Hello again guys. It's a cloudy Sunday, so I've got nothing more to do than write. As always, I do not claim to own any characters other than Zakaz. Also, remember that you can ask me any questions you want, or offer any suggestions as long as they are clean.

Twilight dreamt she was falling through the night sky. All around her were grey mists and darkness. Yet it was peaceful. There was no sound, just the feeling of falling. She looked around, noticing things coming out of the gloom. Chairs, books, photographs, amongst many other things.

Suddenly, a huge gust of wind caught her unaware. It blasted her sideways, narrowly missing a table that glided unaffected by the current. The wind changed, blowing her the other way. She screamed, but her voice was barely a whisper.

She looked down, noticing somehow she was now walking. All around her was darkness. She noticed a light in the distance, and as she got closer she realised it was a fountain. She stopped by it, and looked into the water.

Reflected back at her was nothing she had expected. Another pony, just like Twilight, yet unlike her. Her mane was a darker purple, and her eyes were cruel. Her hooves were black and her teeth were sharp. She regarded Twilight as if she were a trapped insect.

"Hello Twilight." She said, her voice wicked and yet soothing. "Welcome to your mind." The other pony continued.

"Who are you?" Twilight asked the reflection.

"I'm you. Or rather, the you that could be. If you give up this petty quest, I know Lord Shroud will reward you." She said, her voice twisting through the hair like a snake. Twilight shook her head.

"No, I won't give up. My friends are counting on me!" She shouted. The opposite Twilight sneered.

"Then you shall perish!" She yelled. She began to climb out of the fountain, bit by bit, until she was fully out.

The negative Twilight began to step towards her. Twilight backed up as she did, before noticing her friends where all doing the same. Each one had a reflection that was darker. They all backed up into a circle, nowhere else to go. Twilight looked at her friends in fear. They looked back, their eyes wide.

"Just give up this foolish idea and you will be spared by Lord Shroud." The Anti-twilight said. She took another step forwards.

"Twilight, what should we do?" Applejack asked her friend. The negative applejack replied for her.

"You can't do anything. Either join us, or be destroyed." The anti-applejack answered. They were trapped. The negative ponies were closing in. The group closed their eyes and awaited their destruction.

There was a sudden yelp. Twilight's eyes snapped open to see Zakaz standing in front of the group.

"If you want to destroy my friends, you'll have to go through me." He said, his eyes deadly serious. The negative ponies eyes him warily, before the opposite Fluttershy attacked him.

He dodged the attack, and caught her wing, swinging her around and around. He released her, sending her crashing into the negative Pinkie pie. He looked at the other ponies.

"Now, who wants to go next?" He asked.

Suddenly, there was a huge boom as the Negative Rainbow Dash shot towards him. He jumped over her. She turned around and shot towards him again like a cruise missile. He began to run towards her, gaining speed. They shot straight for each other. At the last moment, the negative rainbow dash swerved to avoid him, crashing into the Opposite applejack.

Zakaz looked over at the last three ponies. They had their heads down and their horns out. Zakaz copied them.

"Engarde." He said. The negative twilight slashed at him, catching his horn on the side. He parried, following the blow through to deflect the anti-rarity's attack. Zakaz countered both of them, knocking them down. He then turned to his opposite self. Back and forth, back and forth they fought.

Twilight and her friends watched the battle with open mouths. They didn't notice until it was too late that the rest of the negative ponies were back. They were caught, and thrown into a cage. Zakaz turned to see them, and at that moment he was caught in the neck, knocking him over. He tried to get back up, but the negative twilight forced him back down. She looked at the group, and her eyes flashed.

Twilight woke up, still in the cage. She recognised the surroundings as the castle she had found the elements in. Her friends where with her, and Zakaz was still on the floor nearby. His eyes were closed, and his neck was bleeding. Opposite them was a large alicorn. He was dark grey, with a long flowing black mane and tail. His eyes were pitch-black and he was wearing dark and navy armour. He grinned down at the trapped ponies with wicked teeth.

"So, the Elements of Harmony once again fail to bring me down. You weren't even close." He said, his voice deep and booming, as if the very earth were speaking to them.

"You didn't even find the seventh element, which was a shame as I would so have loved to destroy it. Oh well, I've got all I need right here?" He said. He turned, and Twilight suddenly noticed what he was looking at.

Trapped in an orb of glowing green light, was princess Celestia. She was obviously in pain, as if the magic that contained her was devouring her energy.

"Princess Celestia?" Rarity whispered. Phobos turned to her.

"There's no point in saying her name, you foolish child. She cannot hear you." He said, cackling madly.

"The whole plan is coming together nicely." He continued. He looked at a tapestry on the wall, which showed himself standing atop of Princess Celestia. "You can't stop me." He added, turning to the captive ponies.

"Now, if you'll excuse me. I've got to go to Canterlot make the final preparations for my take over." Phobos declared. He stepped through a doorway, and out of the room.

"Oh, this day couldn't get any worse!" Pinkie pie declared angrily. The other ponies nodded in agreement.

"I, I don't know what else to do." Twilight said sadly. She looked over at Zakaz.

"Poor Zakaz, he went down fighting to save us." She thought to herself.

After a few moments, they became aware of a small noise. It was faint at first, but became louder and louder by the second. It was a high-pitched screaming, accompanied by a whistling sound. There was a sudden crash, and a small red armadillo uncurled on the floor, having broken through the window.

"Wow. You're big brother sure can kick." Ezekiel declared to Applejack. Twilight smiled.

"I don't think I've ever been happier to see you, Zeke." She said. The Armadillo shrugged, then began to inspect the cage. He tapped it, listening to the sound it made.

"This thing is pretty solid. I'm not sure I can break it." He said. He looked up at the ceiling, specifically a chandelier hanging above the cage. He ran towards the tapestry on the wall and began to climb up. It was slow going, as there were few footholds, but he made it in the end. He jumped across onto a ledge, then onto the chandelier.

"Look out below!" He shouted, breaking the chain. The huge metal sphere dropped down, crashing into the cage. It bent the bars of the cage beyond breaking point, and soon, they ponies where free. Ezekiel jumped down onto Twilights back.

They looked at Princess Celestia, and broke the connection that held her trapped. She fell to the floor weakly.

"Twilight, my faithful student." She said. Twilight came closer.

"You must go to Canterlot. Stop Phobos, before it's too late. I can use my magic to transport you there, but I cannot go with you." She said. She didn't wait for an answer, as her horn began to glow. There was a slight pop, as the castle, Celestia and Zakaz all melted away into grey.

"Well guys. It's time to finish this." Twilight said. The group nodded at her.

"Let's go."

So, I hope you guys have had fun reading so far. Remember to rate and review, favourite and follow If you like. As always, leave any questions or suggestions in a comment, and I'll answer them as soon as possible. I've been Xword, Peace out!