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That Same Night

Twilight's Mindscape

Twilight Sparkle

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I felt a sharp pain in my abdomen, I attempted to find out was causing it, only to find out I couldn't move my head. 'Huh? What's going on here?' I thought, I tried to move the rest of my body but failed in that regard as well.

“Dusk, you must move faster than that, if you are ever going to face a griffon in one-on-one combat.” A loud voice said from somewhere.

“I know that Claw, but how can I do so while wearing this DAMN armour!?”

'I've heard that voice before, the one that spoke to me at Sugar Cube Corner.'

“It's too heavy!” Finally everything in my vision came to light. A huge, black dragon was directly in front of me...or I think it was me.

“Silent Dusk, please. Your mother made that armour for you, it's meant to be heavy so you can build up muscle faster. Now come at me again.”

'Wait, Silent Dusk? Is that her real name?' I pondered that for a moment before returning my focus to scene before me. 'I believe, I'm seeing this from her perspective. A memory perhaps?'

Silent gazed at her abdomen and I could small gash along her right side. 'Ouch' She than looked back at the dragon and from what I can tell growled like an angry timber wolf.

“Oh ho ho, that's the spirit Dusk! Now let's go!” At that, the dragon charged at Silent.

I watched quietly. Silent teleported behind the scaly beast, unleashed several sharp ice shards at the base of his left wing. It froze instantly. The dragon's tail whipped out, Silent flew over it and bucked the dragon's head with her hind legs. She vanished again when he swiped a claw at her.

They repeated these same moves for several minutes, until Silent Dusk eventually collapsed due to the weight of her armour. “I'm done, anymore of this and I'll faint.” She grunted. Taking off her helmet, I got a good look at Silent's form off of the helmet's reflective surface. A pale purple coat, a flowing dark-purple mane speckled with tiny stars, grey draconic eyes, fanged teeth, a long pointed horn and large feathered wings.

'An Alicorn? But I have never heard of a fifth Alicorn. Than again, she looks a lot like Nightmare Moon.' My pupils became pinpricks, I began to shudder internally. 'Who is she? Why does she resemble Luna's alter ego?' Before I could continue my panic attack Silent Dusk spoke up, disrupting my thoughts.

“Where is my mother anywho? She said she would be back after our sparing session.” Silent asked, tilting her head to the side.

“Well she should be along shortly. You know how it is, being the ruler of a nation isn't easy. Especially with the Griffons demanding more land for them to inhabit.” Duskclaw snorted while scratching his neck scales.

Silent growled. “I hate griffons, and I can understand why I'm being put this rough session with you...even if this cursed armour is too heavy.” She removed each piece of the armour and they landed with a noisy 'clink' after hitting the ground.

'I've heard Silent Dusk mention her 'mother' a number of times now, I wonder who she is?' I don't know why, but I had a dark feeling in my gut that Nightmare was somehow involved. I just hope it isn't was I think it is...

“Daughter? You were expecting me?” A very familiar voice said from behind Silent.

Turning around, my worst fears were realized. Before Silent Dusk and myself was the wicked mare of darkness herself, Nightmare Moon.

'No-no, Luna - no Nightmare Moon had a daughter. I didn't know that, it wasn't even recorded. Ah...um...no WHO ARE YOU? SILENT DUSK?!'

'You want to know so badly Twilight?'

'Ugh...you can hear me!?'

'I can because we share the same body. Unless you didn't already guess that.'

'H-hold on are you really-'

'Nightmare Moon's Daughter? Yes, I am.'

I could feel my fear and anger rising. 'Why are you here in my body and mind?'

'That would be Celestia's doing. Besides fake mare, I despise you.'

'What?'

'It was because of you, that my mother was defeated, and sealed away AGAIN! It was also because of your Princess that I'm here while you live a life that should have been rightfully mine!!'

'No! Nightmare was trying to kill me and my friends! And the Princess isn't to blame for your faults! If you were sealed like you claim, it was probably due to you following Nightmare Moon's coup against Princess Celestia!' I fumed.

Within here I could feel her own rising anger and hate. 'How dare you!! Your precious princess has been lying to you, your entire, stolen life! My Mother is not a monster! Celestia is!!'

'You're wrong! Celestia she-'

'SILENCE!! I've had it with you! I'm going to make your friends hate you by the time this is over! And after that, Celestia will feel the pain of being sealed away like my Mother and I!! Soon, very soon Equestria will know and We will have OUR Eternal Night!'

She cut off her connection with me instantly after that explosive outburst. I felt myself being back into consciousness, so I just curled up into a ball and cried my eyes out.