Corruption

"Twilight! Twilight!" Spike exclaimed, bursting down the stairs. In his haste he tripped over a book that was carelessly left on the floor. He picked himself up and, upon seeing the greyish mare, gasped. "What the...?"

Twilight Sparkle's head hung in defeat. "It's over, Spike. Discord won," she muttered. The crown on her head became surrounded by a light purple aura as it was flung telekinetically into a nearby trashcan. As much as Twilight would have liked to believe that her friends would come back to help her, it seemed almost impossible.

Actually, it was impossible.

Her friends were gone.

"Discord couldn't have won!" Spike exclaimed defiantly. He scurried across to the window and glanced out. He pointed a claw, but Twilight refused to follow it. Her heart already ached so much; seeing the expanse of Discord's destruction would only make it worse. "See?" Spike continued, clearly not letting Twilight's indifference affect him. "It's actually daytime now!" He glanced up at the clock, grinning widely. "And it's two in the afternoon! Just a few minutes ago it was dark." A frown slowly formed across the baby dragon's face as he tilted his head sideways. "Or does that say quarter past thirteen?"

"Spike," Twilight began, forcing a weak smile. "It's okay. We can move back to Canterlot." One heavy hoof after the other, she made her way upstairs to the bedroom. "There's nothing left for us here, anyway."

"You can't leave, Twilight. You can't! What about Applejack and Pinkie-"

"We don't need them."

"Twilight," Spike said, rushing up the staircase and easily outpacing her. He blocked her way into the bedroom and fixed her with a serious glare. "What's the point of leaving? It's only a matter of time before Discord starts attacking the other towns." Tears started welling in Twilight's eyes. She had lost everything.

"Besides, I'm sure you'll figure something out. You're the smartest mare I know!"

Hearing that made something ignite inside Twilight Sparkle. Whatever it was, she was filled with a renewed hope. "…I'm sure I can find a way."

"That's the spirit!" Spike said, shoving behind his back one of Twilight's quills that had spontaneously transformed into a full-grown goose.

"But I'm doing this one without the girls," Twilight said in a cold voice. She did not want those bickering mares interfering with any of her plans.

"What about the elements?"

"They won't work. We tried, remember? It's obvious that I need to do this alone." Twilight turned back around and galloped down the stairs. She pulled out a book from one of the top shelves and started coasting through the pages. There had to be something that could help her find a solution.

"I really hope Rainbow doesn't find out about what we did." Spike said as he pulled up a ladder. He scratched behind his head nervously. "Impersonating her and all…"

Twilight closed the book in front of her violently. "Even if she did find out, wherever she is, I don't think she would care."

There was one thing that was clear to Twilight: she had to rely on her own knowledge and power to save Equestria.