Love, happiness, joy, friendship, these are the things that I used to describe my life now its fear, anger, darkness, hatred, and malice under the guidance of a king. A king who’s a master of the dark arts, a king who enslaved his own people and uses fear to control them, a king who was defeated by the princesses of the moon and sun and I am his apprentice, but my life wasn’t always like this it was once filled with the love, happiness, and friendship that anyone needs and friends who are supposed to be there for you, before it felt nice but now it makes me sick and so I write this in order to remind myself and to show my side on how everything got to this point, my name is Twilight sparkle, no I am Midnight Sparkle faithful apprentice to the dark king Sombra and this is my story.

My life started off normal like any other life I had a loving family of my mother, my father, and my older brother in Canterlot, now as a filly I studied magic on my own wanting to attend Princess Celestia’s school for gifted unicorns, now I knew I was special when it came down to magic but I didn’t know how special I was until that day. I was practicing my magic with my favorite doll In the world Miss smarty pants. I was trying to make her teleport from one spot to another and that’s when I heard a voice, a voice that seemed to be coming from my doll, I’ll never forget what it said,

“Little filly you have great magical potential I’m impressed.”
now knowing what I know now I probably wouldn’t have paid it any mind, but being a filly I was both scared and surprised, the voice was coming from Miss smarty pants. I looked around to see if some pony was perhaps pull a prank on me but I saw no one, I looked at my doll and said,

“Miss smarty pants did you talk.”

“Yes little filly I did.” it answered to my surprise.
I was speechless my only thought was,

“I made her talk.”
so I grabbed my doll and ran to my parents and told them what happened, they just laughed and chalked it up as me having a wild imagination. Feeling insulted I went to my room, sat on my bed while looking over my doll and thought,

“did I really just imagined it?”
but just then the voice answered,

“No Twilight you didn’t.” I gasped and replied,

“You can talk, but why didn’t you talk when I showed you to my parents?”
the voice answered,

“If I had talked to them they would get rid of me thinking I was bad for you and you don’t want that.”
I thought about that and answered,

“No but.”

“And I can help you with your magic but you must not tell anypony or show anypony.” The voice had said.
I quickly agreed and thus started my road to greatness. I have to admit it was hard, very hard. I read books throughout the day and at night I practiced what I’ve learned, and I learned it all even some dark magic from what I had read at the time was very dangerous but the voice ensured me that it wasn’t and as I agreed I didn’t show anypony what I learned. As the time went by the voice was talking less and less and my parents was getting worried on how I was acting and they thought I didn’t know but I did know but I didn’t care at this time I was going for the entrance exam for the school, I ran into my room and went to my miss smarty pants doll and told it the good news, the voice answered,

“That is excellent Twilight I know you’ll get in for sure and you’ll meet Princess Celestia as well, but there is something I must tell you.”
It told me that it had to go away for a while, at that time I didn’t know what he meant by it but the voice gave me a gift, as I picked up my doll a small black flame came out of it and went into me, the voice had said that once he returned he shall call to me and that flame will be our link and then the voice was gone, I was sad but I knew what I had to do and I did, I performed in front of Princess Celestia once she saw what I could do she made me her protégé I mean I was living every pony in that school’s dream. As time went on I would sometimes wondered about the voice, who was it, why would it choose me of all ponies to talk to. I looked at every book in the castle and couldn’t find anything on it, there were times when I was sleeping I could hear him telling me that the time was getting near and that I must study hard.

Years later I was living in the Golden oak library in ponyvile and I had five great friends who at the time I considered them like sisters. we've been through a lot together, the return of Nightmare moon, Discord’s return, and even my brother Shining armor and my foal sister Cadence's wedding, as well dealing with the changelings, some time after that we dealt with Sombra, In fact I believe that’s the time when things went downhill. Princess Celestia had sent me and my friends to where the Crystal empire reappeared and find the Crystal heart as well as protect the crystal ponies from Sombra’s return. Everything was going well with the crystal fair, keeping crystal ponies happy and having them think we had the crystal heart that I had cut with my magic. But there was the problem, it had to be the actual crystal heart not a heart shaped crystal, so I along with spike went to find it. After sometime our search lead us to a door on the bottom of stairs lots and lots of stairs, after a few failed attempts I was about to try again until everything went grey and there floating towards me was a ball of light and a voice that I haven’t heard in years say to me,

“It’s been a while twilight my friend you have grown quite well.”
I felt like I was that little filly again, was shocked and happy at the same time. I called for spike but he didn’t respond that’s when the voice had told me it had stopped time for us to talk, I told him what I was doing and what he told me shocked me even more,

“Twilight you must not retrieve the crystal heart you will fail the test.”
I asked him to explain then he told me, his name was Cubic Spark shine and that he live in the crystal empire sometime before Sombra’s take over, he was was about to tell me more but everything was coming into color and he told me to look in the forest for a book titled Annalis and to use the spell of true revealing to understand everything and then he was gone. I shook my head and opened the door and to make things short I saved the crystal empire with the real crystal heart, well spike did.

The next day I went to canterlot to see princess Celestia, as I entered the royal hall to the throne room I seen her standing next to a wooden stool with a smile pile of papers on it and with her magic lifting one, quickly writing in it, rolled it up and making it disappear and doing the same with the next. I remember how was so happy to see her and was eager to start my next phase of my training, I announced myself to her. Without even looking at me she said angrily

“What are you doing here?”

“I have come to start my next phase of my train princess.” I answered
and bowed to her. Heh bowing down to her, at that time I would do it happily but now I haven’t done that to any pony except my master but I’m trailing, Celestia said,

“you needn’t worry about that but you will leave now.”
I was confused I didn’t even know why she was so angry I simply replied,

“Leave, but why where am I supposed to go?”
she answers,

“It doesn’t matter to me...” as she finally looked me she continued “You failed the test Twilight.”
this shocked me even more, I failed her test I never failed any of her test. I replied to her with tears starting to swell up in my eyes

“I don’t understand, I did everything that was needed for...”
but she quickly interrupted me,

“Not only will you not go on to the next level of your studies, you won’t continue your studies at all.”
tears were starting to flow as I said,

“You didn’t say anything about me no longer being your student if I failed.”
she then placed a wing over me and gave me a look of concern but then pushed me aside and said,

“didn’t I.” and started walking off,

"What do I do now.” I asked her,
but just then everything turned grey and all motions had stopped, I knew what this meant and so I shouted,

“Mister Cubic are you here?”
and there appeared the same ball of light but then in a little flash appeared ethereal ghost like unicorn with cerulean blue eyed light brown coat and darker brawn mane and tail with a cutie mark of a magic spark with little shinning gems on the sides, I looked at him and said,

“Mister Cubic is that you?”

“ yes Twilight it’s me.” he said with a smile,
I ran to him as tears fell from my eyes and hugged him all the while crying, he wrapped a hoof around me and said,

“There there Twilight it’s alright.”
I told him what happen and he said he knew and that’s why he appeared to on that day, he wanted to warn me about all of this. I didn’t understand then he said,

“She wasn’t going to allow you to go the next stage of your training and I think it’s entirely my fault.”

“Your fault how could it be your fault?” I said to him while wiping the tears from my face,

“As I told you when you were younger you have a lot of magical potential within you and from what you’ve learned from me your magic has grown exponentially I believe she sensed that and has felt threatened by it.” he told me,

“What, but why would she feel that way I would never do anything that would threaten her.” I asked, he gave me a sad expression and said,

“perhaps it opened up some old wounds.” just then he started to fade away and I asked,

“what’s happening?”

“My time stop spell is ending listen to me my dear Twilight you must find my book with the word Annalis we can talk again and I will be able to tell everything just remember look in the forest and find my lab, use the true revealing...”
and he was gone again and everything returned to color and in motion. Princess Celestia was walking away, she turned to me and said

“you're still here leave this place now and never return, you are to leave my kingdom you are here by banished.”
as the last drop of my tears fell I simply walked out.
As I arrived home at the library I saw my friends who were waiting for me, as I got closer Rainbow dash was the first to ask,

“So Twilight what the news when do you start your new egghead stuff with the princess?”

“Yes darling do tell us.” Rarity said,
I just lowered my head and continued walking as I said,

“There won’t be any more lessons.” I replied,

“What do you mean Twilight?” Spike said,

“I’ll tell you what it means. It means that she’s so smart that the princess decided there was nothing she could teach her.” Rainbow dash said as she flew right next to me,

“Oh oh then you know what this calls for… a party, yeah a big party with lots of balloons and streamers and oh oh and a big cake that says way to go and and…”Pinkie pie quickly said,
Pinkie stopped on the count of applejack place her hoof over her mouth and said,

“Ah don’t think that’s the case here.” I stopped in front of the door and said,

“Your right applejack, because I’m no longer her student I failed her test.” they all gasped,

“What! No way.” Rainbow dash said.

“Preposterous.” Rarity said.

“Are sure about that sugar cube?” Applejack said.

“That can’t be right Twilight.” Spike said.

“Maybe you should ask if you can retake it somehow.” Fluttershy said.

“Yeah like maybe a test on other magically stuff.” Pinkie pie said. I shook my head and said,

“No I can’t retake the test.”

“Did she at least say why you failed?” Rainbow dash said I simply answered,

“No and I’m not going to ask, if you guys can excuse me I really tired I think I’ll lay down for a bit.”

I then walked in and closed the door behind me. I could hear what they were saying but I didn’t care and I didn’t want to burden them with the news of my banishment so I went upstairs to my room and just cried myself to sleep. As I slept I could hear Spark shine’s words echo through like a lone voice in a concert hall saying for me to find his book in the forest and flashes of the area flew around and suddenly I woke up in a cold sweat, I looked around and saw I was still in my room and spike was sleeping I could tell because he talking in his sleep, it sound like he was having a dream about jewels again, I smiled and looked out the window and saw Luna’s moon and thought,

“If I was going to leave, now would be a good time.”
So I got out of bed and levitated a light brown bag and filled it with some books I thought I would need, placed it on my back and started to head downstairs but stopped on a count of spike saying,

“Twilight don’t go.”
I turned around and saw he was still asleep and he mumbled,

“No Twilight don’t go in to the.....pudding pool.”
I smiled and I levitated him onto my bed, no his new bed and kissed him on his forehead and whispered,

“goodbye Spike.”
and proceeded downstairs as I go down stairs I saw the whole area was decorated for a party and there on the floor were my friends sleeping, I then proceeded through and opened my door and slowly closed it but not before I quietly said,

“goodbye my friends.”
Now outside I walked to the edge of ponyville in front of fluttershy’s home and facing the Everfree forest. I closed my eyes and thought of what Spark shine said look in the forest. Now I know there are quite a few forests here in Equestria but this is the closes one here, so I took a deep breath exhaled, gathered my courage and walked into the forest.

As I was in the forest I noticed that it was quiet, a bit too quiet. I thought it was perhaps the local wildlife was just sleeping, well that's what I was telling myself as I walked in deeper. Soon I came across the castle of the royal pony sisters Princess Celestia and Luna’s old castle before the Nightmare moon incident and the start of my adventures win ponyvile. There I thought,

“I’ve been through this castle inside and out and didn’t find any book called Annalis, let alone a lab.”
but then it struck me perhaps he wanted me to use a spell that would maybe find it. I thought for a moment and remembered what spell he was talking about and that spell was the true reveal spell. As the name implies it reveals anything that is hidden away to the naked eye with magic, and so I concentrated on using that spell and with a low flash of purple light a brown wooden door appeared in front of me. I walked around it and saw that the handle was on the other side so I opened it using my magic then a flash of light appeared I closed my eyes tightly when it faded I opened my eyes and was astounded by what I saw it was a large room filled with books, test tubes, and other things and in the back large like glass cylinder and above is some weird looking device with some sort of large gem hanging with large red wires going into it I suspect that is what’s lighting up the room and there right under it was a red covered book sitting on a wooden pedestal, I walked towards it just then a familiar voice shouted,

“Twilight stop!”
I suddenly halted in place and I called out to Spark shine suddenly the ethereal unicorn appeared in front of me, breathed a sigh of relief and said,

“another step and you would’ve been transported.”
and pointed to the floor, there were a circle of gems embedded in the wooden floor and inside the circle were symbols that seemed familiar to me. Spark shine then continued to say

“This is one of my creations it teleports you to different location of this tower.”

“Tower, I thought this was just one room?” I said with my head tilted and giving a confused look.

“No Twilight this is indeed a tower and if you would look out that window.” Spark shine said as he point to a nearby window,
I walked to it and what I saw I just couldn’t believe I was in the crystal empire. I then turned to Spark shine and said,

“This is not possible we’re in the crystal empire but I’ve never seen this tower when I was here before.”
Spark shine chuckled a bit and said,

“Your right this tower wasn’t there when you arrived in fact we’re not in the crystal empire at all.”

“Then where...” was all I could say before he continued,

“you’re in a different world a shadow world if you will, you see...”

He explained to me that during his travels he heard rumors of the crystal empire having returned, so in his haste he tried used teleportation spell but the spell bounced back and he was brought here, at the time he thought nothing happened but saw that every pony wasn’t noticing him, then one group of ponies passed right through him, he thought he was a ghost but realized that the ground was solid for him soon after he reappeared back to where he disappeared, he went on to tell me how he figured out how to and from there and managed to bring this tower filled with every book ever known his Tower of knowledge he calls it along with him and was able to finite his magic and other things in this place. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing a world in between worlds and I was in it, it was too much for me to handle so I went to the window but then I saw the scenery changing in to another place as if one was fading out as the other was fading in and what I saw just made me speechless it was ponyville not the ponyville I left behind it was morning every pony going about their day, I sat down with my hoof on my head and Spark shine walked over to me I looked at him and just stuttered

“wha..how…the…and…ponyville…and...”
he just smiled and said,

“ah you’ve seen it as well, you see time moves different here, in here has only been minutes but out there hours have passed but when you return to where you were it’s like not much time has passed at all it’s quite a phenomenon.”
he then help me up and continued,

“but enough about that come I promised I’d tell you everything.”
and he did.

He told me he was like me he studied magic and he developed ways to improve other ponies magic he even figured out a way to teleport to long distances but as he was about to test his spell when sombra attacked, he hid himself so to not get captured and went to go see princess Celestia for help once he got to canterlot she and princess Luna were already gone to stop him, so he used the long distance teleportation spell to return to the crystal empire but when he had got there he was drained of his magic and was weak but he saw the crystal empire, his home disappeared. As he was telling me this, flashes of the events he went through just filled the area like pages of a book being turned, I then asked what he did after me being interested in his story, he told me for some time he worked in secret finding a way to bring back his home but he soon found out that if he did find a way to bring back his home it would bring Sombra back as well so he quit looking and continued his studies of magic, he developed even more spells even some transformation spells so he used a spell to change himself into an earth pony and changed his name into astrum lighthooves and worked with my idol Star swirl and only he knew of his true identity, years went by for him and he wanted to live to see the day that his home would return and help stop Sombra from returning with it so he delved even further into magic to lengthen his life, he couldn’t find anything not even with Star swirl’s help so in secret tried other forms of magic even dark magic and alchemy and that when he developed a potion that was supposed to give him eternal life and everlasting youth but he never tested it, but one day Star swirl suggested that he consult with the princess, so he did. He told her everything on what happened during sombra’s attack, on how he traveled around the world, everything. She wasn’t even mad at him for deceiving her for so long and she offered to help in any way she could but he later found out that was a lie well to him not a purposely caused lie at the time she was just so busy to help and he wasn’t angry about it but what started everything to go wrong is what he discovered about Sombra. He discovered that what had happened at the crystal empire was not Sombra’s fault. Apparently Sombra was possessed by a dark spirit which had turned him evil. I asked him how he figured that out and he said,

“Well I found an old journal of his and it stated that he was searching for something for the princess of that time, to protect the empire with the help of its citizens you know what that was,”
I thought for a moment and answered,

“The crystal heart!”

“That’s right but at that time it wasn’t called the crystal heart it was…well it had many names but at that time it was called a destiny stone, upon knowing this he and a large group of his soldiers set out to find the stone but upon returning only he was the only one to return alive, it was said that the way to it was treacherous and full of dangers that no pony could ever think of.” Spark shine said.

I couldn’t believe what he told me but before I could respond he continued,

“He presented it to the princess and demonstrated its power, but she was very weary of it right away and felt the heart having such malice within it, but Sombra assured her it was nothing to worry about, but she was right to be suspicions because unknown to any pony at the time Sombra was already under the spirit’s spell, and as time went by it was twisting his thoughts and driving him down a path of darkness, but at that time a great war was beginning between the empire and the griffons. The princess felt that the war could be avoided, so she made many attempts to make peace with them but all failed, Sombra seeing this took it upon himself to do what he thought was right...”
Spark Shine told me but I quickly interrupted him

“No that can’t be right, you mean to tell me Sombra, king Sombra, the same Sombra who attacked and enslaved the crystal ponies, defend it from attackers long before, why would he do that if the spirit was turning him evil, in fact I’ve read up on the crystal empire’s history and there was nothing about any war, how do I know any of this is true?”
Sparkshine just smiled and said,

“Now that’s the Twilight I know, but your right there isn’t anything on the war because the princess thinking it would be best to ease the pain for the citizens erased it from their memories and only she and a certain few in her court knew of it and Sombra was one of them and no record has been kept of it except for two books, one I’ve written and Sombra’s journal and to answer your question young Twilight, Sombra would have done all those things even if he wasn’t under a dark spell, for you see he was in love with the princess but I’m trailing off allow me to finish the story...”
and he did, he told me the princess purging the crystal heart of the evil spirit due to Sombra telling her of his feelings about it being tainted, it took all the magic she had and it left her drained and sombra battled on for the empire until the war was over and he was to be rewarded but she stripped him of his title and honor due to a pendant made from the heart showed her a darkness inside him, Sombra was angry of her decision and he came up with a plan to kill the princess the one pony he loved he did it by poisoning her, Spark Shine wouldn’t tell me the rest but I gathered what happened but he went back to his story

“Upon knowing this I went to tell Princess Celestia of this but she wouldn’t hear of it. I beg and pleaded for her to hear me out on an idea that would have saved him and the empire but she still didn’t want to hear it and that’s when I found out what was wrong Star swirl had told me that she had banish her sister to the moon using the elements of harmony and that’s what finalized my resolve, so I returned here and studied and practiced on some new spells after a lot of failed attempts I had done it and came up with a spell that was able to separate darkness out of any pony but it wouldn't get rid of it completely...”
I interrupted by asking,

“Why is that?”

“Because in everything in this world there has to be balance, take one thing away it can’t be maintained, say if I used the spell on Princess Celestia then she would be completely good, no darkness no anger nothing. Oh it would be good for some time but her view would be warped thinking that whatever she thinks is bad she would have to correct, just think all of Equestria would be under a tyrannical rule far worse than Sombra’s instead of place of darkness it would be a place of oppressive light, that is why darkness is needed to balance everything out and for us to learn from our negative mistakes.” Spark Shine said.

“Ok so seeing as Sombra was still evil you weren't able to use your spell.” I said.

“No but there was a reason you see if I had brought the kingdom back it would have brought him back as well that much you know but due to Sombra’s power I would need a large power source to use the spell and that would have to be the elements, So I left out of here and went to tell her but when I got there I have found out that it had been years since I have last been to canterlot, and when I saw the princess she looked happy in what had to be in a long time. I didn’t want to burden her with my plan so I took the elements and traveled to the frozen north to bring him back and use my spell, but somehow she had gotten wind of my plan and stopped me on the boarders of where the crystal empire once stood, to say she was surprised to see me would be an understatment, to her I looked the same as I have to her perspective all those years ago. I once again pleaded to her told her it would be beter to go through with my plan but she wouldn’t listen, and I wasn't going to be swayed by her words. We said what was on our minds and I said some....harsh things and I told her I would anything just to save the kingdom even go throught her forcably, but still she remained adament on her dession, with no more words left between us we fought. Each spell she casted were calculated and precise but I countered them with something more powerful and wild ones. I was slowly gaining the upper hoof, she then was getting desperate end the battle as she was just lashing spell after spell at me while as I deflected and countered with the spells I mastered. Moments later she was on the ground and I stood tall feeling triumphant but then I realized something, I was more powerful than she was but also I was perhaps acting just as Sombra was in their battle. Upon relaizing this I returned the elements to her and apologized and how foalish I was acting, she accepted and said I was acting for the good of the Crystal empire, but just then something went wrong, my horn started to glow and pain rushed through me, I screamed as my body writhed pain and agony, soon my body was going numb, Celestia tried to help with using her magic but nothing worked, soon I lost consciousness and only here the faint screams of Celestia's voice calling my name. I came to some time later to find her crying, I told her I was ok but she didn’t respond to me, I tried to place a hoof on her shoulder but it passed right through her and that’s when I realized that I has in between worlds again but this time it felt different, this tower was there but I couldn’t touch anything as I can today and I’ve been like this ever since, so you see Twilight I believe it was what happened between me and her is why she reacted the way she has to you she doesn’t want you to go down the same path as I have, that is why I must tell you to speak with her once again and allow her to know of what I’ve told you.” Spark Shine said.

“No I can’t she banished me remember I can’t got back not ever." I told him,
he then sighed and said,

“Well if you won’t go to talk to her I guess I can be your teacher but we have to start right away to prepare for the event that I have feared will come.”

“Ok, but what event you are talking about?” I told him,
he walked over to the book turned his head to me and said,
“Because Sombra is returning.”

I gasped and said,
“What. But how he was defeated by Cadence and the crystal heart.”
Spark Shine looked up at the glowing gem and said

“No Twilight what was destroyed was nothing more than a shadow, excess magic from Sombra. Yes he was turned to shadow but over the years he has slowly getting stronger and with the crystal empire having returned he’s coming back and even more powerful than ever.”

To be continued….

Author's Notes:

Well what do you think and this is only the first part of the story the next is sure to come so look out for it