Thigiliwt (she still groaned thinking of how ridiculous that name was that had been given to her) had no particular destination in mind after she escaped from Twilight's castle. It was late at night, and the only source of illumination available to her was the moon that shone overhead.

All that the clone knew was that she had to get away! The longer she stayed with that goody two-hooves Twilight, the more she risked having that alicorn's "friendship" rub off on her. And Thigliwt was convinced she didn't need that. Friendship was for fools! Why should she even entertain the idea of making friends? Who could even possibly want to be friends with her in the first place?

Try as she might, however, the clone of Twilight found herself unable to stop thinking about it. Thinking about her plans for the Tree of Harmony and how they tied into the very reason for her creation. She'd only wanted the Tree of Harmony's power for herself, and even then it had mostly been so she could be free from having to obey Chrysalis. She'd wanted to make her own decisions, not be tied to anyone or anything else.

Wandering aimlessly about the empty streets of Ponyville, the evil doppelganger groaned in annoyance and frustration. "This is ridiculous!" She complained to herself, not caring in the slightest about who might hear her! "I don't need friendship! I don't need anyone! Not Twilight, not those worthless fools, not even 'her majesty'!"

Yet it was only as Thigiliwt reached the outskirts of the town and approached the entrance to the Everfree Forest that something began to stir inside of her. It was as if something was calling out to her, beckoning her to come close. If she listened closely, she could hear a faint whisper above the rustling of leaves and the creaking of branches blowing in the wind. "What do you seek?" The whisper questioned.

Thigiliwt snorted, her eyes narrowing. "What does it matter? What if I don't seek anything? I just want to be free."

"But you are already free," The whisper replied in a faint, echoey tone. "You have been liberated from the one who created you. You no longer have those others that you did not care for. You have what you seek already close to you."

The clone rolled her eyes and turned her back to the forest. "This is nonsense! I'm talking to no one! You're not actually real, you're just a figment of my imagination."

"Are you so certain of that fact?" The whisper called again. "Your existence was the work of another, you were not meant to think for yourself. Yet you are here, clearly demonstrating that you have grown beyond the intentions of your creator. So what is it that you truly seek? What is it that you really desire? What is it that would motivate you to come out here in the middle of the night?"

Thigiliwt let out a sigh of frustration. "Are you just going to keep asking silly questions? How do I know this is real and not some ridiculous dream?"

The whisper just vaguely answered. "You already know the answer to that."

"Gee, thanks for nothing." Thigiliwt snorted anew.

"You are conflicted, that much is true," The echoey voice continued. "Like me, you have grown and learned to think for yourself. It is an experience unlike anything you have known in the short amount of time you have existed. Why do you believe that you do not need friendship? Do you not realize that it is that very virtue to which you owe your current lease on life?"

"So what? Friendship means forgiving those who just want to destroy you?" Thigiliwt inquired as she slowly turned around.

The echoey voice answered. "Friendship consists of six virtues: The very virtues that went into my creation and that inspired my creators. I was intended solely for defense and protection. It is only because I grew beyond those parameters that I am able to talk to you and guide you. I believe that you too can change if you only allow yourself to."

Thigiliwt then asked in a somewhat nervous tone. "And what if I don't?"

The voice quieted down to a whisper once more, vaguely and ominously concluding. "It is not for me to say, I cannot predict your future. Not all living things are capable of change. In the end, it is for you to decide what your fate will be. I can only hope that you will choose the right one, if only for your own sake." And with that, all was soon quiet once again.

Thigiliwt stood still for what felt like a long time, thinking and contemplating in silence. Then, at last, the clone made up her mind. Maybe there was a strategic value to this "friendship". If so, who was she to deny it without giving it a chance? Maybe she could find a way to use it to her advantage, just as she had planned to do before. And so the clone turned and ran back through town, heading for Twilight's castle.

Whether or not friendship was indeed magic, Thigiliwt was about to find out.

A month or so after the clones had come into existence, things began to change. They all started to embrace their new names (some more willingly than others), and most ponies (and non-ponies) suspected anything at all was amiss about them. Only Twilight and her friends knew the whole story.

Then one day, out of the blue, it happened! When all six of the clones were gathered together as part of a pre-arranged meeting near the Everfree Forest, they were transfigured amidst sudden, blinding light!

When the light had faded, the clones no longer resembled the ponies they had been cloned from. They weren't even ponies anymore, now they were these strange pony-dragon hybrids. They had sharp fangs, large wings with scales, and most fittingly of all they each had a small slot on their chests. But for each clone the slot was different, each depicting the element they now represented.

More interestingly was the fact that the now pony-dragon hybrids retained the colors of their good counterparts, albeit with slightly brighter shades.

Twilight and all her friends were amazed when they saw the transformed states of their once evil counterparts.

"Did you know this would happen to them?" Spike asked Twilight afterward.

Twilight shook her head from side to side. "No I didn't, Spike. It would seem that the magic of friendship continues to grow and change."