ll was silent in the realm known as the Astral Plane. The dark, red, starry atmosphere was now abundant with millions of glowing orbs, each with a curled, unconscious equine in their cores as well as various creatures that also inhabit the planet. With every passing second, hundreds more or appear and fill the endless space of the now prison dimension. In the center of it all on that floating landmass, Celestia, Luna, Arcanus, and Chrysalis hung in their places in the open dungeon created by Chthon, the three equines and Changeling Queen strung up grotesquely by the hooks embedded in their spiritual bodies. Celestia and Luna gazed up at the idly, floating orbs with distraught, weary eyes, wincing in both sadness as well as in continuous pain from the hooks in their bodies.

"Celestia..." beckoned Luna with the upmost sorrow in her voice. "Do...do you see him? Has he arrived?''

"No...no I can't,'' answered the Princess of the Sun somberly. "At least from here. There's so many of them to tell. Perhaps he didn't perish...but but right now I can't find it in my heart to be so optimistic he may still be alive...''

Luna said nothing, only casting her sister a despondent glance before shifting her weary gaze up to the crowding space.

"Just look at them…all prisoners to this gateway in between…'' Luna said dismally to her older sister.

Celestia said with a hurtful tone. "That evil monster, he…he won't even let them die properly.''

There was a painfully brief silence among the sisters before Celestia added. "And more and more keeps appearing. At this rate…the entire world will be part of this spirit prison.''

Luna gazed woefully at Celestia before slowly looking around." And Twilight Sparkle and her friends, they've had yet to appear here,'' the princess of the night spoke as she looked at the empty spaces that Chthon had made for each of the bearers of the Elements.

Celestia's gaze fell on Twilight's intended space with her cutie mark carved in the slightly transparent stone, tears beginning to form at the corner of her eyes. "Yes but, I fear that fact could change any second now.'' Celestia then looked at the red globe Chthon had conjured, the tiny specks of light that covered the continents quickly blinking out. ''At the rate the ponies and creatures of Equion are perishing, I fear it's only a matter of time before…''

Before Celestia could finish, a lump came to her throat. She bowed her head as she pinched her eyes shut, releasing tears as she wept silently at the fact of her cherished student meeting her end by the wrath of the God of Chaos. Seeing this, tears soon began to fall from Luna's own eyes as she looked away. "And so will Quentin…my first friend. It's only been such a short time…a now this evil will destroy something that we had just begun to nurture. Tis…tis isn't fair…''

As the two sisters of the sun and moon continued to weep, they were startled by a grunting sound from nearby. They look toward the direction of the sounds to see Arcanus shifting in his place as he came too. "W-What? Where?'' the aged unicorn said groggily.

"Arcanus! My friend are you ok?!'' Celestia spoke almost frantically seeing her old friend and mentor gaining consciousness.

Arcanus grunted and moaned a few more times as he slowly lifted his head to look at Celestia. Due to his battle with Chthon, Arcanus had since lost the bandages that covered his eyes, revealing pure white, pupil lacking eyes. "C-Celestia? Luna…what are ugh!'' as the unicorn tried to straighten his body up, he felt the tremendous pain that was spreading throughout his body. "W-what in Equestria?!''

"Arcanus, please try not to move as much as you can. It helps to alieve some of the pain…to an extent,'' Luna said as she gave a small wince and a grunt as she felt the pain the hooks were giving her.

Upon seeing the two regal sisters in such a gruesome position, Arcanus quickly came over his own pain and spoke in an alarmed voice. "Celestia? Luna? What in the name of Equestria has happened to you…to us?!''

The two sisters looked at each other before the frowned in angered sadness as Celestia responded simply, but gravely. "Chthon.''

At Arcanus looked at the older sister as if he was trying to comprehend what she had just told him before his face fell in weariness, but understanding as he shifted his eyes gazed towards the dungeon floor. "Yes, I…I remember. You and Luna both engaged Chthon in battle before he…''

Arcanus trailed off at his last words but Celestia and Luna understood the reasons of him doing so and they just gazed at him sorrowfully as he continued. "Then I went into battle with him. Even with my power, he defeated me with ease.'' Arcanus then gazed up at the two sisters before speaking in a dejected tone. "Please forgive me Celestia. I tried my best to protect Twilight Sparkle and her friends, but I failed in the end.''

Celestia just shook her head slowly and sadly. "Don't apologize Arcanus. You have no idea how much of a tremendous help you've been to us in these pass weeks…even if the end result came to this.''

Luna added, "My sister is right. Even with Celestia's and my power combine couldn't even faze him. His power simply exists on a plane ours could never aspire.''

"So does that mean…''

Celestia nodded as she said in gloom. "Yes Arcanus. You have perished, as did Luna and I.''

Arcanus just stared at Celestia. His expression wasn't frantic, panicking, or alarmed just…somber. Luna just looked at the two with woebegone eyes as silence fell among the three, great equines. After a few moments, Arcanus spoke up.

"Celestia, Luna…before I fought Chthon, I've seen what he's done to Ponyville, Canterlot, and the entire world. It's destroyed Celestia. It was like we've somehow entered the bowls of Hell itself.''

"So it's true then?'' Luna spoke as tears welled up in her eyes once more. "What Chthon spoke of wasn't a lie. He really have brought Armageddon onto the world.''

Celestia responded as she looked at Luna with regrettable, tear filled eyes. "Neither of us wanted to believe it Luna. However no matter how much we didn't want to believe it, we could not deny the proof that is hovering just over our heads.''

Celestia gestured her head upwards. Wanting to know what she had meant, Arcanus too casted his white veiled eyes upward to see countless orbs floating in the dark, red space, much to his shock.

"What in God's name are those?!'' the unicorn asked in alarm. Upon further observing, Arcanus asked in horror. "Are those…are those ponies in those globes?!''

Celestia and Luna said nothing, just looked away woefully. "Yes Arcanus. They are the spirits of those…who have perished due to Chthon's doing,'' Celestia answered.

Luna added drearily. "Chthon has revoked their rights to move on. And now he's holding them prisoner here in the Astral Plane.''

At their explanation, Arcanus just looked at them with a troubled, disturbed expression before gazing back up at the crimson, starry space. His face fell dolefully and he said. "How cruel…to ensnarl the soul after death…to deny them passage into the next life and damn them to be nothing more than mere collections unable to move is surly a fate worse than death.''

Celestia and Luna didn't respond, just stared up at the prisoners with wet eyes. After a moment or two of silence, the quietness was broken by the sounds of nearby moaning. Celestia, Luna, and Arcanus all shifted their eyes and immediately frowned with anger at what they were now seeing. To their disgust, Chrysalis was beginning to come to as she weakly lifted her head, her teal, wild mane moving from out of her face. With her vision beginning to clear, she said in a daze.

"W-What happened…?''

Celestia, Luna, and Arcanus said nothing, only deepened their glares as their disgust and discontent for the Changeling queen increased. Chrysalis attempted to shift her body straight up, but she gave a brief cry of pain. She quickly observed her body frantically and when she saw that she was hung up in bipedal position by hooks, she asked in alarm.

"W-What is this? What's happened to me?!''

"Wouldn't you like to know wretch!'' Luna growled in response.

Chrysalis sharply looked at Luna, then at Celestia and Arcanus. Seeing them in the same state as she was in only increased her bewildering shock. "Celestia? Luna?!'' Chrysalis said before her eyes narrowed in a dark glare. "You WILL tell me the meaning of this! What have you done to me!''

"We didn't do anything to bring about your situation Chrysalis,'' Celestia answered with a sort of seethe, with no shred of compassion or gentleness it usually held.

Chrysalis just shot the princess of the sun the dirtiest glare and spat. "You mean YOU'RE situation. When I get out of here you will be at my absolute mercy!''

With that, Chrysalis tried to use her Changeling magic, but when nothing happened, the queen let out an alarmed gasp. "W-What going on? Why isn't my magic working?!''

Arcanus answered in a bitter tone. "The reason you can't perform magic Chrysalis, is because your spirit is trapped in the world of the Astral Plane.''

Chrysalis whipped her head at the unicorn with a quizzical, outraged look. "What are you talking about? Answer me!''

"Your soul is shackled here on this plane of the in-between. You're not truly dead, but you're not truly alive either, just here…tittering on the edge of limbo,'' Arcanus said.

Chrysalis looked at Arcanus with a sort of conflicting, crazed expression as if what trying to comprehend what Arcanus had said was slowly driving her on the brink of madness. Finally she shouted at the other three trapped equines.

"Impossible! I have managed to reunite the six most powerful artifacts in the world. With their power I have become a god. How could this possible have-'' Chrysalis stopped abruptly as a revelation came to her. Celestia, Luna, and Arcanus looked at her with hateful glances as she seemingly remembered what had transpired to cause her to be trapped in this prison.

Chrysalis narrowed her eyes as she let out a low, growl. "I brought the six Cosmic Gems together when that…thing appeared!''

Celestia spoke, her voice still devoid of kindness. "That's right Chrysalis. You blindly, stupidly brought those godforsaken gems together despite out warnings which in turn revived the greatest evil Equion has ever seen. Because of your bloodlust, Equestria along with the entire world has met their end at the hands of Chthon.''

"No…no…NO! I should be invincible…all-powerful. There's no possibly way I could be dead!'' Chrysalis spat in denial.

"Wretch weren't you listening?!'' Luna said aggressively. "Because of your greed and lust for power thousands, millions are suffering. If thou don't believe me, then just look upwards and you'll see the truth!''

Chrysalis growled darkly at the princess of the night before heeding her suggesting and looked upwards in the open atmosphere. Immediately, her face fell in shock and bewilderment as she saw the countless ponies and creatures that were dormant in the orbs above. As she continued to gaze upon the idly floating spheres, Luna spoke.

"You see that? Because of you countless ponies are perishing every second. Not only that, Chthon is keeping their souls captive here...they can't even truly die!''

Chrysalis remained silent, still looking upwards with and expression of disbelief. While scanning the space above, she let out a brief gasp of horror as she saw numerous of her Changeling subjects in balls of light, eyes closed and unconscious as they floated aimlessly in the dark space. Seeing her kind in the state that they were in, she winced with narrowed eyes as she bared her fangs while giving off a low snarl.

"No…my kin. They're all…''

"Trapped, like everypony else that have or will have died in Chthon's new world,'' Arcanus finished grimly.

After a few moments, Chrysalis slowly averted her eyes to the dungeon floor. Her expression softened slightly, now bearing an angered, but now hurtful gaze. Although she was one who have shunned and mocked the very concept of love and sentimentality everything she had done in the past, every horrible act that she committed were for the preservation and survival of her subjects as well as her personal, selfish need for dominance. It was highly doubtful that Celestia, Luna, and Arcanus know it, but seeing what had become of her kind was beginning to ach her heart. After moments of silence, Chrysalis muttered.

"I…I didn't want this. This was not my intentions at all.''

Celestia spoke in anger and disgust, "No your intentions were to conquer Equestria and more. And on that quest you made ponies suffer regardless who got in your way. If circumstances were different, I'd sentenced you to languish in the pits of Tartarus for the rest of your life.''

Chrysalis didn't respond, just stared darkly away from the glares of the three trapped ponies. Celestia then looked up in the starry, red atmosphere as more than a dozen orbs with ponies inside them appeared with each second. Her eyes then widened in shock then fell in sorrow as tears began to instantly well up in her eyes as she saw the motionless body of King Centurus curled in his glowing sphere. Celestia gritted her teeth as she spoke, her voice cracking slightly.

"Because of you, friends are suffering…love ones are dying. And Twilight Sparkle…my student and her friends…they could very well meet their ends and appear here at any moment.''

Luna glared at the Changeling queen, she too had tears in her eyes. "You may have lost your subjects, but thou shall not receive sympathy from us, especially from me. You who tried and nearly killed my first, dear friend. You deserve the punishment Chthon has brought to you.''

Again Chrysalis didn't answer. However after a few moments of silence, a low chuckle sounded from the queen, causing the other three prisoners to cast bewildered frowns at her. Chrysalis' chuckle grew louder until she threw back her head as she began to laugh wickedly, almost madly. Perhaps everything that had happened up to this point finally shattered her sanity. Finally Celestia said with a small growl.

"And what could you possibly be laughing at a time like this?''

Chrysalis ceased her crazed laughter as she looked at Celestia, her mane falling wildly over her face while strands parting across her face, giving her a wild, demented look with a darkened expression. "I regret only two things: losing my subjects and kin and being killed by that abomination Chthon. However…'' a truly poisonous, vile smirk then spread across her face. "All of that haven't for a second extinguished my hatred for you. I can at least find peace knowing that you aren't as almighty as you come on to be. I can have peace…knowing full well that you're not a goddess as others may think you are!''

At her response, Luna and Arcanus shot her deathly glances. Luna was about to fiercely and aggressively retort with an outraged outburst, but Celestia spoke before her sister could, given her a firm, unyielding, darkened stare.

"Throughout my lifetime spanning a millennium I say with no ego that my sister and I have achieved great power. However, not once have we ever considered or presented ourselves as gods…we dared not procured that mantle.'' Celestia paused for a moment as a more somber expression came to her face, tears still present in her eyes. Arcanus and Luna stared at Celestia with downtrodden eyes with the latter having tears just like her sister. "I am humbled that our subjects would think of us as such celestial beings, but the truth is that we couldn't even conceive the level of power of he who truly bears that title.''

Chrysalis' malevolent smile shifted to a confused, glaring frown as Celestia continued. "There's no doubt that powerful beings exists in this world, but the truth is that there is only one 'all-powerful' deity…there is only one who is truly called a god…'' Celestia then looked up into the space of the Astral Plane as the tears began to roll down her face and said, her voice breaking a bit. "And right now…I'm trying to comprehend the lack of his presence when we need him the most right now.''

At her words, Chrysalis continued to give Celestia that bewildered leer while Arcanus turned his gaze downwards with a sort of sad glance. Luna however closed her eyes as she turned her face away from Celestia as she let her own tears fall down her face and Celestia continued to cast her sorrow filled gaze up into the space of the imprisoned souls of the perished.

Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all continued to fight their respective dark sides across the ruined, charred Ponyville. Each of them fight fiercely, even the timid, soft-spoken Fluttershy as they all literally fought for their lives. Unbeknownst to them, Chthon's dark, all-seeing eyes allowed him to keep watch over their battles, enjoying it with a cruel, sadistic smirk as if he were a spectator eagerly enjoying a brutal match between gladiators. Applejack was blown backwards by a dark red beam fired form Dark Applejack's Element, her body rolled before skidding to a halt.

The orange mare grunted as she slowly rose to her feet, her coat heavily grimed and dirtied from the intense battle she was having with her counterpart. Dark Applejack galloped towards her, a wicked smile on her face as she fired another red beam from her element. Applejack growled with narrowed eyes as her own Element glowed orange before she too fired a beam of the same color. Applejack's attack fired and met Dark Applejack's and collided into each other, causing a small explosion. Using the smoke's temporary blindness, Dark Applejack quickly darted into the haze, jumped up, and leaped towards an unprepared Applejack as she landed a hard punch to her face.

Applejack cried out in pain as she reeled backwards. However, the sinister copy wasn't done with her attack and she sharply reared before striking her good side with a powerful buck to her chest, sending her soaring in the air briefly before falling hard and painfully back on the ground. Applejack groaned, aching from the painful blow she had just took. She peered through on eye only to shoot both of them open at the sight of her doppelganger once again rushing towards her.

"Get up, I ain't done with ya yet!'' Dark Applejack called in a southern drawl as she neared the fallen earth pony, leaping into the air to drop a kick.

Applejack glared at her incoming double and snarled. "Well I'm sure as hay done with YOU!''

As Dark Applejack came down on Applejack, the latter caught her stomp before quickly brought her hind legs inward onto her attacker's belly and with her strength, threw her dark side over her. Dark Applejack gave a short cry as she landed on the ground a few feet from her original. Not wanting to let up, Applejack darted towards her dark side, ready to deliver a strong punch. Dark Applejack staggered slightly as she stood up, shaking some dirt from her face as she leered at Applejack with gritted teeth. The southern pony tried to hit her copy with a punch only for Dark Applejack to block the hit and quickly striking back with a mighty punch of her own in Applejack's stomach with a rather hollow sound.

Applejack's eyes shot open as she clenched her teeth, saliva escaping from her mouth. She winced one eye while the other was shot wide open with her green pupils small and dilated. Dark Applejack withdrew her hoof and took a few steps back, a cruel smirk on her face as Applejack fell on her knees and brought her forelegs to her abdomen. She hunched forward, she tried to breathe but couldn't…she couldn't inhale nor exhale. Finally after a few, excruciating moments, Applejack was able to let out a deep breath before she began to cough vigorously. Dark Applejack continued to give Applejack an uncaring, cold grin as she said.

"Mighty reckon that blow took yur breath away didn't it?''

Applejack only responded by coughing and breathing shallowly as she tried to catch her breath. While she kneeled on the ground, her malevolent image began to walk towards her. "There's no point tryin' ta catch yur breath. Fer any moment now ya won't be breathin' at all.''

Applejack coughed a few more times, even spitting out a wad of saliva before she lifted her head and casted a weary, but hateful glare at her counterpart and gave a low growl as she continued to make her way towards her. Dark Applejack said. "Why don't ya jus' give up? Why don't ya get it through yur pea brained mind that it's over?''

As Dark Applejack said those words, she gave Applejack a hard uppercut. The earth pony cried out as she was thrown into the air and landed on the ground. She grunted and groaned as she shifted her body as she tried to stand back up. Dark Applejack walked casually towards her as Applejack weakly lifted her upper body and peered venomously over her shoulder and said.

"I-It's not over. It'll never be over…not as long as I'm breathin' it ain't!''

Dark Applejack rolled her eyes as she walked towards her fallen good side. "Like I said before, you won't be breathin' for much longer. You'll soon be dead with the rest of yur apple rotten family.''

At those words, Applejack's anger began to bubble and fester within her as she heard the doppelganger spoke ill about her beloved family. Applejack narrowed her eyes as tears appeared in their corners and she snarled. "I told you…don't EVER talk cud 'bout my family!''

Dark Applejack only laughed. "Or what? You should be used ta it by now. First yur Pa an' Ma died and now the rest o' yur kin. Yer family jus' can't help fallen dead left an' right can they?!''

Applejack gave her dark side a dark, disgusted glare before lowering her head, her Stetson covering her eyes. She gritted her teeth as her body began to shake in anger all while tears began to stream down her face and fall to the ground. "Shut up…''

Dark Applejack smirked wickedly before suddenly darting forwards and forcibly pushed Applejack's head into the ground. The mare let out a brief cry as her head hit hard on the blackened, dirt ground. Dark Applejack pressed down on her counterpart's head harder with her hooves as she began to twist down, causing Applejack to grunt and cry in pain.

"An' when I'm done with you, I'll help kill the rest of yur friends. Won't that be excitin'?'' Dark Applejack said gleefully as she stared down at Applejack with a madly evil smile.

Applejack clenched her teeth as she tried to keep her head stiff, anger rising within her as the tears continued to fall and she snarled. "I said shut up!''

Dark Applejack then grinned down at the suffering pony and brought her head in close to Applejack's ear. Dark Applejack whispered sadistically. "An' you don't have to worry About Quentin.''

At that name Applejack's entire body became stiff and she held her breathe as Dark Applejack continued. "When yur gone I'll take good care of him. I'll make sure our first time will leave him begging and screamin'. He'll be all mine.''

That was the straw that broke the camel's back. While Dark Applejack talked, Applejack's body shook greatly from the fury that was pulsing through her body. It was one thing mocking her deceased family and blatantly, mercilessly taunting that her friends will die. She had beaten her body, intending on killing her, but it was what she said about Quentin that finally drove her over the edge. The friend that brought her and her family joy ever since he arrived in Equestria. The friend that was always there for her whenever she needed help. The friend that was able to understand the pain that ached her heart, something the very few could ever understand. Applejack didn't care what had happen to her, but she wasn't going to allow this dark reflection to get even a looking distance at Quentin…she refused it.

With a yell, Applejack used her strength to lift her head from under Dark Applejack's hoof and lashed out with a punch to her counterpart's face. Dark Applejack gave a cry as she was knocked a few feet away and landed on the ground. Instantly, Applejack leaped on all fours, whipped around and glared at Dark Applejack, breathing deeply with gritted teeth as tears rolled down her face. Dark Applejack staggered to get up as she growled threateningly. She tried to lunge at Applejack, but the orange, southern mare's Element glowed and fired a powerful orange beam at her dark side, hitting her and sending her backwards.

"I…ain't NEVER gonna let you go anywhere near Quentin!'' Applejack seethed as she advanced towards the fallen dark pony.

As Dark Applejack tried to stand back up, Applejack fired another beam from her Element, once again blasting Dark Applejack backwards with a cry. She landed on the ground, skidding before coming to a halt. Applejack spoke as she continued to come near her doppelganger. "You can humiliate me, you can beat me to a bloody pulp, but when ya mess with my friends an' family, yer just askin' ta get yur ass beat!''

Applejack fired yet another beam at Dark Applejack, the dark entity screaming as she was rocketed backwards. As Dark Applejack fell on the ground, Applejack continued to speak. "Ya call my family rotten, ya can never understand that they're the best family a mare could ask for. And my friends…'' Applejack paused as she pinched her eyes shut with a deep frown, the tears falling continuously. "My friends, they're just an extension of my family. And I will protect them by any means necessary…that's the honest truth!''

Applejack shot her eyes open and with a glare, she ran full speed at the evil clone. The greyish earth pony staggered backwards in surprise, intimidated by Applejack's quick speed. Before Dark Applejack could react, Applejack came upon her and struck her copy with a fury of punches. Dark Applejack cried out in pain as she was continually assaulted by her original self. Applejack grunted and gave brief cries as she struck Dark Applejack, the latter tottering and stumbling backwards with each punch. Finally Applejack gave Dark Applejack one last, strong punch across her dark self's jaw, causing her to shamble away from her as she tried to regain her balance and composure.

Seeing an opening, Applejack ran towards Dark Applejack and when she came close enough, Applejack quickly reared around and lifted her hind legs and pushed with all her might, her back hooves coming into contact with Dark Applejack's jaw. A sickening crack was heard as Applejack dropped her hooves. She whipped around and gazed at the dark equine with a slightly astonished, somewhat churned expression at what the outcome of her attack had produced. Dark Applejack's head was on backwards. Applejack had snapped her copy's neck with that buck. Dark Applejack stared away from her good side, an empty, blank expression on her face as her red eyes rolled to the back of her head, leaving nothing but a blackened veil. After a few, mere seconds, Dark Applejack collapsed and fell on the ground. However, almost immediately after touching the ground, Dark Applejack erupted into a beam of crimson light as it began to fly wildly into the air. Applejack watched on in confusion and alarm as the beam suddenly went back down and entered painlessly into Applejack's chest. The mare gasped in fright, running a hoof over the area the beam had entered. After realizing she felt no ill aftereffects from the impact, Applejack gazed around and when she had seen no trace of her wicked image, she sighed in exhaustion but relieved as she closed her eyes wearily, her battle having finally come to an end.

Rainbow Dash and Dark Rainbow Dash fought fiercely as they flew through the air. At unbelievable speeds, they two Pegasi matched each other blow for blow through the fire tinted skies. At a point, Rainbow Dash struck her double with a powerful kick, sending her higher into the skies. With a yell, the rainbow maned Pegasus attempted to follow up with another strike. However, Dark Rainbow Dash had quickly regained her bearings and before her good side could hit her again, her dark Element glowed a crimson red and fired a beam of energy at Rainbow Dash, hitting her. The bold pony cried out as she was rocketed back towards earth and crashed into the ground in a brief red explosion.

Rainbow Dash grunted in pain as she shifted her body. Her coat became increasingly grimed, patches of charred fur was visible as light smoke emitted from her sleek body from the attack she had just sustained. With gritted teeth, Rainbow Dash slowly but surely lifted her upper body until she was sitting in an upright position. Dark Rainbow Dash, with her impressive speed, flew back down towards the ground and stopped a few feet of her downed original, hovering above the ground with a dark grin on her face as she crossed her forelegs.

"Teh, is that all you've got. So much for being the 'most awesome pony in Equestria'.''

At this, Rainbow glared at her dark side and gave a low growl before quickly flying at her with a cry. Rainbow tried to land a punch, but Dark Rainbow Dash simply turned her body and evaded the hit only to immediately counter with a strong punch to Rainbow Dash's abdomen. Rainbow gave a short pained cry as she fell back on the ground, clutching her stomach as her body curled slightly. Seeing her good side in pain, Dark Rainbow Dash gave a short snort and said curtly.

"Yeah, that's what I thought!''

She then reached down and grabbed Rainbow Dash by a foreleg and spun her around furiously for a few moments before releasing her. Rainbow Dash screamed as she was flung a great distance and skidded on the black dirt ground until coming to a stop. Rainbow Dash laid on the cold ground motionlessly before she finally began to fidget as she tried to get back up. Upon hitting the ground, she received scrapes and cuts and she winced and clenched her teeth in pain as she struggled to get up.

"C'mon…get up. Damn it get up!'' Rainbow Dash urged herself through her teeth.

Rainbow Dash brought a back leg up as the other remained on the ground, one foreleg resting on the knee of her back leg as she came to a kneeling position. As she watched Rainbow Dash struggle, Dark Rainbow Dash laughed before speaking mockingly.

"Yeah get up, just so I can beat your sorry ass back down!''

Rainbow Dash narrowed her rose colored eyes deeply and spoke with snarl, "The only sorry ass that going to get kicked it yours bitch!''

With a slight stagger, Rainbow Dash flew towards her dark copy, brought a hoof back and tried to deliver a punch to her face. However, Dark Rainbow Dash again simply turned her body and evaded the attack. Thought caught off guard by the evasive move, Rainbow Dash nevertheless skidded in the air, whipped around and made another attempt to hit Dark Rainbow Dash with a fury of punches. With a dark, smug grin, Dark Rainbow Dash blocked all of them and after countering the last punch, she delivered a quick double punch to the sided of Rainbow Dash face. Rainbow Dash grunted from the punched before receiving a hard kick in the stomach, sending the cyan Pegasus backwards and falling to the ground back first.

Rainbow Dash gave a loud cry as she landed on her hurt, singed wings, folding it inwards as she grabbed it with a hoof. "Crud, that hurts!'' Rainbow Dash winced in pain.

Dark Rainbow Dash hovered casually towards her good side, a foreleg on her hips while the other hung freely to her side. "Just give it up. Can't you see that you can't beat me?''

Rainbow Dash glared at her doppelganger and spoke with a hateful tone, "Like hell I would ever lose to some fake!''

Rainbow Dash swallowed all the pain she was experience and lunged at her living demon, but before she could land an attack, her wicked double caught her with a lariat, her foreleg meeting Rainbow's neck and the dark Pegasus forced Rainbow Dash to the ground. Rainbow hit the ground painfully with the back of her head. By some miracle the impact didn't knock her unconscious, but it still inflicted a searing pain and left her in a slight daze.

"Did that feel fake chump?'' Dark Rainbow Dash asked, gazing down at Rainbow with a dark smirk.

Rainbow Dash shook her head to clear herself of her stunned state and gave Dark Rainbow Dash a deep frown as her image flew down closer to her. "Just stay down and die. Just get it through that dumb head of yours that ya don't stand a chance against your better half!''

Rainbow Dash let out a short growl before crying out to land a punch to her evil twin, but Dark Rainbow Dash easily blocked the punch and delivered a right hook right to Rainbow Dash's muzzle. Rainbow instantly fell back onto the ground with a brief cry, slapping her hooves to her nose and covering it. The taste of iron soon came to her mouth as she felt a warm liquid running off her hooves as her nose began to bleed from the punch. Rainbow Dash breathed heavily as she turned her head towards the ground in an attempt to let the blood drain out. Dark Rainbow Dash laughed out and taunted.

"Will ya look at that? We got a leakin' pony over here!''

As Dark Rainbow Dash continued laughing, her good half turned her head and gave Dark Rainbow Dash a deathly glare, her teeth gritted as blood continued to dribble from her nostril and down her face. The cruel copy ceased her laughing and gazed down at Rainbow with a contemptuous grin and said.

"Yeah yours is the same color as mine punkass. Let's see how it tastes like.''

Before Rainbow Dash could react, Dark Rainbow Dash took a hoof and forced Rainbow's head hard, face first in the small puddle of blood that had formed. Rainbow Dash writhed and grunted loudly as her muzzle was forcibly being twisted into the dirt, her mouth and nose being filled with the smell and taste of her own blood. As she pushed down on Rainbow's head, Dark Rainbow Dash smiled madly until finally she released Rainbow Dash head. The rainbow haired Pegasus breathed in deeply as she tried to catch her breath, spitting out blood that had gotten into her mouth.

"Nothing like the taste of ol' natural iron to quench your thirst huh?!'' Dark Rainbow Dash jeered. "Kinda hard to take down huh? Not as smooth as cider is it?'' the dark Pegasus continued, getting closer to her face.

Rainbow Dash peered over her shoulder before suddenly spitting blood in Dark Rainbow Dash's face. The grey unicorn looked unfazed, giving Rainbow Dash a cold frown while the latter stared at her with a scornful glare. Dark Rainbow Dash calmly whipped the blood from her face before spitting a larger glob of saliva right back in Rainbow's face, causing her to recoil in disgust. Dark Rainbow Dash smirked wickedly.

"Well lookie here, I guess I win. I mean why shouldn't I? I DID beat you in a fight after all.''

"You did NOT beat me!'' Rainbow Dash responded darkly. "I'm not out yet!''

Dark Rainbow Dash laughed out, "C'mon! Give it up. The better side won. I know you hate losing, but the proud, tough girl act is just looking real petty and pathetic now! And your wimpy friends are even worse!''

Rainbow Dash shifted with a grunt and looked at her image with bold, unyielding narrowed eyes as she spoke. "It's not an act. I don't let anypony push me around like I'm some pussy. And I told you never to talk shit about my friends again. I've always came through for them before and I'm sure as hell not gonna start now!''

Dark Rainbow Dash said with a calm, dark leer. "Yeah, just like you've came through for Scootaloo.''

Instantly Rainbow Dash froze in her place as she bore a shocked expression on her face from those words. Dark Rainbow Dash continued. "That little pea brained brat who's always chasing after you, idolizing you turned to stone and died because you were there to protect her. Some hero!''

Rainbow Dash said nothing, just continued to stare at her dark side with an astonished, slightly frowning expression. "I mean really! Little chicken Scootaloo was so hopeless she couldn't even fly! Now that's such an epic fail of a Pegasus!'' Dark Rainbow Dash continued to mock and laugh.

That laughter…that horrible, degrading, careless laughter rang in Rainbow Dash's ears as she thought of that little, tomboyish filly Scootaloo. Rainbow Dash slowly turned her head away from her doppelganger, pinching her eyes shut as tears started to form in the corners. She gritted her teeth as her face fell into a deep, resentful frown. In truth ever since that day when Scootaloo asked Rainbow Dash to take her under her wing and become like something of a big sister to her, Rainbow Dash held a certain fondness for her in her heart. Scootaloo looked up to her, idolized her almost to the point of worship, all in the hopes of one day being just like her…how a little sister would act towards a big sister she greatly admired. And Rainbow Dash, whether she would admit it or now, actually loved her as a little sister, and now she was gone…forever encased in stone.

With these thoughts racing in her mind, tears began to seep down Rainbows face and fall to the ground. Dark Rainbow Dash went on in the cruel, mocking tone. "The little reject sure is dumb. She should've pick a better 'big sister' who would've been there to save her. I mean what kind of a big sister would let their 'little sister' die?!''

"I swear to god bitch if you don't shut up…'' Rainbow Dash seethed, her body shaking in both anger and sadness.

Dark Rainbow Dash just gave a wide, evil smile and said. "It's the truth! The great Rainbow Dash, so called best flier in all of Equestria couldn't even save a little filly! And don't get me started on your friends. You're just sitting here helpless as they die one by one at this very moment…if they're not dead already!''

Rainbow Dash's body quivered even more at the mention of her friends even possibly dying. Rainbow didn't say a word, just laid they, shaking as her rage continued to build up. Dark Rainbow Dash stood over her, taking pure delight in the anger a hurt she was dealing to her good side as she spoke.

"The 'awesome' Rainbow Dash, she can't even save your sorry excuse for friends let alone herself. And don't worry…'' the dark Pegasus drew closer to Rainbow Dash's bowed head as she spoke with a soft, but malignant tone. "I know how much ya just dying to tell Quentin the true, but you're not gonna live to tell him. Too bad, so sad.''

Rainbow Dash's body flinched at the very mention of the human turned stallion's name. Her eyes widened in alarm, but sill kept furrowed as tears still fell down her face. Dark Rainbow Dash continued. "But no biggy. You may not get to know how it feels to plow an earth pony, but believe me I will. I'll ride him till the cows come home…all while he's dying his last breathes. Ol' Q and I, we'll have one HELL of a time!''

Rainbow Dash couldn't take it anymore. She slowly lifted her head and stared right into the dark eyes of her twin, her own, rose colored eyes filled with burning ferocity. With the mention of Quentin, Rainbow Dash's mind couldn't help but race with images of things that she'd done with him up until now. She remembered the day she first crashed into him, the time Quentin and her had that sparring match in the dojo. Rainbow Dash remembered him almost being choked to death by Chrysalis and her changelings, as well as remembering that magical night where she flew through the skies with Quentin holding tightly by her side. A final image of Quentin appeared in her mind, him lying on the ground in the corridor back in the ruined palace at Canterlot. The very thought of this…thing participating in such disturbing, intimate acts caused the final fuse in her mind and heart to snap.

Dark Rainbow Dash gazed down at Rainbow and smirked that smug, sinful grin. "But first, I'm gonna knock all your teeth out. Ya definitely won't need them where you're about to go!''

With that, Dark Rainbow Dash pulled a foreleg back as she prepared for a heavy punch. With her attack ready, she quickly sprang her hoof forward, aiming for Rainbow Dash's mouth when suddenly the cyan pony blocked the punch. Dark Rainbow Dash's boastful grin dissolved into a grimace, her teeth bared as her eye twitched a bit. Rainbow Dash just stared with an unwavering, bold, furious glare, her teeth clenched as a trail of tears rolled down her eyes while she took slow, deep breathed. Rainbow's hoof shook as she blocked her double's punch until in a blink of an eye she retaliated with a powerful uppercut to Dark Rainbow Dash's chin.

The duplicate cried out in pain as she was sent upwards into the dark skies. Without hesitation, Rainbow Dash burst forth off the ground, a rainbow trailed vapor following her as she flew towards Dark Rainbow Dash. In no time, Rainbow Dash had caught up to her depraved copy and before Dark Rainbow Dash could react, she was suddenly bombarded with a series of punches from Rainbow Dash. The infuriated Rainbow Dash delivered blow after blow to her counterpart's face, never one letting up or giving her an opportunity to strike back as she took her further up into the skies. While Rainbow Dash attack, specks of blood flew from Dark Rainbow Dash's mouth and nose as Rainbow Dash seethed.

"There's…no…bucking…way…I'll ever…let you lay…a hoof on him!''

The two Pegasi continued to rise higher into the fiery atmosphere as Rainbow Dash spoke, going on with her wrath. "You think I'm just gonna sit back and let you pound on me? You think I'm just gonna stand by and let you threaten my friends and let you win? Well you're dead wrong you bitch. I'll NEVER let somepony working for a horse dick bastard like Chthon ever win!''

With one, last, robust punch, Rainbow Dash sent Dark Rainbow Dash rocketing ahead of her through the air, her face bloodied and bruised form the blows she had sustained. With gritted teeth and the fierce determination and will to win, Rainbow Dash let out a burst of speed and caught back up to Dark Rainbow Dash, grabbing her around the neck before redirecting her, taking her back down towards the earth. Rainbow Dash carried her image downwards, her speed increasing significantly with each passing second as the air around them began to form a semicircular shape. As she the two continued to rapidly increase speed, small sparks of electricity crackled along the brim of the semicircle until the pressurized air shifted and took the form of a cone, faint colors of the spectrum and electricity rippling through it. Tears flew from Rainbow Dash's eyes from the wind of the intense speed as Dark Rainbow Dash screamed in terror.

Then it happened. With a final yell from Rainbow Dash, she pushed her limited and let out a last minute expulsion of speed and burst through the cone. As she did so, a massive, vibrant and brilliant wave of rainbows burst forth and rippled through the air as Rainbow Dash rocketed at supersonic speeds towards the earth, taking Dark Rainbow Dash with it, the rainbow trail behind them now sparkling. Rainbow Dash had performed the impossible, a phenomenon that was only known and talked about in legends…the Sonic Rainboom. As Rainbow Dash broke the sound barrier, it seemed like mere seconds when she finally took Dark Rainbow Dash and at last collided into the ground. Upon impact, another rainbow ripple burst throughout the air as a rainbow colored explosion erupted. An enormous, rainbow mushroom cloud formed from the explosion as powerful winds destroyed what was left of some of the ruined cottages that were near the area.

The ground shook greatly, as if struck by a mighty earthquake as a low rumble filled the air. It did not take long however for the explosion to vanish in the moment, as the multicolored smoke around the area began to steadily dissipate. All was quiet, the rumbles having finally disappeared and the smoke was parting to slowly reveal the outcome of the Sonic Rainboom. Rainbow Dash and Dark Rainbow Dash were now laying in a small crater, with the dark grey Pegasus on the bottom, used as a sort of cushion for Rainbow Dash. Rainbow Dash was still for a moment before she shifted, letting out a groan as she started to lift her body from her dark side. Rainbow shook her head off of dust and disorientation before looking down at Dark Rainbow Dash with an astounded, furrowed frown. Dark Rainbow Dash was laying sprawled in the bottom of the crater. Her eyes were completely blackened, her pupils having rolled to the back of her head while streaks of blood running from her eyes, nose, mouth, and ears. She laid there, motionless that smug, devilish smile she bore no longer present and replaced by a blank, empty expression.

With a soft glare, Rainbow Dash pushed herself of her copy and backed away a few feet. She stared down at the lifeless doppelganger for a few moments before spitting on her face. Almost instantly after the gesture, Dark Rainbow Dash burst in a dark red light, causing Rainbow Dash to jump back in surprise. The light turned into a beam the streamed and flew wildly in the sire above the brazen Pegasus before finally flying quickly back down towards Rainbow Dash, flying and disappearing painlessly into her Element and chest. Rainbow quickly observed herself with a bewildered, glower on her face. She looked to the spot where her counterpart once laid and seeing that she had won her fight, Rainbow Dash let out a relived, but aggressive breath as she muttered. "Good riddance.''

Rarity ran towards Dark Rarity, her diamond shape Element glowing brilliantly as she fired a purple colored beam from it. With a dark smirk, Dark Rarity countered by firing a dark red beam from her own corrupted Element, going through the air before colliding with Rarity's attack causing a small red and purple explosion. Rarity shielded her eyes from the winds of the aftershock. The beautiful unicorn peered through her hoof only to be caught off guard by Dark Rarity lunging form the smoke and hitting her across the face with a punch. Rarity cried out as she was knocked backwards and landing on the ground. Dark Rarity continued her assault by running towards the fallen Rarity as her horn glowed a billowing crimson aura. Rarity was then covered in the same colored aura as she was lifted up before rushing towards the caster of the spell.

Rarity shrieked as she flew towards her darker half, not taking more than a hundredth of a second to reach Dark Rarity only for her to be victim of a buck to the chest form the dark, vile unicorn. And Rarity hurtled backwards before she once again found herself landing on the ground, rolling once or twice before skidding to a stop. Dark Rarity smirked a sort of refined wickedness as she casually started towards her good side as she struggled to get up.

"Oh come now darling, don't tell me you're losing your vigor already? You're actually, almost starting to become an adequate opponent,'' Dark Rarity said.

Rarity gazed up at Dark Rarity and shot a hate filled glare at her as she responded, "Well 'darling', you're actually, almost starting to become an annoyance!''

With that outburst, Rarity sprang up and galloped towards her personified darkness. As she did so, her horn glowed a light blue. A worn down, charred wooden wagon she ran passed was then engulfed with the same colored aura and Rarity used her magic to lift it into the air and as she skidded to a halt, she whipped her head forward with jerk and a cry, sending the wagon soaring towards Dark Rarity. Dark Rarity merely smirked smugly as her Element glowed a dark red and fired a crimson beam of magic energy towards the wagon, destroying it on contact. Using the resulting smoke to her advantage, Rarity ran through it, all while using her magic to lift the wagon's two wheels that had flown off to follow her. The grimed and cut unicorn burst through the smoke, catching Dark Rarity off guard and before the loathsome entity could react, Rarity began to assault her repeatedly with the two wheels.

"Take…that…you…wretched reflection!'' Rarity seethed as she continued to strike Dark Rarity continuously with the wheels, forcing her backwards with pained grunts and cries.

With one final strike, Rarity commanded both wheels to hit Dark Rarity in the face, shattering them to pieces and causing her to flail backwards. As Dark Rarity fumbled about to regain her balance, Rarity clenched her teeth as her Element fired a purple beam at her counterpart, hitting her and firing her backwards towards a cottage. It took less than a minute before the creaming Dark Rarity crashed through the broken door of the crumbing cottage and disappeared inside. Still not satisfied with her attack, Rarity quickly rushed forward before sliding to a stop a few feet of the cottage. Her horn glowed that billowing light blue aura as did the crack filled walls supporting the cottage. Rarity needn't even had to put forth much effort before the walls' cracks streaked about before finally crumbling down, causing the rest of the cottage to collapse with a loud crash and filling the area with dense smoke.

Rarity stared at the mound of debris with furrowed eyes for a moment or two and when she saw no trace of her evil copy, she let out a tiring, but relieved sight. "Finally, that horrible fabrication is no more.''

Rarity turned to leave, taking a slightly, stumbling step as she did so before she stopped dead in her tracks as she her a low rumbling sound. She whipped back around to find the mound shaking, debris falling to the ground as it did so. Rarity continued to look at the shaking pile with a bewildered, cautious expression before a red light burst from the pile, scattering parts of the destroyed cottage in all directions. Rarity covered herself to avoid the debris and when she looked up, her eyes widened in horror as she saw Dark Rarity standing among what's left of the cottage, her horn aglow with a billowing red aura with the most sinister smile on her face.

"W-What?!" Rarity exclaimed in fright, taking a step backwards. "Y-You're still alive?! But…but an entire cottage fell upon you?!''

Dark Rarity let out a light giggle, beginning to advance towards Rarity. "Well sweetie, that might have been able to finish off a regular pony but there's just one, little dilemma existing there…I'm no regular pony.''

As the dark unicorn continued towards Rarity, large pieces of wreckage engulfed in a red aura floated around Dark Rarity. "Though I must admit that last attack you've performed had a sense of bravura to it. I think I have a go at it, if you don't mind though something tells me that you will.''

Rarity didn't have a moment's chance to think or react when Dark Rarity galloped towards her and in a few quick seconds, her dark side used her magic to savagely attack her with the pieces of debris of the cottage. Left, right, up, down Rarity's head jerked violently as she was hit in the face with large pieces of wood, plastered stone, and pegs. For what seemed like a cruel, excruciating eternity, Dark Rarity finally threw her current weaponry to the side and delivered a finishing blow to her good counterpart, firing a dark red magical blast form her horn, hitting Rarity and causing her to soar backwards, her body sliding on the ground before coming to a stop.

Rarity laid sprawled on the ground. Her lovely face now tainted with grime and bruised from her demon's attack. Blood trickled down from her nose, a trail of mascara staining her face. Rarity gave a light groan as she tried to move her body. Dark Rarity walked towards the beaten Rarity with an elegant, but dreadful grin on her face.

"Well that certainly was invigorating wasn't it? Such a glorious rush wouldn't you say?!"

Rarity only responded by weakly lifting her head and giving Dark Rarity a weary glare, gritting her teeth. She shakily brought a foreleg up as she attempted to stand up. "Well maybe not for you obviously but moi, I feel just marvelous!'' Dark Rarity said before continuing. "If it's any consolation, you won't have to worry about your appearance anymore. What I'm about to do to you, it would only prove unavailing in the long run.''

Rarity growled under her breath as she slowly began to rise from the ground. "Like I said before, the state of my appearance isn't what's important to me, especially not now of all times!''

At this, Dark Rarity let out an amused, dark laugh. "Really now? Then by all means dearie I implore you, what is the most important thing to you right now?''

As Rarity proceeded to slowly, but surely stand on all fours, she gave her wicked doppelganger a cold, tiring gaze. "Right now, the most important thing to me…are my friends.''

Dark Rarity replied with a taunt, rolling her eyes. "Oh please, those droll, uncouth, mangy lot? Surely you could think of things even remotely better right now?

"I wouldn't dare think of anything else for they are without a doubt the most important ponies I know, and if it means to help them, then I refuse to give up!'' Rarity said.

Dark Rarity clicked her tongue in annoyance and said. "Why do you persists so? Don't you know you're already finished? You've been beaten before we even started this little competition, and yet you still continue to defy Lord Chthon's glorious will.''

"There's…there's NOTHING glorious about that wretched beast! He who finds pleasure in others' pain, their misery…Chthon is nothing more than the same brand of filthy cockroaches that my friends and I have encountered in the past!''

At her comment, Dark Rarity's face in an angered frowned and she suddenly went upon Rarity, raised a hoof, and forced her head down in the blackened dirt. Rarity let out a brief cry as her head hit the hard ground, her copy's hoof pressing down hard on her head. Dark Rarity spoke with an acrimonious tone.

"Don't you dare speak as cross word against my master! You're not even fit to even speak his name!'' Dark Rarity pressed down harder on her good side's head, causing her to scream out. Dark Rarity continued, a malevolent smirk spreading across her face. "But nothing to fret about, because I'm about to end this here and now.''

As the cruel unicorn added extra pressure to Rarity's head, the latter cried out louder. Such pain, such terrible pain. Rarity felt like her skull would crack at any moment from the pressure as her dark side added more and more with each passing second. Tears began to form from the corners of Rarity's pinched shut eyes. Dark Rarity just stood above her, smiling cruelly as she savored the pain she was inflicting upon Rarity.

"How does it feel? Knowing that you're on the very verge of death? Not very pleasant by the sounds of your screaming.''

Rarity peered through one eye as she gritted her teeth, trying her hardest to fight off the pain as she glared hatefully up at the grey unicorn. Dark Rarity spoke, vileness in her tone. "Aw what's the matter sweetie? Do you hate me? Are you angry? Why, is it because your precious mane was ruined? Is it because you lost a fight that you couldn't win in the first place?''

Rarity's mouth began to quiver, still clenching her teeth as he body began to tremble. "I…I am angry…'' she spoke softly through her teeth.

Dark Rarity grinned horribly. "Ah I knew it. No doubt finally realizing how silly it was trying to persevere. Knowing that in the end, all of your frivolous and pointless pursuits in life meant nothing…just like those worthless friends of yours.''

Rarity let out a growl as she heard that comment. Dark Rarity's words had cut her deep, deeper than any blade could ever had down. Rarity had endured a tremendous beating from Dark Rarity, but enough was enough. She was fed up with her counterpart's constant taunting. She was fed up with the never ending insults. But most of all, she was fed up with Dark Rarity's mocking of her feelings she was experiencing due to the drastic shift in the world she had once knew. She had took it all in her fight…but no more.

From out of nowhere, she gained a newfound strength as her horn was engulfed in that light blue, billowing aura. The aura glowed brighter and brighter, catching Dark Rarity off guard. "W-What?!'' the dark unicorn exclaimed in shock.

Dark Rarity didn't have a chance to react before an azure colored explosion erupted, sending her screaming as she hurled backwards. She rolled on the ground before coming to a stop. She shook her head furiously before looking up with a quizzical, aggressive frown, her mane hanging unkempt over her face to see Rarity standing up on all fours. Rarity stood with her head lowered slightly, her breathing long and shallow as she bore the most rage filled expression one could see, her strong, azure eyes brimming with tears. After a couple more breaths, Rarity spoke, her Element glowing a brilliant purple as she spoke.

"You want to know why I'm angry. I'll tell you!''

She then fired a purple beam from her Element, hitting Dark Rarity and sending her backwards with a cry. Rarity advanced towards her as she said. "I'm angry because I'm in a hellish world full of nothing but anguish and grief!''

Rarity fired another beam of magic towards her doppelganger, once again hitting her and sending her crying backwards and hitting the ground. She whipped her head upwards and casted a maddening, dark glare at Rarity with gritted teeth as her good side continued advancing towards her.

"I'm angry because that evil, death bringing abomination Chthon destroyed my home. Killed my love ones!'' Rarity spoke out in anger, tears streaming down her face.

Rarity fired yet another beam at Dark Rarity, again blasting her further backwards with her body sliding on the ground. She weakly started to stand up, giving a low snarl as she looked up at Rarity. "But most of all, I'm angry for all your condemnation towards my friends. My six, wonderful, most precious friends. I won't stand idly by as you prattle on about how worthless they are…how they will die. Messing with me is one thing, but when you mess with my friends, I'll rip you to pieces!''

With a yell, Rarity fired one final beam at her dark side, sending her rocketing backwards before colliding hard back first against a wall of a shambled cottage. Before Dark Rarity's body could slide down onto the ground, Rarity horn glowed as she used her magic to lift up three large pieces of wood, their ends exposing sharp points. Without hesitation, Rarity willed one of the pieces of wood towards Dark Rarity. In less than five seconds, the thrown wood came to Dark Rarity, one embedding itself into the foreleg of Dark Rarity. The grey unicorn let out an anguished cry, the wood stabbing through and into the wall, stopping her from falling as blood poured from around the wood and down onto the ground. Not letting up for a second, Rarity used her magic to send another piece of wood towards the pinned unicorn, using her body as a sheath of some sort as it impaled itself in her abdomen. Again, Dark Rarity cried out in excruciating pain as she bought her free hoof over the wood, attempting to pull it out. Rarity gave Dark Rarity one, final animus glare and with clenched teeth, she used her magic to flung the final piece of wood at her dark counterpart. It wasn't long before the wood had flown through the air before finally lodging itself right in the center of Dark Rarity's forehead. Upon being struck, Dark Rarity's dark eyes shot wide open, her red pupils became small. With her head pinned back, Dark Rarity hung there, mouth slightly ajar, her body only supported by the three pieces of wood that were stuck through her body and into the wall, blood oozing profusely from the wounds, trailing down her body and dripping onto the ground. Seeing the lifeless body of her other half hung motionlessly on the wall, Rarity relaxed a bit, the aura vanishing from her horn when suddenly Dark Rarity exploded in a flash of red light, the bloodstained woods falling to the ground. Rarity gasped in alarm as the red light streamed wildly in the air before coming back down and soaring right into Rarity's chest. Shaken by what had just transpired, Rarity frantically observed herself only to find nothing wrong with. Rarity looked at where her dark side had been pinned and when she saw no trace of her she let out a deep breath as the last of her tears streamed down her face. "Finally…thank heavens.''

Dark Pinkie Pie laughed out maniacally as she relentlessly tried to slash Pinkie Pie, the knife in her mouth. With each slash, Pinkie would evade the strike, her face that one bore a terrified, pessimistic expression now had a determined, dauntless look. After seeing her strikes unsuccessful, Dark Pinkie Pie lunged at her good side, intending to stab her in the chest with a demented grin. Pinkie Pie was quick once again and before the point of the blade could touch her, the pink pony slid under her doppelganger, caught her tail in her mouth, and swung her around before releasing her, sending her screaming across the destroyed lobby of Sugarcube Corner.

Dark Pinkie Pie landed on the floor, crashing into chairs and tables, losing her knife. After shaking off some dizziness, Dark Pinkie stood up and turned to Pinkie Pie, giving off a low growl when suddenly she was hit square in the face with a whole cake. Dark Pinkie Pie cried in shock as her face was covered in cake batter and frosting. She whipped off some of the cake and shot an irritated glare at her good side to see Pinkie Pie standing behind a cannon. The cannon was a light blue color with a pink wheel at each side of the base, both with the image of a yellow flower at the center of both wheels. On top of the opposite end of the open barrel was a red button, with Pinkie having a hoof over it ready to us as she bore a serious, clenched teethed frown.

Dark Pinkie Pie once again let out an irritable snarl and made a motion towards Pinkie Pie, only for the latter to push the button continuously for four time. With each press, a cake fired out of the cannon with a loud boom resembling noise makers, with each cake hitting their target in the face, causing them to splatter and fall to the floor. Finally having enough of the sugary onslaught, Dark Pinkie Pie cried out in frustration and spat. "Do you really think you can win by giving me cake?!''

Pinkie Pie furrowed her eyes further and growled. "I'm assaulting you with cake. There's no way I'd give somepony as mean and depraved as you cake!''

Dark Pinkie Pie frown turned into a dark grin as she responded, "Good, because I don't want these kinds of cake anyway. I'll just have to teach you the proper way to bake…while I kill you of course.''

Pinkie Pie gave her dark side a disgusted look before firing another five rounds of cake at her. However this time around, Dark Pinkie Pie evaded all five cakes and after dodging the last, she ran towards a fallen table and dived behind it. Seeing the opportunity, Pinkie Pie took out a pie with a fuse sticking out of the dough casing, lit as it sparked downwards towards the dough. Pinkie Pie then flung the lit pie towards the table her counterpart had hid behind and in a few mere seconds, the pie exploded, scattering wood and blueberry filling everywhere.

Pinkie Pie shielded herself from the blast and when it was over, she peered over only to give a surprised gasp. The pie bomb had destroyed the table, but Dark Pinkie Pie was nowhere to be seen among the pastry covered area. The only thing that was present was a mysterious black hole. "W-What?! No way! Where did she go?!'' Pinkie Pie shrieked, looking around frantically.

"Gee, that IS a mystery isn't it?'' a voice suddenly spoke behind her.

Pinkie Pie jumped in surprise and she whipped around only to be struck with a punch from Dark Pinkie Pie. Pinkie let out a cry as she was flown backwards and sliding to a stop just in front of the black hole. Dark Pinkie Pie grinned sinisterly as she cracked her neck. Pinkie groaned as she shook her head to shake off the pained feeling of the punch and asked.

"B-But, where did you come from? How did you get from here to there behind me?!''

The dark counterpart giggled and answered, "Easy, with the help of these.''

Dark Pinkie then reached behind her and pulled out a paintbrush and a palette with only two colors, red and black. Pinkie Pie just looked at her dark side with a deeply confused look. "What does paint have to do with it?''

Dark Pinkie Pie rolled her eyes and ridiculed. "My gosh you're stupid. I painted a hole in the ground and when I was done, I jumped into it and came up and clocked you one. Simple enough for you?''

Pinkie Pie still looked lost and she turned her attention to the supposedly painted on hole in the ground. "You mean you…painted this? But, huh?!''

The pink pony stopped just as she brought a hoof to the hole, expecting to feel the ground but to her surprise, her hoof when into the drawn hole. Pinkie then gazed at Dark Pinkie Pie with a truly quizzical, silent stare as the grey earth pony said. "Aw speechless? Well you'll soon be after I'm finished with you.''

Dark Pinkie Pie threw her paintbrush and palette to the side and ran towards her original, with the most demented smile on her face. Alarmed by the sudden charge, Pinkie Pie looked back and forth from Dark Pinkie Pie and the black hole in the ground and with only one thought in mind, she dived into the drawing and disappeared before Dark Pinkie could land an attack. Seeing her other side had disappeared, Dark Pinkie Pie stopped in front of the hole, only to grin wickedly. She then took a nearby chair and flung it with all her strength behind her, just as Pinkie Pie came out of the other hole and was hit directly with the chair. The pink pony cried out and was knocked back painfully to the ground as the chair shattered to pieces.

With that same, twisted smile, Dark Pinkie Pie started to walk towards the falling Pinkie Pie, the latter giving off slight whimpers of pain as she shifted her body. "Though you were gonna use my trick to get away did you? Well guess again.'' Dark Pinkie Pie said, her dark eyes on her counterpart.

Pinkie Pie tried to stand, but when she began to move, Dark Pinkie Pie ran forward and stomped on Pinkie Pie's bad leg, causing her to scream in agony. Pinkie instantly brought her legs to her hooves in an attempt to soothe it, gritting her teeth as tears appeared in her eyes. Seeing her in pain, Dark Pinkie Pie laughed out cruelly before speaking.

"Now that's the sound I love to hear. They said the laughter is the best sound anypony could hear, but they're dead wrong. Its screams of aguish that can't be beat!''

Pinkie Pie peered through one eye, completely disgusted with her dark side's belief and she spoke, "Why…why do you have to look like me? I want nothing to do with a sick, vile pony like you!''

"Well I came from the darkest reaches of your heart. I'm who you're truly are,'' Dark Pinkie Pie answered.

At this, Pinkie Pie shook her head as she lifted her upper body up and argued fiercely. "NO! You're wrong! All I want is happiness and joy. All I want is to spread smiles and laughter. You want nothing but pain and suffering…something that I wouldn't even dream about inflicting. All I want…'' Pinkie Pie then looked downwards as tears rolled down her face. "All I want…is to be with my friends.''

Again, Dark Pinkie Pie laughed out darkly and spoke. "What friends?! You mean the ones that are cold stone? The ones that are dead? Face it, everypony that were your friends in Ponyville is gone!''

Pinkie Pie bowed her head and gritted her teeth as she pinched her eyes shut, her tears flowing more fluidly. "No…you're wrong.''

Dark Pinkie then grinned fiendishly at Pinkie Pie and said, "And if you're talking about those five losers of 'friends' then don't bother, they'll soon meet the same fate as the others.''

"S-Stop…saying…my friends…are going to die!'' Pinkie Pie said, sniffing and breathing heavily through her tears on the verge of completely breaking down.

Dark Pinkie Pie looked down at the weeping Pinkie with the most sinister smirk and spoke, "Well it's the truth! It's the very reason why Lord Chthon called us…why should he bother with the likes of you when we could gladly do the job and plus…'' Dark Pinkie Pie giggled before continuing, reaching behind her a taking out a knife. "I still haven't forgotten my plans for my tasty treats.''

Pinkie Pie held her breath as she looked wide eyed at the ground, a trail of tears running down her face as she listened to her darker half. "I've wasted too much time with you already and I have a party planned. So when I'm done with you, I'm gonna go gather up the rest of your friends…cause I can't make the best cupcakes in the world without the special ingredients. Who knows…maybe I let you live long enough to watch me as I cut them up into little pieces and bake them, then we'll see how you hold up being the Element of Laughter.''

Pinkie Pie just stayed silent, silent as the horrible words of her dark doppelganger replayed repeatedly in her mind. While she sat there, Dark Pinkie Pie walked towards her, a disturbing, macabre smile across her face as she swayed her body. Pinkie seemed to pay no mind to Dark Pinkie's approach. Soon, Pinkie Pie's body began to shake as she lowered her head, the sparkling liquid that were her tears falling onto the ground. The foreign emotions of anger and hate began to fester and grow in her heart. She was sick of the new, dark world that she was now surrounded in. She was sick of the hurt, and sorrow that were stabbing her heart like a heated knife. But most of all, she was sick of the dark, grey toned earth pony that was steadily making way towards her.

Dark Pinkie Pie was a mere few feet away and she put the knife in her mouth, intending on slicing her, maiming her…possibly ending her. Just as Dark Pinkie Pie was about to attack her good side, Pinkie's Element began to glow blue and with a cry a powerful beam of magic fired from the balloon shaped gemstone. The magic blast hit Dark Pinkie Pie, sending her screaming backwards before falling and rolling on the ground. As she fell, Dark Pinkie Pie lost her knife and when she stopped rolling, she whipped her head upwards, her straight, grey mane falling wildly over her face as she bore a dark, murderous glare.

Pinkie Pie now stood up on all fours, staring directly into the unnatural eyes of her counterpart with her own outraged, unyielding, blue eyes as tears rolled down her face, her Element still glowing. Through her teeth, Dark Pinkie Pie growled in anger before giving off a brief cry as she tried to lunge at Pinkie Pie, only for the latter to immediately fire another blue beam at her and sending her backwards and crashing into a few chairs and tables. As Dark Pinkie Pie was blown back, Pinkie Pie started to march towards her as she spoke in completely, un-Pinkie Pie like tone.

"I've said this before and I'll only say it one more time…don't you ever, EVER talk about killing my friends again!''

After Dark Pinkie Pie was able to recover from the hit, she gazed at Pinkie Pie, still approaching her. The dark pony's let out a savage like roar of anger as she leaped up and galloped towards Pinkie Pie. When she came closer to her good side and jumped towards her, Pinkie Pie suddenly jumped into the air and from out of nowhere pulled out a line of text reading, 'Pinkie Pie suddenly jumped into the air' and wielded it in her hooves like a sort of club. Just Dark Pinkie Pie came near her, Pinkie swung the line of text and hit Dark Pinkie across the face, sending her falling to the side with a pained grunt.

"You said life's a party, but you don't know the first thing about throwing a party!'' Pinkie Pie spoke, swinging the text, once again hitting her in the face and knocker her violently to her side, a string of blood leaving her mouth as she did so.

Pinkie Pie continued, her angered, piercing eyes never one leaving her dark side. "Parties are about laughter!'' Pinkie Pie struck her with an overhead strike with the text, hitting Dark Pink on the top of her head, causing her to cry out in pain.

"Parties are about fun. Sharing happy memories and spreading joy!'' Pinkie Pie continued as she struck Dark Pinkie with a diagonal strike with the text, making her stumble backwards with another cry.

"But most of all, parties are about sharing all the fun, happy moment's with your friends. It's not even about the party, as long as you're with your friends, as long as you're laughing together…that's all that matters!''

Pinkie Pie spun around and hit her copy with a strong strike across the face, sending her spinning in the air and falling back down on the ground again. Dark Pinkie weakly tried to lift herself up and raised her head and gazed at Pinkie Pie as she came towards her, ready to use that line of text again. Pinkie Pie continued fiercely.

"To have a fun with friends, to just have so much joy being in each other's company…it's guaranteed that you'll be friends for life. But you don't have that do you? Are you have are those horrible, bad attempts of copies and that even more horrible monster Chthon who created you. For my friends, I will never let you win, you won't! Because I have two things on my side: The best friends a pony from a simply rock farm could ask for and the second best thing…PLOT ARMOR!''

With that proclamation, Pinkie Pie gave one last, powerful swing to Dark Pinkie's body, sending her screaming towards her party cannon and she collided into the opening with her belly in a loud 'uff' and her body went limp for a moment. Without hesitation, Pinkie Pie dropped the text and quickly rushed to the cannon and stood at the other end. Dark Pinkie Pie groggily lifted her head and opened her red, dark eyes to see Pinkie Pie glaring at her, her hoof over the red button. Finally comprehending the situation she was in, Dark Pinkie's groggy expression became one of alarm and shock as Pinkie Pie uttered one, last, dark remark to her cruel counterpart. "Hasta la vista, baby!''

Before Dark Pinkie Pie could react, Pinkie had pressed down on the button. The effects were instantaneous and in a flash of red light, a red, flaming ball shot of the cannon, taking Dark Pinkie Pie with it. As it flew, brilliant white sparkles trialed behind it as Dark Pinkie screamed for dear life. It wasn't even a minute when the sparkled trailed ball of fire propelled Dark Pinkie towards the back wall and finally collided into it. Upon impact, there was a brilliant explosion of red fireworks, as loud cracks sounded. Pinkie Pie ducked in cover as sparkles streaked in all directions as red light continued to flash. It was only for a few, short seconds before the flashes, and the sound of crackling final stopped, replaced by the faint sounds of sizzling as light smoke filled the area near the wall. Hearing nothing, Pinkie Pie peered over her hoof and when she saw the firework display had ended, she cautiously stood back up on her hooves. She looked to where she saw the ball of fire took her dark side and at first saw only smoke. Being vigilant, she took a step towards the smoking area when a beam of red light suddenly fired from the smoke and soared towards her, disappearing in her chest. Pinkie Pie gave a short shriek from the sudden display.

"W-What was that?!''

Pinkie Pie examined herself, touching her chest and necklace with her hooves and seeing nothing wrong with her, she stared at the wall, the smoke starting to clear up. All she saw was a large area of the wall that had tiny, glowing red particles where the firework had hit, her dark side nowhere to be found. Seeing this, Pinkie Pie let out a thankful breath. "Good old party cannon…never fails me.'' Pinkie muttered as the letters from the line of text on the ground began to rise before finally disappearing into thin air.

A crimson light flashed as Fluttershy was blown with force from her cottage. She screamed as she flew through the air before landing hard and painfully on the pathway leading from her home. Fluttershy softly groaned as she slowly lifted her head and peered groggily towards the direction of her charred home. In moments Dark Fluttershy walked out from the cottage, a cruel, sadistic grin on her face before suddenly taking off and flying towards her timid good side. Fluttershy squeaked out a gasp before closing her eyes with a serious frown as her Element began to glow pink. Within moments, a pink beam of magic fired from her Element and towards her counterpart. Dark Fluttershy merely gave a complacent grin as her own Element glowed before firing a crimson beam of magic towards the incoming attack and collided with it. A small explosion resulted, causing Fluttershy to recoil with a small cry as she shielded her face. A dense smoke originated from the collision and Fluttershy lowered her hooves and gazed into the haze, only for Dark Fluttershy to suddenly fly from the smoke and towards the tender Pegasus, grabbing her by the neck as she pushed her back. Fluttershy screamed as she fell back first on the ground as she was dragged by Dark Fluttershy until they stopped just at the edge the creek of boiling lava. Dark Fluttershy remained on top of her good side, that sadistic smirk on her face and she said coldly.

"Where's your backbone now wimp?''

Before Fluttershy could respond or act, Dark Fluttershy punched her hard across the face, followed but left punch. Fluttershy cried in pain as she was struck. Dark Fluttershy gazed down at the whimpering Pegasus and giggled with glee and spoke. "Guess it's gone, fragile like glass. Not surprising from such a pussy Pegasus!''

Fluttershy shot her dark reflection a timid, but stern glare as her Element began to glow. Catching this, Dark Fluttershy looked down and remarked, "Not this time!''

The grey Pegasus then quickly jumped back just in time to evade the pink beam of magic that fired form Fluttershy's Element. Just as it appeared, the beam quickly disappeared into the skies as Fluttershy slowly lifted herself from the ground. "Aw I guess your little attack didn't work,'' Dark Fluttershy spoke mockingly. "I guess those pathetic toys aren't as great as you make them out to be.''

Fluttershy responded softly, but adamantly as she glared at Dark Fluttershy. "T-there's…there's nothing pathetic about being kind.''

At this Dark Fluttershy laughed out loud, causing Fluttershy to stare at her with a quizzical frown. "Please! Who would actually have the gull to believe in such a notion? Well if that's the case, then I'll show all my 'kindness' to every singly animal in sight and crush them to pieces…just like your precious, wittle Angel!''

Fluttershy's face fell as she bore a resentful express, her teeth gritted as she said with a low growl that only got louder. "I…I told you before…I WON'T let you hurt anymore of my animal friends!''

Fluttershy quickly sprang up and ran forwards Dark Fluttershy and tried to throw a punch with all of her strength. However despite her efforts, Dark Fluttershy effortlessly blocked the punch before countering with a punch of her own to her original's face. Fluttershy let out a cry before being struck by a strong kick side kick by Dark Fluttershy, sending her flying back a few feet before falling on the ground. Almost immediately, Fluttershy clutched her stomach as her body curled slightly inwards, soft whimpers of pain escaping her lips as she laid on the ground. Seeing the yellow Pegasus in pain, Dark Fluttershy laughed out once more.

"See just as I said, pathetic!''

Fluttershy ceased her whimpering and lifted her head off the ground, gazing with a soft, angered, saddened scowl through her mane to see her dark side now walking towards her. "Not that it's really that much of a surprise. ''Tell me, how does it feel to constantly be weak and defenseless…always needing somepony to save you?''

Fluttershy wearily glared up at Dark Fluttershy, tears at the corner of her eyes and clenching her teeth in anger before trying to lunge up at the dark Pegasus. However, the second Fluttershy moved, Dark Fluttershy kicked her, knocking her a few inches into the air with a scream and falling back down on the ground, her back facing Dark Fluttershy.

"My god you're useless,'' Dark Fluttershy said with a disgusted expression as she walked towards Fluttershy. "You could never do things on your own. You always had to rely on your friends or you'd be completely lost…unable to take care of yourself. I wonder…how much your friends resent you for being so weak and fragile?''

As Dark Fluttershy walked towards her good side, Fluttershy's body began to shudder as the soft, but unmistakable sounds of crying was heard. "Y-Your wrong…my friends don't resent me!'' Fluttershy whimpered through her tears.

Dark Fluttershy clicked her tongue and replied. "Well they should. Unlike you I don't need to be protected. I'm no damsel in distress. I feel just jubilant that somepony as brilliant and exalted Lord Chthon would make me devoid of such weaknesses.'' Dark Fluttershy then grinned darkly. "Perhaps I'll take you to him so you can bow in praise to his greatness.''

At this, Fluttershy's shuddering intensified as she brought a foreleg up and lifted her body slightly. She lifted and turned her head and looked at Dark Fluttershy, her eyes furrowed begrudgingly as tears flowed from them and she answered in a tone of boldness she rarely used.

"I would never want to bow to somepony like him. He isn't brilliant or great. He destroyed my home… killed all of my animal friends…'' Fluttershy paused as she started to break down. Before continuing. "He's nothing but…but a sadistic monster! I would rather die…than to bow to a heartless, evil demon!''

Dark Fluttershy's grin dissolved into a dirty grimace at Fluttershy's brave remark. She suddenly went forward and forced Fluttershy's head against the hard ground, causing her to give a brief squeaking cry. Dark Fluttershy brought her face near to the squirming Fluttershy's ear as she spoke grimly.

"Still with the brave words, still with the tough talk. When are you gonna admit that no matter what you do, you'll always be a meek, sad, helpless weakling. You'd rather die than to bow to my master?'' Dark Fluttershy then bore a truly vicious smirk and continued. "Well that's good, because I'm right on your schedule.''

While Fluttershy continued to twist and struggle against her copy's pressure, Dark Fluttershy forcefully dragged her by the head along the charred, dead earth until they finally came to the edge of the creek of magma. Dark Fluttershy roughly whipped Fluttershy's head upwards in her grey hooves, and Fluttershy instantly shrieked as her strong, cyan eyes gazed upon the scorching, glowing liquid earth. Fluttershy began to writhe violently, as she frantically, desperately tried to escape Dark Fluttershy's grip. However, Dark Fluttershy hold proved too strong and she jerked her good side's head as she said cruelly.

"Na uh uh there'll be none of that! What's wrong Fluttershy? I hear the lava is great this time of year. Don't you just want to go for a refreshing dip?''

Dark Fluttershy tried to force Fluttershy's head towards the surface of the lava. Fluttershy planted her forelegs on the ground as she fought with all her strength against her counterpart. Terror, such unimaginable terror. Fluttershy's eyes were wide with fright, her pupils small and dilated as a stream of tears flowing down her chest. Sweat quickly came from her pores and rolled down her face as she neared the boiling pool, sweat dripping from her face and sizzled into the molten rock.

"Stop! Let me go!'' Fluttershy cried out. "I don't…I don't…want to…"

"Aw don't want to?'' Dark Fluttershy began in phony, sympathetic tone before shifting to a malicious one. "Well too bad, cause you're going under whether you like it or not!''

Dark Fluttershy started to add more weight as she tried to force Fluttershy's head towards the lava. Fluttershy continued to cry and scream as she fought against Dark Fluttershy's strength, jerking her head violently in an effort to make her head inch upwards. As Fluttershy fought for her life, Dark Fluttershy smiled madly, malevolently as she tried to push her original's head into the lava pool. Soon, her strength was getting too much for the timid Pegasus and Fluttershy's head inched closer and closer to the magma. Fluttershy's crying grew into sobs as her nose neared the glowing magma. Among the sobbing, Dark Fluttershy whispered into Fluttershy's ear.

"Any moment now, I'll put an end to your pitiful, worthless life. Soon, you won't have to worry about your petty need to love animals.''

At her remark, Fluttershy's sobs almost immediately became quite as she stared wide eyed into the molten liquid. Dark Fluttershy continued. "But don't worry once you're dead, your frivolous friends will follow soon after. I will personally make sure that they will die in the most horrible way possible and make them burn. After all…that is their fate.''

Without those heartless, cold words echoing in her head, something began to stir inside of Fluttershy. She gritted her teeth as she winced her eyes greatly first with distress and then with rage, the tears still cascading down her face and into the lava. And it was at that moment when a fuse in Fluttershy's heart finally snapped and with a shrill scream she caught Dark Fluttershy off guard with a hard, reverse head butt to her muzzle. Dark Fluttershy let out an agonizing cry as she reeled backwards, releasing Fluttershy from her hold.

Immediately, Fluttershy whipped around, taking off from the ground as she savagely threw out a barrage of punches to Dark Fluttershy's face. As she assaulted her, Fluttershy forced her back as her wings carried her faster then she'd ever flown in her life. Those eyes, those strong, cyan eyes that once bore gentleness and the kindness she so represented were nowhere to be seen. All were in those eyes were pure wrath and fury, pupils small and tears streaming down her face as she pushed Dark Fluttershy backwards up the path, never letting up her fury even for a second.

"You…horrible…evil…wretch! I…won't…ever…let you…hurt my friends!'' Fluttershy seethed in outrage as she continued her onslaught. "Somepony like you, some…THING like you could never understand how much they mean to me. And I refuse to let you take them away!''

As Fluttershy punched her dark side furiously, blood streaked from Dark Fluttershy's face and into the air as she cried out with each hit. Fluttershy then ended her punches and pushed Dark Fluttershy backwards onto the ground where they rolled a few times before stopping. Fluttershy suddenly grabbed Dark Fluttershy by her back legs and began to furiously smash her into the ground. With every hard, painful blow, there were sickening cracks from the screaming Dark Fluttershy. Fluttershy was truly displaying a strength she herself never knew she had, but she didn't notice nor did she even cared at that moment. All she cared about was that the dark Pegasus would never succeed in her twisted promises.

It seemed like Fluttershy was smashing Dark Fluttershy along the ground for an eternity until she spun her around and sending her upwards into the sky. Almost immediately, Fluttershy took off of the ground and flew towards her dark side before once again catching Dark Fluttershy in a continuous fury of punches. Punch after punch, each blow releasing all of the rage and anger that was in her heart right now when finally, Fluttershy grabbed Dark Fluttershy by her head and with one final scream, she flipped forward into the air and with all her strength, threw Dark Fluttershy rocketing downwards, taking less than a minute for the screaming, bloodied faced Dark Fluttershy to plummet back down to earth…right into the creek of magma.

Instantly Dark Fluttershy began to writhe and splash as she let out the most piercing, excruciated cry one could hear. The cries rang out into the skies, causing Fluttershy to sort of snap out of her fit of rage and she gazed down at her counterpart as she violently contorted her body in the pool of lava. Fluttershy's eyes soon fell in surprise as she watched in horror, her hooves shook as she slowing raised them over her mouth. It didn't take long before Dark Fluttershy's painful screams suddenly came to a halt and she gazed blankly up into space, her red eyes rolling into the back of her head as her body began to sink into the lava before disappearing completely into the molten rock. Seeing her doppelganger sink out of sight into the pool, Fluttershy slowly descended back down and landed softly on the ground shaking, disturbed by the horrible death she had just witness…she had just caused.

"O-oh…m-my…'' Fluttershy uttered horrifically under her breath as she stared at the boiling creek.

Suddenly, a red beam of light burst form the surface of the lava, startling Fluttershy as she squeaked out a gasp. The red beam flew wildly in the air for a moment or two before soaring downwards towards the Pegasus, flying into Fluttershy's chest before she could even react. Fluttershy gave out an alarmed cry as she jumped back with a foreleg raised halfway. Fluttershy frantically observed her Element covered chest along with the rest of her body before looking shifting her gaze slowly towards the creek were her dark side had meet her gruesome demise. Finally with everything that has happened coming into full circle, Fluttershy raised her hooves to her mouth as her body began to quiver. Soon, tears quickly formed in her eyes and rolled down her face as she slowly lowered her body and began to weep silently to herself, releasing all of her emotions among her ruined cottage in the dark, new world around her.

Twilight and Dark Twilight were locked in a heated duel. Twilight's eyes were still aglow with that white, ethereal light as her horn was surrounded with a deep pink, billowing cone shaped aura, white sparkles flickering from her horn. Dark Twilight, being the counterpart of the purple unicorn, too was still in her powered state, her horn covered by a crimson red cone shaped aura that shot out white and red sparkles as those mysterious, red, arcane, intercepting symbols rotated continuously around her. Twilight fired a strong, large, deep pink burst of magic at Dark Twilight, only for the latter to use her magic to defect the attack off to the side and hitting the ground, causing a brief, pink explosion.

Dark Twilight immediately retaliated by firing two, red, fire like streams of magic at her original self, one coming at her from the left and the other from the right. The two attacks came in quickly at Twilight, but she conjured a pink, magical dome around her, protecting her from the blasts as they hit the shield. Almost instantly after the after explosion, Dark Twilight suddenly came through, she herself surrounded by a sphere of crimson magic and collided into Twilight's instantly shattering it like glass and pushing Twilight backwards. Twilight cried out as she landed back first on the blackened ground, skidding a few meters before coming to a stop with Dark Twilight on top of her, grinning down malevolently.

"And that's checkmate,'' Dark Twilight remarked sinisterly as she prepared a spell.

Twilight gave a soft gasp as her dark side fired a powerful spell in her face. Reacting quickly, Twilight teleported from underneath Dark Twilight, evading the attack and causing it to hit the spot where she was just lying and catching Dark Twilight off guard. "W-Where did she-'' Dark Twilight began only to be cut off by a magenta flash of light behind her.

The dark unicorn whipped around to see Twilight standing, her glowing white eyes glaring at her as two, deep pink, four clawed appendages fired from her horn and towards Dark Twilight, grasping the doppelganger around her body before she could even react. With a short cry, Twilight reared on her hind legs, turned and stomped back on all fours and commanded the two magical claws to fling the screaming Dark Twilight over her head and smashing her hard onto the ground. Dark Twilight's body became limp in the claws' grasp, but Twilight wasn't taking any chances. She then whipped her head sharply to her left, causing the appendages to lift Dark Twilight and slam her in the same direction Twilight pointed her horn and repeated the same gesture in different directions. Upon the fifth attempted as the claws lifted Dark Twilight into the air, Dark Twilight took advantage of the second long pause and a red, sparkling, magical ball formed at the tip of her horn before quickly expanded. As the magical ball expanded, it engulfed the claws and when it came to the forearm of Twilight's spell, a brief explosion of red light occurred, destroying the arms.

The counter spell caused Twilight to cry in alarm as she shielded her face from the aftershock. With her eyes closed, Twilight heard a clop sound as something landed on the ground and when she peered open her eyes the only then she remembered was a blinded, red flash and she screamed as she was blown violently backwards. She screamed, doing a triple backflip through the air before finally falling painfully back on the ground, rolling twice before coming to a complete stop.

Twilight groaned as she laid on the ground, but when she attempted to move, she instantly flinch in pain. She was hit from the chest down form Dark Twilight's spell. She felt like she had just been struck with a burst of fire as hot as the sun itself, a horrible, large burnt mark on her chest. Twilight peered opened her eyes as she gritted her teeth only to close them again and when she blinked open her eyes, the white glow they once bore had subsided, leaving her normal, violent eyes. The corn shaped, magical aura had disappeared as the sparkles ceased to flicker from the horn's tip, now having lost her power and had now reverted back to her original form.

With clenched teeth, Twilight began to weakly lift her head, followed by the rest of her body. Dark Twilight started to walk towards her fallen good side, a wicked smirk on her face as she said, still in her powered state. "I was wrong before, now it's checkmate. And know we've seen who possess the real talent in magic.''

As Dark Twilight continued to approach her good counterpart, Twilight, with all the strength she could muster, forced herself off the ground and stood facing her dark side. Twilight breathed heavily, sweat rolling down her smudged face as she glared tiredly at Dark Twilight. "It's…it's not over yet!'' Twilight said in between breathes.

Dark Twilight let out a snort as she responded. "Trust me, it is. And I know the perfect spell to finish you off with.''

Dark Twilight gave an unnervingly, wicked grin as Twilight looked at her with a perplexed glare. Suddenly Dark Twilight winced as the billowing aura that surrounded her horn now took on a greenish red color and with a yell, the unicorn fired a same colored bolt of magic from her horn towards Twilight, making a sort of rushing sound through the air. Twilight gasped in shock and had only a brief second, but she was able to catch that second and she dived to the side, successfully evading the spell as it hit the ground with a small, fiery explosion of red and green flames. Though unharmed by the spell, Twilight stared the smoking spot on the earth with an astonished, almost horrified expression and slowly turned her head towards Dark Twilight.

"N-No…that spell…i-it couldn't have been…'' Twilight began in a disturbed tone before being finished by her other half.

"That's right, the Pulso Mortem…the death spell.''

Twilight just stared disbelievingly at Dark Twilight at the name she had just heard before speaking, almost unsteadily. "B-But that's one of the Forbidden Four: spells that Starswirl the Bearded himself decreed forbidden to use. Anypony who cast Pulso Mortem or any of the Forbidden Four would receive the maximum punishment!''

Dark Twilight just smirked darkly as she said in that taunting tone. "Oh very good Twilight. It seems you've possess some intelligence. Maybe you are the egg head that Rainbow Dash thinks you are.''

Twilight frowned in irritation and said, "I'm just well read. The death spell was just something that I happened upon during my studies.''

"So is that why 'during your studies' that you've tried to practiced it a few times?'' Dark Twilight asked.

Twilight's eyes widened, caught surprised by the remark. "W-What?! N-No, of course not! I would never attempt to learn how to use such a terrible spell!''

At this, Dark Twilight laughed out hysterically. "Please! Don't even try to give me that bullcud! We've both know that you've tried out that spell behind everyponys' backs before!''

Twilight gazed speechlessly at her counterpart before shifting her gaze slightly, an uncertain look on her face as she started hesitantly. "I-I would never…to kill another pony…that's just…''

"The truth!'' Dark Twilight finished loudly, causing Twilight to jump slightly in surprise and just stare at her with a daunt gaze. "All those times, all those nights away from prying and judgmental eyes in your most private moments. Studying that spell from a book you snuck from the restricted section at the library in the castle. You did everything in your power to keep your practice sessions a secret from everypony…even from Princess Celestia.''

Twilight said nothing and at the mention as Celestia's name, tears started to well up in her eyes as she lowered her gaze towards the ground. What she once felt was hesitation and intimidation were now replaced by shame and guilt.

"No…I've never meant to. I've just wanted to…''

Dark Twilight cut her off once again with increased, fiendish glee. "To what?! Learn how to destroy your enemies? To destroy anypony that pissed you off? Or maybe it was to become a Dark Unicorn? If so, then good career choice.''

"NO!'' Twilight barked, stomping her hoof down defiantly. She bore a bold expression, but tears fell from her strong, intelligent eyes as she continued. "I would never become a Dark Unicorn, become a practitioner of the dark arts! I did it because…I wanted to test the abilities of my magic!''

Upon hearing Twilight's answer, Dark Twilight rolled her eyes and snorted, "Yeah right, test your abilities? That's your reason for studying one of the darkest spell ever conceived?''

Twilight answered tearfully, her frown still upon her face. "Yes! Ever since I found out my special talent was magic I've wanted to push myself, to see what all my lessons from Celestia had allowed me to achieve. But most of all I wanted…'' Twilight paused as she shifted her gaze back towards the ground, her tears flowing more fluidly as she bore a more saddened, hurtful expression. "I've wanted to make Princess Celestia proud of me. She always told me I was her most promising study. A prodigy whose potential could take me far few unicorns could ever achieve. I've wanted to master that horrible spell because…to me, it would've felt like Celestia was right. To me it would've proven that she didn't wasted her time on me. To me…it would've proven that I was a unicorn worth her approved, that I would be the student that she'd always hoped for…what she always wanted.''

It took all the strength Twilight had to not break down completely, but she couldn't help but let out a few, silent sobs. Dark Twilight just looked at her original with a cold, uncaring, almost disgusted frown and said carelessly. "Oh boohoo, so the teacher's pet wanted to feel worthwhile, go cry me a bucking river!''

Twilight whipped her head upwards, and glared at Dark Twilight with gritted teeth, tears still rolling down her head as she let out a low growl. Dark Twilight continued on, a twisted smirk spread across her lips as she started to circle Twilight. "If that's the case this should make you happen; you've succeeded in your studies. That's a fact because I can use it and since I'm you, you should be able to use it to…if you have the guts for it that is.''

Twilight stood her ground, lowering her head slightly, taking on a more defensive stance as she growled softly. Twilight shook her head from side to side once, her tears whipped dry as she casted a threatening glare at her doppelganger, she too beginning to circle the dark unicorn. "I'll tell you for the last time…I'm NOTHING like you! And I'd rather be a weak, talentless pony than to use that spell!''

Dark Twilight gave a menacing giggle, she and Twilight still circling each other, gazing into each other's eyes unyieldingly. Finally Dark Twilight spoke. "Oh believe me, we've just established that you're nothing compared to me. If you don't want to use a powerful spell like Pulso Mortem…then just stand there and DIE!''

With that outburst, Dark Twilight's horn billowed with that mixture of green and red colors. Twilight was prepared too and her horn glowed with a deep pink aura as she concentrated her magic. Then suddenly in the next second, Dark Twilight fired her spell, a greenish crimson beam of magic fired from her horn and through the air. With a cry, Twilight blasted her own spell from her horn as a deep pink magical beam shot from her horn towards the incoming enemy's spell before colliding into it, meeting in midair.

Immediately, Twilight felt a great difficulty in holding back her dark copy's death inducing spell. She grunted as she winced and clenched her teeth as she fought back against the powerful spell. Dark Twilight however, seemed unfazed by the struggle, her unholy, glowing red eyes fixated almost madly on the ongoing battle. The intercepting arcane symbols rotated faster around her as she continued on with her spell. White and red spark began to emit at the center of the two opposing spell when Dark Twilight's spell started to push back Twilight's spell. Twilight noticed this and gave a brief, alarmed gasp before putting more strength behind her spell.

The added effort started to put a strain on the gifted, purple unicorn. Twilight's head began to hurt as if a migraine was beginning to hinder her while her neck started to become stiff. Sweat started to roll down her face as she gathered all the strength she could find to push Dark Twilight's spell back and keep her head up. Dark Twilight laughed out wickedly before calling out.

"It's that really the best you can do?! What's the matter Twilight, running out of juice already?!''

Hearing the taunting words of her dark side, Twilight growled and concentrated harder. She pushed out a stronger pulse of magic, causing her spell to strengthen and push back Dark Twilight's curse slowly but surely. Though she saw the extra amount of magic Twilight gave out, Dark Twilight remained unworried as she spoke with a smug, dark grin.

"Still pushing are we? Just give up, it's pointless and you know it. Just release the connection and surrender to death's touch!''

Dark Twilight gave more power, her strengthened state giving her an advantage and her spell began to push Twilight's counter spell back. Twilight's grunted louder, pinching her eyes close before peering through one eye as she strained against the powerful spell and she responded. "I ugh…I'm not going to just sit back and die!''

"That's the only thing worth doing!'' Dark Twilight said, her spell inching closer to Twilight. "There's nothing you can do for yourself, and especially nothing you can do for those lousy friends of yours!''

Twilight sort of froze in her place, her head bowed as her bangs fell over her eyes as she listened to her counterpart. "You're nothing but a sorry, pathetic filly who's gotten way in over her head. You've been a failure as a student to Celestia and a complete failure as a unicorn in general!''

Twilight's mouth began to quiver as she gritted her teeth. "No…you're wrong…'' she spoke softly, as a trail of tears streamed down her face.

Dark Twilight said, continuing her spell. "I'm YOU idiot! It's all true! I'm a reflection of your deepest, darkest thoughts. You're just a sad little girl crying for your precious Princess Celestia. You think that Element around your neck gives you power? You're no Element of Magic, just another worthless mashugana that's about to die…with your friends joining you soon afterwards!''

It was at that moment Twilight felt a spark in her hear as the tears flowed more profusely down her face. Her body shook and her teeth clenched tighter as Dark Twilight's spell came closer to her. Twilight's Element then began to glow a magenta color as the aura around her horn began to intensify and Twilight spoke with a quivering voice.

"You…you haven't got a clue. You don't know the first thing about me.''

Dark Twilight merely responded with a raised eyebrow and a careless expression. Twilight continued. "The unicorn that I studied and trained to be, the achievements that I've made all meant nothing by myself because I didn't accomplish them alone. That magic I possess, it didn't come from my Element because the Element of Magic isn't the source of my power. My power…comes from my friends!''

At that outburst, Twilight whipped up her head and shot open her eyes to reveal them glowing that ethereal, white light as before. Her horn was now surrounded by that intense, billowing, cone shaped aura, white sparkles emanated from her horn as she fired a powerful stream of magic from her horn, pushing back Dark Twilight's spell backwards until they were in the center, even in power. Dark Twilight's dark eyes widened as she stared on at the display with a dumbfounded expression.

"W-What?! T-This is impossible. Where are you getting this power?!''

Twilight glared at Dark Twilight, her eyes burning and aglow like white fire, her tears having dried up as she answered her stunned doppelganger. "I just told you…my friends ARE my power! They are the ones who made me into the unicorn that I am today. Without their gifts and passions, without the lessons that each of them has taught me I wouldn't have the magic that I could do now. The magic…that would allow me to beat you right now!''

Almost immediately after her bold words, a strong ripple came from the tip of Twilight's horn and began to pulse throughout the magical stream towards Dark Twilight's spell. Dark Twilight took an intimidated step backwards as she questioned in an almost panicked state. "W-What are you doing? You can't-HUH?!''

Dark Twilight was cut off sharply at mid-sentence while the two spells raged on together. The pulsing coming from Twilight's wand continued until suddenly a deep, golden light flashed from the center of the two spells. The golden light was visible for only a few, short seconds until it disappeared, the resulting effect happening right after. Dark Twilight's killing spell suddenly rebounded off of Twilight's spell, as if it refused to kill its intended target and instead set upon its caster. It all happened in an instant, there was a flash a green and red followed by a piercing scream as Dark Twilight was blown back, struck by her own spell before falling back the ground.

It was unknown what had caused it, perhaps from Twilight's own spell or perhaps maybe from the unicorn's strong will to ensure the safety of her friends as both her spell and Dark Twilight's spell disappeared. Twilight stood there, breathing heavily staring at her fallen counterpart as the glow in her eyes faded and the aura around her horn subsided. Dark Twilight laid there, her eyes no longer glowing red and completely blackened as they rolled to the back of her head. She remained motionless, unmarked but unmistakably dead, the crimson aura leaving her horn and the arcane symbols having vanished.

Twilight just stared at the lifeless body with furrowed, tired eyes when suddenly Dark Twilight's body burst into a red light that flew up in the air and soared wildly around. The spontaneous act caused Twilight to jump and gasp in surprise when the jet of red light flew quickly downward towards Twilight and disappeared into her chest. Alarmed, Twilight gazed and felt her chest where the light had entered before calming down, seeing that she was unharmed. Looking around the area, she saw nothing but a few stone, pony statues in the distance and she let out a tiring, but relieved breath.

"Finally…it's over.''

With her fight finished, Twilight's eyes were filled with realization as she spoke, "Wait, my friends! I to make sure that they're alright!''

Though exhausted from her battle, Twilight nonetheless started galloping, her Element still rested upon her head when something caught her eye. "What?!''

Twilight skidded to a halt and looked towards her right at some ruined cottages. She gazed at them carefully and on the shambled rooftops to see just that, rooftops. With a bewildered gaze, Twilight spoke softly, raising a foreleg up halfway. "That's strange, I could've sworn I saw…'' As she pondered, she quickly snapped out of her train of thought a continued with a firm frown. "What am I doing? I have to get back to my friends!''

Without another thought, Twilight started on the black earth as she went to the aid of her friends. Not knowing where else to start looking, Twilight decided to head to the center of town were Chthon's tower was erect to start her search for her friends. The intelligent unicorn didn't know how long she ventured through the dark, decimated town passing the statues of Ponyville's inhabitance when she finally came out from an alleyway and came to an abrupt halt as her gaze fell on Chthon's tower. Twilight panted heavily, trying to catch her breath as she looked at the crude tower, the stone staircase visible among the outcropping of earth around the tower's base.

"I need to find the girls.'' Twilight said looking around the distorted area. "Where could they be? Where should I start?''

Before Twilight could think of a solution, a familiar, southern accented voice called out, "Twilight?!''

Twilight looked behind her to see that the source of the voice was Applejack, galloping towards her. Twilight just stood there, looking at her earth pony friend with a stunned, unblinking stare as another voice called out. "Hey! Twilight! Applejack!''

Twilight merely shifted her eyes to the left to see Rainbow Dash flying towards her. "Applejack? Rainbow Dash…?'' Twilight spoke softly under her breath, still in that astonished state.

Her ear twitched as she her the calling out of more voices and turned to see Rarity, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie running in the square at different directions, with Fluttershy flying. Twilight gazed around at each of her friends, coming towards her and calling out her name until tears welled up in her eyes. Her body swayed left and right slightly as her mouth began to quiver until finally she darted off towards her five friends, a tearful smile spread across her face. It took no time at all before the six friends meet each other in the center and instantly caught one another in one, group hug. After a brief second of silence, Twilight finally spoke out tearfully, but happily.

"I'm…I'm so glad you girls are alright!''

"So am I darling. You all were all I could think about in the last, dreadful moments.'' Rarity spoke gratefully, her eyes too filled with tears.

Applejack spoke, whipping her own wet with a sad smile. "I think we're all plum grateful ta see each other.''

"T-Thank goodness you all are ok. I-I actually thought that you all would be-'' Fluttershy began before burying her face with a hoof and cried softly.

Rainbow Dash instantly came over to her side and comforted her, bringing her in for an embrace. "Hey come easy now. There's no way in we'd ever go down that easily," Rainbow Dash said in a caring tone, rubbing her friend's back.

Pinkie Pie nodded with a saddened smile, whipping her eyes of tears before speaking. "So...does that mean we've all won against those nasty meanies?''

"It would seem so, if we're here in the presence of one another,'' Rarity answered relieved.

Rainbow Dash broke from her embrace with Fluttershy and looked at her with an impressed smile. "Even Fluttershy? So you're telling me that you beat your cheap copy…all by yourself Shy?''

Fluttershy whipped her eyes before nodding timidly at her friend. Rainbow Dash couldn't help but give an approved laugh. "Wow now I've seen everything! So the shy, timid Pegasus who hates heights won a fight…that's pretty badass!''

Fluttershy was at first taken surprised by the praise when Applejack voiced her opinion. "Whoowee girl that's somethin'. I always knew ya had some steel in ya!''

The other's voiced their approval and praise, causing Fluttershy to smile bashfully, an embarrassed blush coming to her cheeks as she peered through her mane. Twilight smiled at each of the ponies before and spoke. "So that means we've all defeated our own, personal darknesses.''

Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all nodded. Twilight continued grimly. "While I fought with my darker half, she kept telling my awful things about myself, about you girls. She tried to get me to doubt my feelings for my friends…my best friends.''

The others looked at each other sadly as Applejack spoke, "I hear what ya saying Twilight. My two faced fink tried ta convinced me that nothin' I did mattered. Ta give up on everypony...everypony.'' Applejack spoke quietly, dismally as she lowered her face and gazed wearily at the ground, thinking about a certain, dreadlocked earth pony.

"As did my horrid reflection,'' Rarity spoke as Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, and Pinkie Pie nodded in agreement.

Twilight gave a deep breath finished. "Chthon brought them from the dark side of our hearts, all of our negativity, our fears and gave them physical form. They tried to beat us down with everything that's happened so far and attempt to tear us apart but it fail…our friendship won us this battle.''

Twilight ended with a weary, relieved smile a smile returned by all of her friends. This prompted the six friends to come in once again for a group hug, each bearing their respective Elements. However, it wasn't even a full minute into their embrace when a voice came to their ears.

"My, my, my…I do hope I haven't come at a bad time?''

The six instantly whipped their heads towards the direction of the voice to see Discord sitting on a large puff of black cloud, casually sipping on a glass of what appeared to be chocolate milk. "Discord?!'' the six friends exclaimed in unison.

At their reaction, Discord gasped as an alarmed expression came over his face. "Discord?! W-Where?! I don't see-oh well what do you know, it IS me. Why isn't that nutty?'' Discord said with a sly smirk, taking another sip of his drink.

At this, Twilight, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie gave the draconequus unamused, irritated frowns while Fluttershy had a more uncertain gaze. As Discord drank his chocolate milk, Twilight asked a bit aggressively. "What are you doing here Discord?''

"Oh why I thought it would be obvious, seeing the dire situation that is at hoof,'' Discord answered calmly, finishing the last drop of his drink.

The six friends looked at each other quizzically before looking back at Discord skeptically, save for Fluttershy who had a hopeful look upon her face. "Discord, you mean…?'' Fluttershy asked, her voice getting more excited.

Discord hopped off of his cloud, which suddenly took the form of a buffalo standing on its back hooves with a cane and top hat as it did a showman like dance to its right before disappearing. With his glass empty, Discord proceeded to throw the glass the glass carelessly to the side a great distant shattering on the ground as an explosion spontaneously resulted. The six ponies recoiled from the display as five of them looked at Discord with disapproved, bewildered glances.

"That's right Fluttershy, I've come here to help.'' Discord answered excitedly, suddenly in a flash of light dressed in a blue, tailed, high collared coat with yellow epaulettes on his shoulders. The coat was closed with gold buttons and Discord wore a white under shirt with a white ascot tie. He wore cream colored breeches while on his mismatched feet were black boots.

"Oh Discord, I'm so happy to hear that! I knew you'd come through for us in the end!'' Fluttershy spoke up louder than usual in joy, flying over to Discord and flinger her forearms around his neck.

Discord looked at Fluttershy with a serene look before returning the embrace. The others, however looked at Discord with untrusting stares. "So ya decided ta nut up an' help us did ya? Why the sudden change of heart?'' Applejack spoke up, eyeing Discord suspiciously.

"Yeah! Where were ya a few minutes ago? We definitely could've used your help then!'' Rainbow Dash said in her aggressive manner, hovering in the air and crossing her forelegs.

Discord ended the embrace, giving Fluttershy a slight push to the side, an act that caused her to look at him, bewildered. Discord looked at the group with a rather serious frown as he walked over to them. As Discord walked, Twilight stepped forward, a firm look on her face. "Well whatever your reasons Discord if you prove helpful in defeating Chthon, we might just consider you're claim of friendship.''

"Quite and remember, we have the Elements of Harmony,'' Rarity added sternly. "Which means we hold the reins, so if you try to pull what you did back at those ruins-''

"We're blasting you back to stone, got it?!'' Rainbow Dash finished forcibly.

Discord suddenly stopped his advancement and looked at the five ponies, his serious stare dissolving into a dark, almost disgusted gaze. The sudden shift in expression caused an unnerving chill to spread over their five bodies as they looked at Discord boldly, yet uncertainly. After a few moments of silence, Discord finally spoke, his uniform dissolving.

"Right…before we move on tell me, how exactly would you define as 'friendship'?''

The question caught them all by surprise, even Fluttershy who remained hovering behind the spirit. Applejack answered with an eyebrow raised, "Say what?''

"I said what does friendship mean to you? After all, you go on and preach about it whenever trouble starts,'' Discord repeated again, remaining stone-faced.

Rainbow Dash furrowed her eyes and retorted, "Ya wanna find out? Go look it up on your own time. We don't have time to play twenty questions!''

Discord leered at the rainbow maned Pegasus as he turned his gaze to Twilight, who stepped forward and spoke, "She's right Discord. This isn't time to be enigmatic.''

Discord said nothing, just stared at Twilight with a serious, unsettling stare before speaking, suddenly taking on a casual tone as he turned around and walked away. "Enigmatic? Why I'm a creature of chaos, I'm supposed to be mysterious and unpredictable. However…'' Discord then stopped, and peered over his shoulder. "What boggles my mind is your view on friendship.''

This caused Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Twilight, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, and Fluttershy to look at Discord with confused grimaces. Fluttershy flew around Discord and asked with a concerned, perplexed expression.

"What do you mean 'our view on friendship'?'' Fluttershy asked meekly.

Discord turned and looked at the tender Pegasus with a cold look before answering. "You don't know? Well, I'll be glad to enlighten you Fluttershy dear,'' Discord spoke with a fake, thrilled smile, suddenly patting Fluttershy on the head, leaving a black, square academic cap and pushing a wrapped diploma into her hooves as white sparkles twinkled before disappearing.

Fluttershy looked at the diploma and felt the cap quizzically before taking the cap off and tossing both it and the diploma to the side as she looked at Discord with a sad, almost frightful stare. Discord gave Fluttershy a careless look before looking back over to the other five ponies and said, walking a few steps towards them.

"Friendship…there was a time where that word didn't exist in my vocabulary. In fact, I shunned and ridiculed such a notion. Friendship is magic, such a ridiculous ideology. That is…'' Discord paused as a more saddened look came to his face. "That is when Celestia thought that my magic could be concentrated as a force of good for Equestria. So in that possibility, she tasked you six to reform me and to let friendship come into my heart.''

As Discord spoke, the six ponies' skeptical, untrusting expressions turned into ones of thinking and solemnness. "Well…yeah I guess you're right about that,'' Pinkie Pie spoke up though a bit uncertainly.

"But Discord…where are you going with this? If you have a point to make, then do it.'' Twilight asked, wincing a bit.

Discord turned his head back towards the six, his saddened frown becoming a more angered look and said. "My point? Yes, let me get my point across, lay all my cards on the table.''

As he said that, a deck of playing cards suddenly appeared in his claws and bent them, causing the cards to spring towards them and scattering everywhere. The six friends, shielded themselves from the onslaught of cards and shot Discord with impatient glares, though Fluttershy's were still of bewilderment and worry. Discord continued on.

"My point is this: friends should be thrilled and ecstatic to see one another, and yet every time I appear I'm only met with coldness and indifference.''

"Well can ya blame us?'' Applejack answered with furrowed eyes. "Ya always-''

Discord suddenly cut Applejack by quickly slithering through the air and getting into to the farm pony's face. "Friends should have their upmost trust and faith in one another, but when I show up to help you immediately doubt my motives and question my appearance.''

Rainbow Dash began cantankerously, "Well if you weren't such a ultra, mega, dick troll then-''

Again Discord cut the explanation off, disappearing in a flash of light before reappearing in another flash behind the cyan Pegasus, hovering in the air as he spoke. "Friends should be proud that another did good deeds in their name, and yet you brush it off and doubt the sincerity of the act.''

"But not long ago you were our-'' Rarity began, but again Discord abruptly silenced any attempt for an answer by suddenly blowing out a fog of brown, green, grey, yellow, and green.

The pony's cried in shock as the fog rolled around them as if having a mind of its own before moving away in front of them and rose up, taking the form of Discord, glaring darkly down at them. Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, and Fluttershy shook off the sudden action and glowered at Discord. Discord spoke, with a slight growl.

"What friends would keep another leashed up like some common pet? Threaten to banish them if they set one hoof out of line?!''

Twilight, getting fed up with the questioning, stomped her hoof down and spat, "Because you've never shown that you can be trusted. You always act so shady as if you're up to something, causing us to doubt you. But all that could change and be reconsidered if you help us fight against Chthon!''

At the answer Discord just calmly glared at Twilight when all of a sudden, distant clapping was heard. "I must say, well done.''

That voice. That dark, demonic voice that had haunted each of the ponies the moment they've heard it. The six all immediately whipped their glances past Discord to see Chthon in the air, his four mighty wings keeping him afloat. Discord, on the other hand, slowly turned his head and looked at the deity with an expressionless look as the others immediately crowded together, scowling at the god.

"Chthon!'' Twilight called out bravely, lowering her head ready for a fight.

Chthon chuckled darkly to himself, crossing his arms. "I must admit, for troublesome insects, you mortals provide excellent sport. I was sure my pets would've done quick work with you lot.''

"Yeah well you were wrong freak show!'' Rainbow Dash answered aggressively. "Your lame lackeys saw what happens when they buck with us!''

Twilight added threateningly. "You sent out dark sides only for each of us to vanquish them. Now prepare to fight us Chthon if you're not scared!''

Chthon's grin turned into an annoyed, cold glared as he looked on at the ponies with disdain. Fluttershy looked at Discord with pleading eyes as she flew towards him. "Discord? Discord come on.''

Fluttershy grabbed his lion's arm, only for Discord to whip his arm from her grip without looking at her. The act took Fluttershy aback, as she looked at him with a surprised, distraught expression. "Discord? What are you doing? Come with us so we can end this. Please!''

Rainbow Dash then flew to the draconequus and looked at him dead in the face and spoke forcibly. "You heard her Discord. You wanna be pals once and for all? Then get over here and help us take down that pony, dragon, hybrid asshole-ACK!''

Instantly after Rainbow Dash said that last line, Discord brought his eagle claw and grasped Rainbow Dash around the neck. Her five friends gasped in horror at what they were seeing and screamed in unison. "Rainbow Dash!''

The bold Pegasus gasped for breath, gritting her teeth as she brought her hooved to Discord's claw in an attempt to pry his grip off of her Discord brought Rainbow Dash close in, their muzzles almost touching as he glared into her eyes and snarled.

"Don't you DARE disrespect me father you base pony!''

Discord threw the mare over to the side towards the others and fell and slid in front of them. "Rainbow! Darling are you ok?!'' Rarity asked desperately as she, Twilight, Applejack, and Pinkie Pie gathered around there friend in worry.

Rainbow Dash lifted herself up, coughing a few times to catch her breath. Fluttershy watched on, her hooves covering her mouth at she looked at her friend with a silent, horrified face. She then turned to Discord, who slowly brought his eagle claw back down, a menacing leer upon his face. Finally, Fluttershy brought her hooves down slightly and spoke in a stunned tone.

"B-But Discord…why? Y-You said you came here to help us.''

"Oh did I say that?'' Discord said, a vile smirk creeping to his lips. "I'm afraid you've misunderstood me. I've came back to help…my father that is.''

At those chilling words, Fluttershy, Twilight, Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Applejack, and Rainbow Dash looked at Discord with wide eyed, disbelieving looks of sheer terror. Surly he was toying with them? Just another of sick, twisted sense of humor. They were waiting for him to shout out 'Joking!' Or cause confetti to burst forth with a hearty 'Gotcha!' but Discord said nothing. He just stared at them, with that dark, diabolical grin as Chthon hovered in the air behind him, his eyes shining with a crimson gleam as he smiled wickedly to himself.

"W-What…what did he just say?!'' Rarity whispered out under her breath.

Rainbow Dash's face fell into a hateful frown as she grunted with a growl, "He said he's gonna help that bastard!''

Twilight continued to look at Discord with an astonished, petrified gaze. Applejack furrowed her eyes and clenched her teeth as a low growl escaped her throat while Rarity and Pinkie Pie looked as if they were frantically trying to comprehend what was happening. Fluttershy shook her head, her hooves still covering her mouth as tears welled up in her eyes and she squeaked with a cracked, pained voice.

"No…no…please…!''

Twilight's stunned expression turned into a disgusted, grimaced look, her mouth quivering with anger as she spoke. "So, despite of all that has happened. Despite all claims…you're going with him?!''

Discord gave a short chuckle before making a gesture with his lion paw as if he was shooting a gun as he responded. "Bingo Twilight!''

Discord's answer caused five of the ponies to give him hostile glares, all save for Fluttershy who looking at him woefully, tears streaming down her face at her former friend's betrayal. "You dirty, rotten…'' Rainbow Dash snarled, exhaling a gust of air from her nostrils.

"After everything we did, we offered you friendship…a chance of redemption, but instead you choose this? We thought you had changed!'' Twilight shouted angrily at Discord.

"Well you thought wrong suckers!'' Discord cackled. "It's like the old saying goes, chaotic blood is thicker than water.''

"So it is my son,'' Chthon spoke, descending downward next to Discord, placing a claw on his shoulder. Discord grinned at him as Chthon continued. "As you can see, you've allowed your weak minds to be ensnared by that ludicrous chains you call friendship, but Discord isn't weak minded. He sees the truth.''

Applejack, Twilight, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie gave the two hateful, teeth gritted frowns as Fluttershy watched on hurtfully, sniffing quietly. Chthon spoke on, "You've gone through countless trials prattling on about your friendship and togetherness. To counter your beliefs, allow me to teach you a little lesson of my own. And I ensure you, it has nothing to do with 'friendship' or teamwork.''

Twilight, Applejack, and the others looked at Chthon with befuddled faces as they tried to figure out what the god had said. Discord clapped his claws joyously and asked. "Oh how fun! What did you had in mind Father?''

Chthon smirked wickedly as his wings flapped and he took to the air. He raised his claws as they burst into red and black, flame like aura. The six ponies all flinched as they prepared for what was coming.

"Just a little lesson of pain and suffering…the only lesson that they ever need to know,'' Chthon said as he made a couple of circular gestures with his aura, engulfed fists, leaving behind a black and red trail as he did so.

Finally Chthon raised his fists in the air as four, large, glowing red sigils appeared in the sky above in a line, each sigil containing complex designs and symbols. Upon seeing the sigils, Twilight, Fluttershy, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Pinkie Pie all retreated backwards a few steps with alarmed expressions on their faces.

"W-What's going?!'' Fluttershy asked, tears still present in her eyes.

"Those symbols…I've read about them,'' Twilight uttered, looking at the sinister, red sigils. "They appear when a summoning spell is being used. Which means…!''

Before Twilight could finished, Chthon called out in his dark voice. "Come to me my Heralds of Chaos! Serve your lord and master!''

Almost immediately after his command, massive plumes of black, red outlined essences burst form each of the sigils and proceeded to soar around the fire tinted skies wildly and aimlessly. The Twilight and the others just watched on, speechless and with perturbation as the black essences suddenly made their way downwards before striking the ground. On impact, there was a brief flash of red light, causing the six ponies to shield their eyes with stunned cries. Chthon grinned down at them as he lowered his arms and relaxed his claws, the aura around them subsided and the four sigils disappeared. As the red light finally ceased the six bearers of the Elements peered over their hooves, only for their eyes to be shot wide open with shock as well as fright while they each gazed upon the four entities before them.

"No…no t-this can't…possibly be happenin'?!'' Applejack spoke in a dread filled voice, her ears lowering in panic.

Twilight shook her head slowly as tears quickly came to her eyes, her ears too lowering in sadness and sorrow. Soon, her tears began to roll down her face, beginning to weep softly on the verge of breaking down completely as she stared into the eyes of her teacher and mentor…the eyes of the one she'd considered a mother.