Chapter 1: An Eerie Night
I'm Twilight Sparkle, and I'm the student of Princess Celestia. About a year ago, I met a boastful unicorn named Trixie, who showed off her magic and claimed she was better than anypony. I was so scared to stand up to her because I was afraid that my friends would think of me the same way. Thankfully, I was proven wrong when I put a stop to an Ursa Minor that attack Ponyville in a fit of rage. Trixie, shamefully defeated, fled Ponyville and never came back; I felt a little sorry for her and hoped that she learned her lesson.
I didn't think much of it until a few months ago when I found Trixie unconscious in the woods. She was badly injured; I knew I had to help her. After taking her to the hospital for a few weeks, I volunteered to help her recover. During our time together, Trixie revealed some dark secrets that she probably hadn't told anypony else. I tried to reach out and become her friend. I'm not sure if I was successful, but I did help her come to terms with her grief.
Just before she left town, Trixie was assaulted by a dark creature that initially looked like her before transforming into a monster. My friends and I rushed to her aid and helped her get rid of it. It was after that, that Trixie was finally at peace with herself and started her life from scratch, I'm so happy to see that.
I haven't heard from Trixie since and a few weeks have passed since then. Everypony has practically forgotten about the monster, as have I with the occasional flashback. Still, I had some questions about it. What was that monster? Why did it attack Trixie? Why did it look like her? Oh well, I guess I'll never know. After all, it's over, right?
Twilight Sparkle and her assistant Spike was taking a stroll through town. It was a nice and sunny afternoon with the sun resting atop the buildings that surrounded them. Spike was dragging an incredibly long checklist that he dragged behind him. The poor dragon was tuckered out from all the running around. Twilight trotted in front of him occasionally stopping to look at the buildings around her. The rucksack that she carried on her back was filled with various supplies that almost hung out of the barely closed sack.
"Spike," She queried as she looked at the shop before her, "Do we have enough quills?"
"Twilight, you've asked that question three times today," Spike replied lifting the checklist to show her, "We have enough quills to last the entire month."
"I know, Spike, but this week isn't an ordinary week. An important exam is coming up, and I have to be prepared!" Twilight rebutted.
"So, why don't you spend that time studying like you always do?"
"I'm getting my shopping done early so I'll have plenty of time to study. I've spent all last night calculating the perfect schedule and I'm not going to see it ruined by a lack of supplies! We've been over organization many times, Spike!" Twilight proclaimed informatively to her tiny dragon friend.
"But, it looks to me like we've already got everything we need." Spike protested.
"Did you double check?" Twilight said with skepticism.
"Quadruple checked. We're good to go home." Spike said.
Humbly giving in, the purple unicorn turned to the direction of her home and said, "Alright, I believe you, Spike. But, if I find out that one item is missing, then so help me Celestia…"
"She always gets like this during an exam…" Spike murmured to himself as he followed suit.
Twilight opened the door to her humble home and stepped on inside. Spike immediately set his sights on the stairs and headed up to the bedroom.
"I'll see you in the morning, Spike. I've got work to do." Twilight spoke trotting to her study room, "Don't disturb me, okay?"
"You won't hear a peep from me," Spike replied, "I'll be too busy sleeping. Goodnight."
He advanced up the stairs and slid into his little bed as Twilight proceeded to her study. She locked the door behind her and opened up a book and began engrossing herself into it.
As time went by, day shifted to night and the room got darker. Twilight lit a candle to see the pages she was reading. Nothing but the dim orange glow of the little flame lit the room. It was very quiet, an eerie kind of silence. Not even the crickets outside chirped their nocturnal song. A cold chill breezed past Twilight; she looked to the window and saw it was shut tight. "That's odd…" she thought to herself as she stared at the night sky through the window. She returned her attention to the book when another breeze blew the candle out.
"Okay, whoever's there, this isn't funny." Twilight said in aggravation, "I appreciate you trying to humor me, but I'm in the middle of studying!"
She relit the candle and looked around the room and saw no one there. An uncomfortable feeling started welling inside her stomach. She knew something was amiss. The room was dead quiet, but a very eerie chill began to build up in the room and a silent wind blew by the window like a presence lightly breathing down the room.
"Um… Spike? I told you not to disturb me…" Twilight said. She hoped it was Spike, prayed even; but no answer. She started getting a little frightened as her heart beat in anxiety. She turned back to her book to ease her tension. Perhaps this was her imagination and it was all in her head. She paid very close attention to the pages before her. Little by little, the letters in the pages got bolder as if the ink was bleeding through them. Twilight couldn't believe what she was seeing. She turned the page, but it only made it worse. Soon, the entire book was covered in blackness except for a certain amount of white that formed the message "Embrace Darkness".
Twilight immediately tossed the book away and opened another. This book was in the same condition as the other spelling "Embrace Darkness". Twilight started frantically taking books off her shelf to read them; every last one of them spelling "Embrace Darkness". Whenever she read those words she could hear a whisper "Embrace Darkness". Twilight gave up on reading the books and started towards the door. When she opened it up, she saw blackness behind it. No light penetrated through it.
She immediately spun around and saw the room decay before her until it was a mere ruin of what it once was. The red cloudy sky loomed ominously above her.
"I'm dreaming!" she said to herself, "That right! This is a nightmare! I must've fallen asleep while studying. I'll just wake up and continue!"
Twilight shut her eyes and opened them. Nothing changed. She tried again. Still nothing. She tried one more time. This time a mirror appeared from beyond the walls. She was quite afraid, yet curious. She climbed out of the deteriorated walls to inspect it closer. A vast checkerboard floor expanded endlessly before her and the room behind her vanished. She slowly edged closer towards the mirror afraid that something might jump out; but it turned out to be just that: a mirror. She looked at her own refection, slightly paler than usual, looking at a familiar face seemed to calm her nerves.
Then, her reflection gave her a calming glare; soothing, yet ominous.
"Embrace Darkness" it said, "Embrace Darkness."
Twilight began to back away from the mirror as it continued to stare her down.
"What's going on?" she said.
"Don't you trust yourself, Twilight?" her reflection replied, "Come. Embrace darkness."
"I…" Twilight was so frightened she could not find the words to say.
"Just relax." The reflection said.
Dark tentacles came from the reflection's horn and grabbed Twilight and began to pull her in. Twilight tried in vain to resist, but the dark force was too strong for her.
"Come, be with me. Forever." The dark Twilight said soothingly.
"Where are you taking me?" Twilight said as she struggled.
The reflection simply repeated her words, "Come, be with me. Forever."
She was pulled into the mirror and was consumed by darkness. Fear and agony swept over her like a giant hand grabbing her. Twilight then began to hear a voice ringing in her head. "Don't be afraid, Twilight Sparkle. You have the Element of Magic." It repeated itself over and over. "Don't be afraid, Twilight Sparkle. You have the Element of Magic."
Spike knocked on the door to the study and waited patiently for a response. He heard the lock click on the other side and entered the room.
"Twilight?" he called out.
He saw the desk illuminate from the candle as the purple unicorn raised her head from behind the desk; with a hint of annoyance in her face.
"Spike! I thought I told you not to disturb me!" Twilight said in annoyance.
"I know, but I was wondering if you needed me for anything." Spike responded.
Twilight, obviously flattered by the gesture, trotted over to the dragon. "I appreciate the offer, but I'm fine." She said shoving the dragon out, "You need to go to bed, it's way too late for you. I've got a lot of studying to do."
Spike trying to reason with her, said, "Well, alright, but if you need anything, don't-" the door slammed in in front of him and he continued to bed with a shrug.
To be continued…