacle fetish and dream of experiencing it with you and Luna,” Twilight said, but made sure to reassure herself that she really didn’t.

“Don’t we all.”

“I’m going steal the Crystal Empire right from under my Cadance and my brother’s noses then use it as a base of operations while I plan to conquer all of Equestria. Oh, and I’ll do it with the help Queen Chrysalis and the Changelings!”

“That’s nice.”

Twilight was fighting off every urge to giggle and decided to throw out one more jab, “You should really lay off the cake because you’re getting a very fat flank!”

Celestia’s head shot up with a deathly glare, “What was that about my flank?!”

Twilight froze like a deer caught in the headlights and pinned her ears back before she responded in a squeaky voice, “Nothing, you must have misheard me!”

Celestia shook her head and apologized, “I’m sorry if I’m not paying much attention Twilight. I am just so busy as of late. You understand, right?”

She nodded back to Celestia, “Of course, I completely understand.”

The princess smiled warmly back at her and nodded, “So, what are you planning to do now?”

Twilight thought for a moment at that query. It was quite the loaded question. The decision she made could shape her future in ways she couldn’t even begin to imagine. Her first thought was to come clean and not chase this promised folly that Sombra was offering her. Yet, this nagging feeling in the back of her mind was telling her to think otherwise. That passing up on this opportunity would make her regret it for the rest of her life.

“Well, Twilight?” Celestia prodded as she waited patiently for her students answer.

“I think,” Twilight considered her answer a few more times before giving in and replied, “I think… I’m going to go pay my brother a visit,” She gave her former mentor a small smile of reassurance.

Celestia chuckled at the response, “I think he would love a surprise visit from you and so would Cadance,” Celestia looked up at the time and frowned, “So much to do. If you’ll excuse me Twilight,” Celestia stood up and placed the royal documents under her wings, “I have much that I need to attend to.”

Twilight waved to her as she trotted out of the room and muttered to herself, “It’s quite alright. I have a train to catch…”

Author's Note

Sorry I made you all wait so long. Formatting these chapters on FimFiction is always a pain. I always feel more confident of my stories after I do a little proofreading, allowing me to make some sentences flow better. I hope you all enjoy and if I get continued support I may try and focus more on this story than my others. Comments and opinions always appreciated!

Ch5: The Notebook

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch5: The Notebook

Princess Luna trotted into her room and quickly closed and locked the door with her magic. The royal bedroom of the princess of the night was of course adorned with everything in her color scheme with her cutie mark adorned here and there. She loved her midnight blue colors and the room that her sister had gone to great lengths to make it as homey as she could.

Luna removed her regalia and placed it on the dark dresser near her bed as she hopped onto the silky sheets. A quick glance around and a double check on her door lock was all she needed to make sure she was alone. Reaching under one of her pillows with her hoof, she pulled out a small blue blanket covered in stars. It was made of the finest silk available and was cool to the touch. One more check to make sure she didn’t have any curious eyes on her before she began to hug and cuddle the silk.

“Oh Night Night, did you miss your momma? Because she’s missed you!” Luna cooed to her secret security blanket as she gave it a kiss. “Come Night Night, let us enjoy this morning before we retire!”

Reaching under her wing, she pulled out her notebook and opened it up. However, she found something completely different than what she had been expecting. Notes and flow charts featuring ponies’ names were listed in abundance. A sort of crude family tree, but was incomplete as the pony who had been researching this never finished writing down the last few generations after a certain shocking discovery.

Luna furrowed her brow in anger until she saw the first name listed, Sunder Shadows. Her rage dissipated as it became replaced with curiosity and she found herself in thought. “Sunder Shadows, there’s that name again. Where have I heard it before?” she wondered aloud. She looked to Night Night for guidance, “Do you remember my love?”

The blanket pondered the name deeply as it carefully searched its memories before recalling the pony in question. It was ready to answer Luna, but then it remembered it was an inanimate object incapable of having thought or even a way of communicating and was merely an imaginary friend at best. Thus Night Night sighed or at least if it was capable of doing so it would sigh and remained silent to Luna’s question.

Luna pouted at her blanket’s silence. “I thought not. How did I get this notebook anyway?” She didn’t’ have to think long as she recalled how she and Twilight had bumped in the hall. “Oh, Twilight must have... my… ohhhh noooo,” Luna’s eyes shrunk in horror as she held Night Night closer to her bosom.

“All aboard for the Crystal Empire!” Twilight heard the conductor shout as she got comfy in her private cabin. She had paid for coach, but got bumped up to first class without even having to ask. She would have argued against the special treatment, but with after how mentally exhausted she was from the past few days she wasn’t up to it.

The train began to pull out of the station and make its way around the mountain that Canterlot was nestled in. It was smooth ride, but a big boring. So, Twilight decided to pass the time by going through her notes once more. However, she quickly realized it was not her notebook that she had brought with her.

When Twilight opened it up she found that inside was a bunch of sketches. Simple sketches mostly, at least on the first page. Twilight remembered that she had bumped into Luna before breakfast with Celestia and quickly deduced that this was Luna’s notebook.

She was worried for a moment that Luna had her notes, but remembered that she hadn’t put any details as to why she was doing the research and she hadn’t put all the connection to her relation to Sunder Shadows. She was especially thankful she never made a mention to Sombra.

Needing a distraction, she decided to dive into Luna’s sketches as she made herself comfortable. My, she’s quite the artist. I guess with a beautiful night sky like hers that shouldn’t be surprising. Maybe this is how she keeps up her skill?

Twilight then decided to flip to a random page in the notebook, a pleasant smile on her face. She quickly regretted this action and her pupils shrunk to pinpricks. Why did she regret this? Well, considering it was a painstakingly detailed sketch of Luna, Celestia, and the bane of her very existence; tentacles. The two princesses were in a very compromising position with their bodies being violated in every way possible by said tendrils.

This was why one should never look at Luna’s art clop collection without at least a fair warning. Thankfully, recent events had steeled Twilight’s will and would prevent this image from being burnt into her…

Right click, save to C:\Users\Twilight\Pictures\Clop\Tentacles Folder.

…Never mind.

Why me? Why now? Why is this happening?!

I’ll also save a copy to the incest folder as well…

And why in my increasingly perverse mind do I have an incest folder?!

Well, where else are we going to keep the hot relative on relative action? You of all ponies should know how important it is to keep things organized.

That’s not what I meant! Twilight growled in frustration. Why am I even thinking of such thoughts about others?! Who’s even in there? A question that probably should have been left unanswered.

Not many. It’s an unimpressive collection at the moment. If we ever meet Pinkie’s sisters I’ll be sure to get some scene of them in there. As of right now we only have Applejack and Big Macintosh, Celestia and Luna, and of course us and Shiny. It’s a growing collection still in its infancy.

There was a quiet pause before Twilight’s brain began to pick up some steam. I’m sorry, but did you just say us and Shiny?

Yep.

As in my brother Shining Armor?

Who else would be? Though, I am planning to add some of us and Gleaming Shield too.

Who’s Gleaming Shield? A name she had no familiarity with.

Shiny if he was a mare.

Twilight wished she had someone to glare at that moment, but the wall of her cabin would have to do. That’s it! I don’t care what you say. I do not have such thoughts about my own–

A proof of concept from the abyss of her mind flashed before Twilight’s eyes and she groaned as she covered her eyes trying to rub the image away from them. Why? Why? Why? Why did you have to show me something that also included tentacles?!

Because tentacles make everything better!

Is there anything in there that doesn’t include fornication involving such appendages? You could have at least showed that instead…

Okay, here you go!

Wait no!

It was far too late, as another image of her and Shining Armor was provided making Twilight hit her head against the wall in a futile attempt to knock the picture out of her mind, but to no avail. It took a few more wall crushing head butts before she finally gave up, sighing in defeat.

“This is going to be a long trip,” Twilight groaned out as she lied down and rubbed her aching forehead and horn.

We could see what else Luna has drawn? I’m already a fan! You think she takes commissions?

Twilight responded out loud, wanting a change of pace for this conversation, “No thanks, I rather just lay here and rest.”

Well, I guess I can show you more of our collection then. Let’s start with everything in the incest folder! All 500 images!

“However, Luna is very wise and ancient being and such art could merely be more in depth look of her own soul,” Twilight quickly replied with wide eyes as she pulled the notebook in front of her and began to look through everything. Hopefully, stuff that wasn’t nearly as bad as the things that were in her own mind.

Luna pouted as she snuggled her blanket. She lost her glorious sketchbook of royal porn and she had nothing to… entertain herself with before she slept the day away. It was then that hope came to her form of a knock on her door.

Out of habit, Luna proceeded to hide her notebook only to stop halfway through as she recalled that it was actually Twilights and not hers. With a deep sigh she left Night Night on her bed and dragged her hooves as she went over to her door and opened it with her magic.

Standing there was one of the regular royal guards with a wrapped package in his hooves. He cleared his throat as he addressed the princess, “Sorry to disturb you your highness, but there’s some mail for you.”

Luna lifted the parcel with her magic, a bored expression on her face as she looked the brown packing over. However, when she saw the address of where it was from her eyes widened and she let out a loud squeal like sound and quickly retreated to her bedroom and slammed the door into the guards face. She probably should have felt bad about that, but hey, wasn’t one of her night guards so she couldn’t care less!

Locking the door and recasting her privacy spells she leaped onto the bed and cuddled her blanket as she ripped open her mail. Inside was a thick and colorful paperback book. The sight of it caused Luna’s grin to widen. “Huzzah! Our issue of Tentacle Monthly Informer hath arrived! There shall be much fun tonight!”

Now, one might be wondering how a princess such as Luna could acquire such filth unnoticed. Well, first of all her name wasn’t ever addressed on the packages, only her place of residence. Something that wasn’t too uncommon when mail was delivered to residences of the palace. Then there was the fact that the publishers had a very strict privacy policy making sure none of their customer’s information would ever be public. Lastly, the biggest reason no one would ever suspect Luna was that the bill was in her sisters’ name.

This begs the question, why didn’t Celestia know about this? Well…

Celestia was currently overlooking several bills and expenses involving the kingdom. She then stopped at certain expense that she found unfamiliar. “Raven…”

The unicorn mare next to her perked up from looking at the princesses schedule. She adjusted her glasses as she turned toward her ruler, “Umm… yes?”

“What is this… TMI bill for?” Celestia pointed out with her golden clad hoof.

Raven leaned in and squinted at it for a moment before a bit of realization came to her. “Oh, that must be the monthly report from your Too Much Intelligence group. You know, the spy network?”

Celestia hummed to herself before nodding in agreement. “Ah yes, that’s right. Carry on!” They both cheerfully went back to working and that’s why she never found out!

Luna’s art journal didn’t just consist of just smut. She would occasionally sketch out beautiful landscapes, the night sky, and other scenery’s. However, more often than not she would reuse those backgrounds in her more dirty pictures. With that notebook Twilight was able to learn more about Luna in that train ride to the Crystal Kingdom than she had since Luna’s return. Too bad what she learned was her wide array of fetishes and kinks. To make matters worse, her other self was just giddy about the whole thing and was having a field day with the information.

Strangely though, the one odd thing she found was a very incredibly detailed layout of Canterlot castle with marks and secret passages listed. It seemed to be a very well thought out plan of attack labeled suspiciously as “Equestria Coup D’état 2.01”. The .01 change was the decision to make sure that the plan happened after or was completed before nap time.

That should have raised some red flags for Twilight. It really should have. Unfortunately, she made the mistake of turning to the very next page. It was there that she discovered and entirely new fetish that her dearest princess had. Molesting ponies made up pancakes, waffles, and varies other breakfast treats. It was sexy, delicious, and made her a bit hungry. Everything she had seen was forgotten in an instant.

The train then began to screech to a halt as it reached the Crystal Kingdom’s station. It took Twilight a moment to realize what was going on before she was able to look away from the dirty clop. She closed the book and found herself feeling… disappointed? No, that can’t be right. She should be happy to not have to look all that filth.

Shaking off that thought, she grabbed her bags and began to head off the train to surprise her brother and sister-in-law.

Author's Note

A short filler chapter more or less, but I hope you all had a good laugh. :3

Ch6: Can't Pick Your Family

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch6: Can’t Pick Your Family

Flash Sentry, was the newest recruit of the Crystal Army and the first non-crystal pony to join. He was a lowly pegasus soldier who was transfered from the Equestrian Army to the Crystal Empire in an effort to foster good faith between the kingdoms. The reason they went with a low rank was to prevent the crystal ponies from feeling like there was secretly some kind of underhanded take over. Thus, Flash was now taking orders from the other crystal guards.

Currently, Flash was given the most basic of duty: standing guard. Real simple concept; you hold really still, you look intimidating, and you help out when needed. For example, a villain shows up so you would protect the princess or citizens. You then get your flank handed to you by said enemy and then six mares with no combat experience defeat them, making you and the rest of the entire guard look like a waste of tax dollars. However, because everypony is so happy that they’ve been saved and were so entranced by the six mares, none of them question your worthlessness. Therefore, everything returns back to its normal routine. It was a weird system, but it worked.

Unfortunately, any guard could pick out Flash as a newbie because he was making an amateur mistake; smiling. Smiling (unless done in a sadistic way) does not cause others to feel afraid of you. Guards standing duty were supposed to look as dull, boring, and as unapproachable as possible. The last reason was so they could avoid being asked to do stuff and just get paid to do nothing.

This mistake would be the first of a series of misfortunes because that was when the blue haired, orange pegasi was approached by a certain lavender alicorn. The reason she chose him was because he was the least threatening looking.

“Excuse me,” Twilight began as she trotted up to Flash. “I’m looking for my brother and Cadance, do you know where I can find them?”

Flash turned and immediately saluted, smiling brightly at the princess. He was truly an amateur in the making. “Ah, Princess Sparkle, what a surprise! I didn’t know we were expecting you.”

“This is kind of a surprise visit. So, do you know where my brother and sister-in-law are?”

Flash nodded. “Why yes, I think they’re resting up in their bedroom right now. You know where that is?”

“Yes, I can find my way there. Thank you very much… err… what was your name?” Twilight inquired.

“Flash Sentry, princess!” he said with pride and enthusiasm in his voice, doing his best to make a good impression on her.

“Well, thank you Flash, I won’t forget your help!” Twilight smiled and began to trot off.

He seemed nice.

Meh, I guess, but he felt as interesting as cardboard cutout. Maybe a little character development and he might have been fun.

Wow, someone that won’t get you acting all pervy? What a shock!

Yeah… that is very odd. It’s like some outside force demands that we completely ignore any feelings towards him…

That’s an unusual way to put it. Anyway, let’s find my brother.

Getting back to the flat and uninteresting pony known as Flash Sentry, he was now back to standing guard while smiling like an idiot. His ear swiveled when he heard his trainer gallop up to him.

The crystal guard pony took a moment to catch his breath before he sighed with relief. “Phew, glad I caught you. There was something very important I forgot to tell you. It’s kind of minor, but you really should know. Today, around this time it’s imperative that we don’t let Cadance and Shining Armor be bothered except for the direst of emergencies. Is that clear?”

“Crystal!” Flash remarked, earning him an annoyed glare from his trainer. He hesitated for a moment and then asked, “Why shouldn’t they be interrupted?”

The guard regarded the question for a moment and smiled lecherously. “Well, just between you and me. They’re having a bit of kinky husband and wife fun time,” he winked as he finished.

Flash blushed and chuckled out, “Oh!” Then he recalled who he had just sent that way. He looked nervous suddenly and then asked, “Uh, what if, hypothetically, I told somepony who doesn’t know that, where to find them?”

“Well, I suppose they might be in trouble and then you’d be in even bigger trouble. Why?”

Twilight burst into Shining Armor and Cadance’s room with a big smile on her face, “Surprise visit from your favorite little–“ her announcement quickly died in her throat.

It was a sight to behold. Cadance had just swung the riding crop right onto Shining Armor’s flank. He muffled out a half pain, half moan into his ball gag. Blinders preventing him from seeing and he was tied to the bed as his plot was propped right into the air.

Cadance was wearing a very tight latex dominatrix suit. The pink alicorn stared in shock with her jaw hung, at Twilight. “Oh… no…”

Twilight was also slack jawed. Her mind not wanting to believe this was real and that she was dreaming. Unfortunately, that just wasn’t the case.

SAVING TO THE S&M FOLDER!!!

The guard looked expectantly at Flash Sentry awaiting his answer. “Well… why do you ask?”

There was suddenly a great scream that could be heard throughout the empire. “SWEET CELESTIA MY EYES! I CAN’T UNSEE IT!”

Flash just grinned sheepishly, “Oh… no reason…”

Twilight glared down at the floor as some tea was pushed toward her surrounded by Cadance’s blue magic aura. Twilight took it with her own magic and sipped at it. She then quietly muttered to herself, “If I ever see Flash Sentry again I’m going to kill him...”

Cadance, who was sitting across from Twilight and sipped at her own tea before she cleared her throat. “So… I’m sorry you had to see that.”

“I’m sorry I had to see it too,” Twilight grumbled while still staring at the floor.

I’m not!

“Well, you had to know that your brother and I would be doing stuff like that?”

Cadance could see Twilight raise an eyebrow at her argument. “I had to know that both of you would be having some slave and master sessions?”

The pink princess face hoofed. “I meant us having… relations,” she corrected.

“Oh, well yeah I know, but I just figure I’d never have to… you know… witness it,” Twilight replied while still not looking at Cadance.

“Twilight, why won’t you look at me?” Cadance asked while pouting.

Twilight frowned and answered, “Because you’re still wearing that S&M get up.”

The princess blinked and looked down realizing she had indeed not changed out of her clothing. She blushed and forced out a giggle. “Oh sorry, I forgot I was still wearing it.”

“Well, at least I didn’t come here on Tentacle Tuesday,” Twilight said jokingly in attempt to lighten the mood.

“You know about Tentacle Tuesday?” Cadance asked in surprise.

Twilight blanched as she heard that and groaned while still avoiding eye contact as she shifted nervously. Cadance sighed at Twilights discomfort. “It looks like you can use a bit of time to yourself. I bet you would prefer not to see us until you’re feeling less… traumatized. Feel free to take any guest room. Might I suggest touring the kingdom and maybe a trip to the spa? Could help distract you?”

Twilight hummed at the suggestion and looked up with a small smile. “I’d like that.” Unfortunately when she saw Cadance’s outfit again her eye twitched and she dropped her head to stare at the floor once more.

With a grimace, Cadance said her last goodbyes, “Farewell Twilight, if you’ll excuse me I have to see to Shiny. He’s a bit tied up at the moment.”

I wish that statement wasn’t so literal. Twilight thought with a groan while rubbing her temples.

“Do I have to?” Flash whined out as he was pushed by his superior towards Shining Armor and Cadance’s bedroom.

“You might have traumatized his sister. The least you can do is own up to your mistake!” he said as he shoved Flash Sentry towards the door.

Flash let off a groan and then hesitantly stepped into the bedroom. The first thing he saw was Shining tied up with the ball gag and blinders in a very compromising position. The stallion couldn’t see Flash from where he was. So, he didn’t know he was even there.

Instead of going further in after seeing this, Flash stepped back out and suggested, “Maybe I should apologize lat–“ the glare from the guard was enough to shut him up and get him back inside while shutting the door behind him.

He tentatively approached the bed, swallowing nervously as he got close. Flash cleared his throat, causing Shining Armor’s ears to swivel, letting him know he was aware of his presence. “Uh… greetings your highness. I know this might not be the best time, but I came here to apologize for directing your sister, Princess Sparkle to you. I didn’t know you and your wife were having… relations. I am terribly sorry for the inconvenience.”

To Flash’s surprise; Shining just shrugged and waved one of his hooves somewhat dismissively while mumbling something incoherent behind his gag. While it sounded like he just forgave him Flash took off the gag to make sure. “I’m sorry your highness, I didn’t catch that.”

Working his jaw for a moment, Shining then repeated what he had tried to say. “Eh, it’s no problem. Accidents happen and I’m sure Twily is mature enough to get over it and not do something drastic.”

Meanwhile, Twilight was trying to distract herself from the horrifying sight she had witnessed by plotting the demise of Flash Sentry. The trick was, she had to make it looks like an accident, but also had to make it painful enough to be a satisfying vengeance.

Flash sighed with relief, “Well, thank you for being so understanding your highness!” Flash was about to leave when he remembered something. “Oh, while I’m here I might as well mention that I also ate your sandwich. Sorry!”

Shining was eerily quiet for a couple of seconds. “My sandwich?”

“Yes sir!”

“The one made lovingly by my wife with a delectable center I like to call the moist maker?”

“That’d be the one!” Flash probably said a little too cheerily.

“MY SANDWICH?!”

Flash then gulped. “Y-Y-Yeah?”

“YOU ATE ALL OF IT?!”

“Well, not all of it…”

“You left some?” Shining said hopefully.

“If we go into my barrack we might still find some of it in the trash!”

“W-what?!” Shining visibly shook.

“Well, there was so much of it. After I got full I just… threw out the… rest.” Flash then swallowed loudly with a horrible sense of dread.

Shining Armor shook with pure rage and looked like he was suffering from a seizure. He bared his teeth and growled. If he could see and wasn’t bound he would be strangling Flash in a heartbeat.

Shining roar of loss and pain could then be heard throughout the empire. “You threw my sandwich away?!”

“MY SANDWICH!”

A couple of guards looked up.

“MY SANDWICH!!”

The residents of the kingdom looked towards the palace.

“MY SANDWICH!!!”

Fearing for his life, Flash galloped out, not even stopping to explain why he was running for his life to his superior. Although, the prince’s angry yelling was a pretty good indication.

Twilight sighed as she got out of the hot bath she had just taken. It had been just what she needed to relax and forget her troubles. That and her plan to murder Flash Sentry. Not that she was going to follow through, but it had proven to be an excellent distraction from everything else that had happened. She was also pretty sure there wouldn’t be that many people happy with the stallion just disappearing from existence. Although… she could be wrong.

She dried herself off with a towel before she trotted over to the mirror and wiped off the fog that had appeared from the steam. When the mirror was cleared she found that her reflection’s eyes had pink sclera with purple mist leaking out of the edges.

Twilight stared agape at this and then noted that her reflection was not doing the same. It just smiled devilishly at her before finally saying, “Heya!” This caused Twilight to naturally yelp in response and fall onto her back. “Are you alright?” her reflection asked with mild concern.

Carefully, Twilight steadily got up onto her hooves to look back at the mirror. Her doppelganger was still there and wasn’t mimicking her movements at all. Twilight tentatively asked, “Who… who are you?”

“Isn’t it obvious?” she asked in a voice that Twilight had become more familiar with in the past few days.

“A manifestation of my suppressed thoughts and desires given sentience through dark magic?” Twilight said a matter-of-factly, much to her own surprise.

Her reflection smiled brightly. “Bingo! I always knew we were smart. You are correct I am, in other words, you… or a part of you at least.”

Twilight shook her head. “I refuse to believe that I have such ridiculous thoughts.”

“Being a sexual deviant?”

Twilight grimaced at her choice of words. “Yes… that. I bet this only being caused by all that dark magic.”

Mirror Twilight just smirked. “Trust me, I’ve always been here. Dark magic just allowed me to… voice my thoughts more directly with you. Hasn’t done anything else besides that nor will it.”

“What makes you think that?” she asked with a bit of doubt.

“Well, that’s what Sombra is saying, though I still don’t quite trust him. Even if you do…”

Twilight scoffed. “I don’t trust him at all!”

Her reflection raised an eyebrow. “Really? Then why are you here?”

Twilight opened her mouth to respond, but quickly closed it when she realized that she had a point. She came here to learn dark magic and the one who could deliver was Sombra. Twilight wasn’t sure if the unicorn was tricking her or would backstab family, but she wasn’t going to put it past him.

Dark Twilight cleared her throat and suggested, “Well, why don’t you have a little chat with our good old granddaddy Sombra and see what his plan is. If it’s agreeable then this could be a mutually beneficial relationship.” She smiled at first, but then frowned with annoyance. “Plus, I want him out of our head. You may not be able to hear him when your awake, but I constantly have to listen to him complain about being bored. I tried to entertain him with some of our fantasies, but he’s being a prude just like you. Seriously, what’s with you two being so against incest? It’s only a fantasy and not like we’re going to act on it?”

Twilight grumbled to herself, “Well, at least that’s something Sombra and I can agree on.” Then with a sigh Twilight lamented, “Alright, I might as well follow this through.” She trotted out of her private bathroom and over to her bed, getting nice and snug under the covers.

That’s the spirit! Her subconscious echoed in her mind. What could possibly go wrong? That was the last though Twilight heard before she drifted off into the depths of her own mind.

Author's Note

Here you go guys! Now maybe I'll actually finish the clean up of Roses for the Grave's earlier chapters. XD
I honestly feel my writing is better when I'm doing that story.

Anyway, poor Flash Sentry. If you're not interesting and you steal everyone's waifu without being considered worthy by the vast majority, stuff like this is going to happen. :P

Ch7: Just a Taste

Darkness within the Twilight
By: Mordy

Ch7: Just a Taste

Twilight glared at Sombra as they sat across from each other. Twilight had been having an internal debate as to whether she should help the insane king or not. The pros and cons were very uneven with the risks and rewards. If she didn’t help him she may never be able to learn dark magic. On the other hoof she could be unleashing one of the most horrible evils in Equestria.

Sombra was merely smirking at her. “Well?”

“I don’t trust you to keep your end of the bargain.”

“Understandable, but I always take good care of family,” Sombra said in defense.

“You tried to kill my sister-in-law.” Twilight deadpanned.

Sombra hummed. “True, but I was talking about bloodlines. Besides, I could have killed your brother when I had the chance, but I spared him.”

Twilight’s eyes narrowed at him. “Maybe, but you also didn’t know you were related to him at the time… right?” She asked as she raised the volume of her voice.

Sombra averted his eyes for a moment as he found the nothingness around them more interesting. “Well… I didn’t know for sure…”

“I knew you were hiding something!” Twilight seethed as she poked him in the chest. “What else are you hiding?!” She tried getting in his face to be more intimidating, but Sombra just looked bored.

“Nothing.”

“I swear, if you’re hiding anything else I’ll–“

Sombra merely scoffed. “You’ll do what, friend me? Please, I’m not afraid of you.”

“But you’re afraid of me,” a voice said from behind him.

Sombra proceeded to let out the manliest girly scream as he jumped into Twilight’s hooves and held onto her for his dear life while trembling and staring wide eyed at Twilight’s dark half. To his credit, he had a very good set of lungs and smelt surprisingly nice. None of that prevented Twilight from unceremoniously dropping him to the ground and him giving her a sheepish smile.

“If you’re done being a pansy,” the other Twilight began, “I’d like to discuss your little offer. Frankly, neither of us can trust you and as simple as your request sounds, we both know there’s more to it. So, are you going start telling us everything or do I need to bring out the tentacles?”

Sombra and Twilight went a wide eyed at the mention of the wiggling appendages while backing up from Dark Twilight. With a quick cough, Sombra answered, “Very well, as you know I need to get my horn back to be made whole again. However, I also need it to stay within this mortal plane. If it gets destroyed… well either I disappear or I’m stuck in your head for the rest of our existence.”

Both Twilights frowned at that statement. Neither wanted to share their mind with him at all let alone for the rest of their lives which could be all eternity if Twilight’s ascension had anything to say about it. Her darker half nodded for Sombra to continue as she got closer to Twilight.

“So, another reason you should want to get my horn is that it will also provide a means to separate our minds. You’ll also be happy to know that the spell that will get me out of here won’t bring me back to my full glory,” he grumbled a bit at that last part. “I assure you though, my intentions are pure and I just was to see my beloved family learn dark magic!” He pointed his hoof at Twilight with a wide smile, but frowned when the other Twilight got between the two of them.

“I highly doubt that, but I do want you out of our head. You also say that you will help us learn dark magic, but how exactly are you going to do that?” She inquired while staring him down. This also had Twilight curious as Sombra had yet to disclose what he would give her to help her learn dark magic.

“Well, I was going to give her my private library–”

Twilight let out a gasp and was about to agree without a second thought when she heard the word “library”, but before she could her other half held up her hoof commandingly without even looking back at her naïve self. Twilight stopped in her tracks and the dark her pointed her hoof down ordering Twilight to sit down. She smiled sheepishly and obeyed.

“How big is your library?” she inquired of Sombra as she leaned in closer.

“Big enough, I’d thought I’d let it be a surprise. I think you’ll be quite happy with it.” He grinned smugly at her.

“Not good enough. I’ll need some kind of reassurance that will make us consider trusting you.” She glowered at him and Sombra shifted uncomfortably.

“Well, if I don’t keep my end of the bargain and you don’t find it to your satisfaction what if I let you,” he pointed tentatively at Dark Twilight with a grimace as he forcibly said, “use me in one of your fetishes.”

“DEAL!” the dark half shouted as she got right up in his face with wide eyes and a very deranged smile. This caused Sombra to lean away from her, shaking in terror. He was already regretting his offer.

After giving him some breathing room, Dark Twilight started to lead her other half away. “If you’ll excuse us Sombra, I need to discuss a few things with my other half.” Her eyes wandered lecherously over Twilight while she rubbed her hoof against Twilight’s flank, causing Twilight’s hair to stand on end. “My very sexy half…”

“I need an adult…” Twilight quietly pleaded as she was led through a door that had appeared out of thin air. They stepped into another dark void, but now they were alone which Twilight wasn’t too thrilled about.

“Welcome to the darkest part of your mind,” Dark Twilight announced as she pointed her hoof out to the abyss while holding Twilight uncomfortably close.

“Uh… how is this any different than where we were?”

“Sombra isn’t here for one. Also, I kind of cleaned up before I brought you over. Need you to focus instead complaining and screaming at me about our fetishes,” she huffed annoyingly.

“What do you mean OUR fetishes?”

“Just give time and they will be. For now I need to talk about something serious!”

“Does it involve tentacles?” Twilight deadpanned.

Dark Twilight glared at her. “No, for once it doesn’t. This is very serious! I need you to stop doubting and believe that our ultimate goal is for the best. That what we’re trying to accomplish is a good thing!”

“You mean learning dark magic?” Twilight asked, a little unsure.

“No, that’s…” her other self sighed as she rubbed her head in exasperation. “Listen, dark magic is what we’re after, but it is only the first step towards a more ambitious goal.”

“And that is?”

“Ultimate power!”

Twilight just raised an eyebrow. “Really? You make it sound like I’m supposed to be some kind of power hungry monster. Maybe for knowledge, but–”

“We need and desire power, Twilight!” her dark half roared out.

Twilight wilted beneath her gaze. “Why? For what purpose?!”

Dark Twilight took a calm breath while looking at her steadily. “I’m your darkest desires and I know what you deeply and truly want. The reason you try to suppress these feelings and why you’re afraid of them is because you fear how others will react. You deny yourself this because you think it makes you a morally better pony. I’ll tell your right now, it only makes you weak!

“We are very ambitious and want power, but that doesn’t mean we’re a bad pony. It’s what we do with said power that matters. We could do so much good with it!” She studied Twilight for a moment and then smiled slyly. “Here, let paint you a picture.”

Twilight suddenly found herself sitting on a throne that stood up on an alter within a grand hall as an army of guards bowed to her, swearing their fealty. She blinked and studied the armored stallions and mares, each dressed in lavender armor and bearing her cutie mark as an insignia. She actually blushed momentarily and felt a swell of excitement from such a grand gesture.

It was at that moment a monster made up of shadows broke through the entrance roaring as it stomped in. It towered high enough to reach the ceiling that had to be at least thirty some feet high. Despite how intimidating the creature was, Twilight found herself lacking of any fear or even concern for the beast. She mostly found it to be a minor nuisance at best.

Her guards turned to the creature and charged at it. However, they were swatted away like gnats as they made a futile attempt to quell the beast. It was a very one sided battle with their defeat imminent.

Then, her dark half whispered into Twilight’s ear even though she was nowhere to be seen, “Imagine that you were so powerful that just by simply standing up…” Twilight stood up as if on cue and the battle before her went silent as the guards turned to look at her and even the monster halted at her movement. Then her dark side continued, “…you could make armies stop in their tracks.”

Twilight started to move forward, taking the steps down from her throne one at a time. Her face was calm and serene with a small smile gracing it. It was confidence at its finest and it’s scariest.

As she made her way to the monster the guards started to back away from her and the beast. They eagerly did their best to stay out of her way or move the wounded so they wouldn’t be in her path. It was a mix of fear and respect for her and Twilight found the feeling to be intoxicatingly good!

“Imagine that the only ones who would ever stand in your way would be fools…”

Twilight got closer to the monster and it took a hesitant step backward. She never changed her pace as the creature started to trip and fall as it tried to put distance between her and itself while never looking away from her. When she finally reached the monster, it was frozen in terror.

“Imagine anything that would ever bring harm to those you love…”

Twilight’s horn lit up with unfathomable levels of dark magic that made the whole room shake as it filled to the brim with power.

“…could be crushed in an instant.”

She unleashed her magic and explosion erupted from the monster and the room was blinded momentarily by the blast. When Twilight was able to see again she was back in the abyss, panting with a huge maniacal grin as excitement filled her chest.

“So…” Dark Twilight began as she stood next to Twilgiht. “What do you think?”

“That was… amazing! I never felt so alive!” Twilight declared as she breathed rapidly. “I… want that! If I had that kind of power nothing could ever threaten Equestria again. I could always keep friends safe…”

“How far are you willing to go to attain that?” Dark Twilight asked with an even look.

Twilight considered the question for a moment and took a deep breath as she answered with determination, “I won’t let anything stand in my way!”

Her dark half grinned devilishly. “Yes… that’s the right attitude! Keep that up and nothing in this world will be able to stop you!”

And I mean nothing…

Author's Note

As always, the color makes it a pain to format these chapters. XP