Disclaimer: I don't own My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Hasbro does.

Chapter One: A Change of Heart

It seems almost an eternity since I've heard that name-my name. Misty Moon. She seems like an altogether different pony than I am, or pretend to be, today. She was an attention-starved filly whose own family couldn't give her the light of day, while I am the center of every pony's thoughts, desires, and even envy… The old pony, Misty Moon, was weak.

I, however, am Great and Powerful.

~~~Flash Back ~~~

"Mom?" I pleaded desperately, "Mom, is everyone alright? Please answer my calls!" It was the morning after Twilight's entrance exam as well as my cutie mark's appearance. At four in the morning I woke up, and realized my parents as well as my siblings had not yet returned. I had fully expected an after party for Twilight's passed exam (this I was confident about, as she was very skilled in magic), but this was too long for them to be gone. Frantic calls to my parents' and brother's cells had started from the minute I woke up, continuing to this very moment at 11:00 a.m. I rose the house phone again to attempt to contact Shining Armor for the 34 time, but slammed it down with my blue aurora. The Sparkle family might not give a daisy's stem for my well-being, but I had been worried sick about theirs. As I felt tears welling up, a voice in the back of my head whispered, They're not worth it. "What?! Who are you?" I sputtered in surprise. I am you, Misty. I am you, only better. Smarter. Stronger.

Before I could interrogate the voice in my head or call the doctor to report my insanity, the front door slammed open. "Yes! Yes! Yes! Yes-" "Twilight?" I called from the kitchen, relief and fury fusing together into some emotion I couldn't put a name on. I galloped at full speed to the front door, seeing my family all at the door. My 8-year-old sister was bouncing up and down, still muttering "Yes!" to herself, Orion and Twilight Velvet just behind. My brother was last to enter, carrying… suitcases. "Where were you?" I exclaim. "Twilight's Celestia's personal student!" My mother shouted ecstatically. " Not her student, dearest, her protégé!" Orion added. "And Twily got her cutie mark, Misty! Isn't that great?" Shining said proudly. It took a minute for that to sink in, and in the meantime I had been brushed past. "Mom! When are we turning Misty's room into my study?" I heard Twilight ask in the room over. "Soon, dear," Velvet answered, absent-mindedly. I rushed into the living room, where everyone had gathered around Twilight. "What?!" I exclaimed. I was ignored, just like always. " Twilight, show be your cutie mark again! I want to take a picture with you and your mother." Dad's magic opened the door for the family camera. I turned to Shining Armor, "What's happening, Shining? Where were you last night, why weren't my calls answered, how come Twilight's taking my room, and why is Twilight CELESTIA'S STUDENT?" My brother had the good graces to look guilty, at least, and replied tensely, " Twily had a magic blow-up, so Celestia's going to help her harness her magic. We went to that new bed and breakfast to celebrate, the one with the rollercoaster in the back. Oh, and Twilight will need to study, and the guest bedroom was a…" I interrupted, "It's my bedroom. And I wasn't missed, was I?" I snarled, each word turning colder and meaner. Each word turning me colder and meaner.

"Misty, don't ruin Twilight's big day by antagonizing your brother." Mom snapped, her attention turning towards me. "Hey, I got my cutie mark yesterday," I replied to my parents. "Don't try and take the spotlight off Twilight, here. You already had one." Dad said absent-mindedly, his thoughts mainly directed towards an oblivious Twilight. "How come I never got to go to the School for Gifted Unicorns?" I said with enough force that the neighbors probably heard. My brother stood awkwardly to the side, glancing at our parents' reaction. "That's nice, Misty. Twilight, do you want me to make you a cake?" Mom asked.

You really are just going to let them brush you by? Cruelly chuckled the voice in my head. "Shut up!" I snarled at it. "Mom, Misty's talking to herself, which is a sign of schizophrenia. I just read a book about that." Twilight stated matter-of-factly. "Always the egghead, aren't you?" came a voice from…me. "Misty Moon! Go to your room!" My mother yelled, appalled by the rude comment. "Guess what happens to most protégés, Twilight?" The voice from me snarked. The little Twilight had tears in her eyes, "I-I don't k-know," she said, upset. "Misty, what are you-" The voice interrupted Shining Armor's enraged words, "They are told their whole lives that they are brilliant, so they get overconfident in their abilities. From then, they take on too much of a challenge and fail at it, and so are left penniless." As the speech goes on, the more and more it feels like the words are coming from me. The spot in my heart feels satisfied, for once, seeing Twilight's shocked face. The more I go on, the more I feel whole.

"Disgrace and public humiliation soon follow, sister," I continue, smiling with real happiness. "And the so called brilliant pony is abandoned by their family and any friends they happened to accumulate. Eventually they kill themselves, but the body isn't found until it stinks because nopony would take the time of day to talk to that pony, let along visit them. That'll be you one day, Twilight. I'm just making sure you're ready." The voice is my voice. The words are my words, the malice and contempt are my own, long held back by the misconception of love. In the midst of enjoying the pain in Twilight's tear-streaked face and my parents' and brother's enraged words, comes of the smallest twinge of guilt. But I easily smother the thought, because along with the hateful words and actions comes a feeling of absolute power.

I'm proud of you, Misty.