Chapter 3

Twilight quickly duck inside a barrel and hope that the dark unicorn wouldn't find her. Soon she heard hooves steps and the noise of a sword being dragged on the ground as it got closer. Twilight close her eyes and prayed that thing will just move on, which in her luck, it did. As the dark unicorn hooves steps vanish, Twilight let a tiny sigh and started to think. She has no idea how many swords she pick up during her escape from that thing but she guess it has to be around twenty-nine.

“Twenty-nine useless swords...and it rained like what? A billion?” thought Twilight as she mess up her mane in frustration “I'm never going to find it while that thing is out there!”

Realizing this wasn't getting her anywhere, Twilight cleared her mind and started to think again. The only thing that went through her mind was only one thing and that was “What is my true self?” As she thought even more, an image was slowly fading into her mind....that's when it hit her!

“THE LIBRARY!” yelled Twilight as she got it but that's when a white sword slice the top of the barrel and revealed Twilight to the dark unicorn and the only thing she could say was “...hi...”

The nameless unicorn watch as Twilight dash from the dark unicorn as it cut the barrel in half and took chase again. Soon the nameless unicorn realizes where Twilight was heading and quickly took off. As Twilight made a sharp turn, she could see her house in the distance and quickly smiled with joy but that smiled quickly vanish as the dark unicorn blasted right through a destroyed building and block her path. Thinking on her hooves, she uses her magic to disappeared and reappeared behind the unicorn.

“Why didn't I did that before!?” ask Twilight to herself in anger as she was getting tier of running and quickly teleported into her house.

Near her reading stand was a beautiful and golden sword as it was cover in a light, which was coming from a crack in the roof. As Twilight grabs it with her mouth, the dark unicorn slice opens the door and slowly walks inside. It was surprise to see Twilight holding the golden sword but it quickly charge at her. This time, Twilight didn't run, she just stood there and waited for her chance to strike as the dark unicorn got even closer. As she saw her chance, she swung her sword.

***

Meanwhile, AJ was running for her life as a giant boulder was rolling behind her in great speed. As she ran, she step on a hidden switch and it active a storm of spike darts.

“OH HORSESHOES!” swore AJ as she dodges each darts while keeping her speed the same.

As she entered the exit of the hallway, the boulder came to a crashing stop as the doorway was too small for it to pass through. As AJ lean on the wall to catch her breath, she active an other trap. The floor under her vanishes and was replacing with a pit of snakes.

“SNAKES! WHY DOES IT ALWAYS HAVE TO BE SNAKES!” cried AJ as took out her rope and swung it to a statue of a earth pony and it grab on to its neck.

As she climbed out of the pit, AJ collapse to the stone floor and tried to recover her strength but something quickly made her rise to her hooves and force her to walk down the tunnel. It was like somepony was helping her...that’s when she heard the voice again.

“I'll take it from here, partner.” said the familiar voice from under AJ “You just rest, and you’re going to need it!”

“W-What th-” that was all AJ said as she didn't felt her legs anymore and was like she was being carried but she wasn't.

As minutes pass by, AJ finally ask the voice something as she felt rested and up to strength again “Who are you?”

Within the darkness, AJ could hear a slight laughter then followed by a loud sigh. That's when AJ legs stop moving on their own and the voice spoke again “I reckon you could have figured that out on your own but it looks like I was wrong...”

“What do you mean?” quickly replied AJ as she felt her legs returning and fearing the voice will vanish.

“My name is ______ but I bet you can't hear it right?”

AJ did a quick nod and was hoping to hear the voice again but it didn't return...but an other voice took its place.

“...YOUR A LIAR!” screamed the new voice as it roar across the tunnel and into AJ mind.

As AJ open her eyes, she found herself in ponyville again. Before she could question how she got there, Applebloom came to her side and started to push her to the large group of town folks as they gather in the town square.

“Applebloom?” cried AJ as two large colts grab her and put her on the stage and next to her was a cage as it was cover with a large blanket.

Soon the folks started to cheer as AJ was giving a rock and was soon ask to remove the blanket from the cage. Having no real choice, AJ removed the blanket and soon saw a badly hurt unicorn but AJ couldn't make it out which it was as the unicorn was covered in a black shadow. Then that's when it happen, the unicorn was hit with a storm of rocks. Realizing it was coming from the town folks and even Applebloom, she quickly stops them.

“STOP!” yelled AJ at the top of her lungs “WHAT IN APPLE PIE ARE YOU PONIES DOING!?”

Then that's when the unicorn called out for AJ “...A-Applejack...please tell...them the truth!”

AJ turn to the cage and she could have sworn she knew that voice but couldn't place her hat on it from who it belong to “...w-what do you mean?” replied AJ as she got closer to the cage.

“...Tell them you and the others were the ones who ran off and caused the princess her sickness...please...” cried the unicorn as it grab on to AJ shoulders.

Before AJ could answer the unicorn, the town folks soon turn into evil shadows and asking if the unicorn was telling the truth or not?. That's when something took over her body and spoke in her place.

“She just is lying! Don't believe a word from that dirty snake!” said AJ as she tosses the rock that she was holding and hit the unicorn right in the forehead.

That's when the shadows started to laugh and cheer as they threw even more rocks. AJ quickly got control of her body as she saw that the shadow unicorn was as the unicorn was covered in blood.

“TWILIGHT!!!” screamed AJ as she started to freak out and cry at the same time.

“...w-why...aren't we friends...” whispered Twilight as she shed a bloody tear.

AJ could only scream at the top of her lungs as she just sat there...within the darkness as it consume her.

***

Twilight was thrown to the wall as her golden sword was destroyed after it made contact with the dark unicorn. Before she could move, the unicorn pointed its blade in front of her face and smiled.

“...b-but I thought I was right...” cried Twilight as she shake with fear.

Then that's when the nameless unicorn appeared next to Twilight and spoke “You thought wrong, you foolish filly!”

Suddenly, almost like time slowed down as the dark unicorn swung its sword at Twilight, the nameless unicorn started to speak again but with fear in her voice “Please! Think before it’s too late!”

Twilight quickly tried to figure out what made her as the white sword slowly reach her neck. As she thought hard, everything she liked went through her mind but nothing but books pop into her mind...until something appeared into her mind...five ponies pop into her thoughts...

“MY FRIENDS!” shouted Twilight as her element of magic crown appeared and covered her with a bright purple aura.

Seeing this, the nameless unicorn smiled with pride and joy as she watch as something came forth from Twilight's heart. It was a hilt.

“TAKE THIS!” yelled Twilight as she pulled out a rusted long sword from within her heart with her magic and unleashed a rainbow wave attack as she yelled “YUUJON WAVE!”.

The dark unicorn was able to block the wave somehow and was toss across the room and even blasted right through the wall of the library and into the street. As Twilight's crown vanishes, a dark voice called out her name as she stood up. The purple unicorn froze with great shock and confusing as she stared the one who called out her name...standing in the street as its dark aura vanish, was Twilight herself but her purple coat was white as snow and her eyes was yellow like a wild cat.

“Next time, I won't lose!” smiled the white Twilight as she just vanish into thin air “Count on it!”

As her shock and confusing finally pass, Twilight quickly turn to the nameless unicorn and started to ask a whole bunch of questions like where is she, how did she do that attack with the sword, who or what was that thing just now and so on. That's when the nameless unicorn just covered Twilight's mouth and sighed as she was getting sick of all of the questions and just answered with “Later!” Hearing this, Twilight started to talk in anger but it was all block out as the nameless unicorn kept her hoof on Twilight's mouth. As Twilight finally calm down, the nameless unicorn remove her hoof and spoke “We better get going to Neverfree forest, before this town is consume...”

“Consume?” simply said Twilight as she tip her head to the side.

The nameless unicorn put her hoof on Twilight's shoulder and both of them disappeared and reappeared near the entrance of the forest. That's when Twilight could see a dark mist covering the ruin ponyville.

“This mist won't stop until everything is consume by it” explained the nameless unicorn as she push Twilight into the forest and kept speaking “If you fail to active the temple of Neverfree before the mist reach it, then say goodbye of ever returning home, Twilight Sparkle”.

“WHAT!?” shouted Twilight in fear as she heard the unicorn.

“You heard me, Twilight Sparkle” said the unicorn in a cold tone.

A few minutes pass and Twilight was examining the rusty sword that came from her heart and notices something on the hilt guard of the blade. It was her cutie mark but it was completely covered in rust. Seeing this as she walk behind Twilight, the unicorn finally explained something to her.

“That sword your holding with your magic, is the key of getting you home but as you can see from its pitiful look, it can't do nothing right now.” spoke the unicorn as she handed a brown sheathe to Twilight.

“...so that's why we're heading to the temple then?” questioned Twilight as she place the blade inside the sheathe and place it on her back.

“Yes but also to reactive the temple. If you reactive the temple, then the mist will be push back.”.

“What is this mist?” ask Twilight as she remembered the ruin ponyville being covered in it “...and what did you mean back there, how or why did I destroyed the whole world?”

Twilight waited for an answer from her but she never got one as the unicorn just kept walking. As they walk through the forest, Twilight could hear whispers of different voices but what scared her the most was one of the voices...it was her voice.

“Don't be afraid, Twilight Sparkle.” answered the unicorn as she turn to her “They won't hurt you.”

With no other reason, Twilight believed her and kept walking but a little faster as she wanted to leave this forest as quick as she can. Soon enough, they found a cave and the nameless unicorn explained it’s the entrance of the temple and both entered.

Twilight didn't know how long it took to reach the heart of the temple but they finally arrived. The heart of the temple was a very wide and huge chamber with a large door on the other side of the room. The door had a symbol of some kind within the middle and symbols of trees surround it. As Twilight step forward, a dark aura appeared in front of the door.

***

The blood...the look in her eyes...it didn't left AJ mind as she lay there, in the endless dark void as the image of Twilight burned into her mind. So much races through AJ mind that she felt something...she was smiling...she was going insane. Soon she started to laugh as her sane side was burning away into the darkness...until she heard a voice.

“Snap out of it partner!” ordered the voice as a bright light covered the void “Your strong enough not to lose your mind! I should know...”

Hearing the voice as the light blinded her, AJ return to her normal self and found herself in a wide and large chamber. It was the heart of the temple and across from her was Spike and a cloaked unicorn which she knew it was Twilight. AJ could see as Twilight was using her magic to break open a large door while Spike look on. As AJ called out for Spike and Twilight, a powerful dark and angry aura unleashed from Twilight. This dark aura was very strong that it started to shake the ground. AJ watch as Twilight turn around and was now facing her but was still using her magic to open the door.

“So you came then, liar!” spoke Twilight in great anger “You come to die first, I take it?”

Just by seeing Twilight, AJ soon felt great fear as it attack her body. Every inch of her was shaking like if there was an earthquake going on.

“What's a matter, liar?” teased Twilight as she return facing the door while Spike ran over to AJ “Are you an afraid of me? Well good because you and the rest of my former friends are going to pay...”

Finally as Twilight face away from her, the fear quickly vanish and AJ was able to speak again “What do you mean former friends and what are you doing down here?” ask AJ as Twilight almost broke through the door.

“I'm going to burn this world into ashes but first I need the others to do this!” laugh Twilight in an evil way.

Just before the door gave way to Twilight's magic, a cowboy rope just tie around Twilight's neck and pulled her away from the door. As Twilight hit the floor, her magic on the door vanish as she lost focus on it. Before she could get up, AJ quickly push her down with one leg and spoke “Look sugar cube, I don't know what's wrong with you but if you’re going to hurt everypony then I'm going to stop you!”

Twilight tried to use her magic to get AJ off but AJ element necklace was protecting her.

“...You’re lucky I'm not at full power, you liar!” snorted Twilight as she look away.

Hearing the word "liar" again, AJ tip her hat back in confusing and ask why Twilight kept calling her that and what did she mean, not at full power?

“...You saw it didn't you? How you and the town folks threw rocks at me! You lied to them!” shouted Twilight as red tears ran down her cheeks “YOU AND THE OTHERS SAID I WAS YOUR FRIEND! BUT YOU AND THE OTHER LEFT ME!!!” shouted Twilight as her anger grew “...left me to suffer...all alone...” whispered Twilight as she buried her face into the ground.

AJ remembered the event but it wasn't real...was it? While Spike was confuse from the whole thing. Before AJ or Spike could ask a question, the broken door that Twilight was breaking through, started to be bang on, almost like something was pounding it. Hearing the bangs, Twilight quickly raised her face from the ground and smiled as the door finally caved in. As the door hit the ground, a dark mist came shooting out and covered the ground. Before AJ could react, a black lasso soared out of the room where the door once stood and grab her by the neck and soon blasted her with a black lightning bolt and then toss her across the room and into the wall. As AJ slide down the wall, a figured walk out of the other room and help Twilight up and threw away the rope that AJ use to tie her with. Spike was lost for words as he saw this figure as it walk pass him and over to AJ. As AJ open her eyes, she was shock to see herself. This version of her had a black mane and red eyes.

“Hello sour cube.” smiled the black mane AJ.

***

The dark aura slowly form into Twilight herself but covered in blood as the real Twilight look on. The blood Twilight raised her head and was now face to face with Twilight. Twilight could see the pain of sadness and hate in her copy.

“...don't active the temple!” begged the blood Twilight as she started to cry blood from her hurt eyes “Please! I beg of you!”

Twilight turned to the nameless unicorn for help but she couldn't be found anywhere. So Twilight face her blood covered self and answered her “...s-sorry but I most. If I don't then I can't go home.”.

“...but you'll just bring more pain to me...” cried the blood Twilight as she summon a freaking huge sword from the floor “...so I can't allow you to do so!”

Twilight quickly drew her sword as her fake self swung its sword. Both blades made contact and sparks soar from the clash. Twilight was surprise to see her rusty sword didn't scatter apart from being hit by that huge sword or how she pushing back the huge sword.

“It's a part of you!” answered the nameless unicorn within Twilight's mind “As long as your heart is true and believe in the magic of friendship, then it will never let you down.”

“Thanks for the head up...oh by the way, where are you anyway!?” shouted Twilight in anger as she broke the sword lock and did a dodge roll to the left as the blood Twilight swung her sword again.

“If you’re asking for help...then call my name. It’s _______!” explained the nameless unicorn.

Again, Twilight couldn't hear the nameless unicorn name and just kept fighting her fake self. Seeing that Twilight still couldn't hear her name, the nameless unicorn just sighs in disappointment. As Twilight dodge again as her fake self did a jump slash, she charged at her fake self and was able to cut her on the face. As her fake self step back in pain, Twilight did a follow up slash by cutting her fake self right arm and the lower part of her body. Twilight was suddenly surprise to see not blood but black mist as it shot out of the fake Twilight wounds.

***

Meanwhile, AJ was buck in the face by her evil self and crash into an other wall. As she stood up, a black lasso grabs her neck again and was toss into the air again.

“Hope you’re ready sour cube!” teased the evil AJ as she spun the real AJ around and around and blasting the lasso with black lighting.

AJ couldn't do anything to stop this attack and was helpless. The evil AJ stop sending the black lighting and started to raise AJ to the ceiling of the chamber, until AJ started to be dragged on the ceiling in a large circle. This didn't last long as she was toss and slam into the ground below. As she tried to get free, the evil AJ started to slam her to the ground, over and over again. Finally, the evil AJ stop and toss AJ into a wall again but with so much force that AJ became stuck in the wall. As she tried to get out of the wall, two strong hooves crash into her, as the evil AJ started to buck her four times and then pulled her out and toss her to the floor. AJ was beyond hurt as her whole body was broken and covered in blood. Noticing that her hat was next to her since it fell off during her little ride in the air, she slowly reach for it but was quickly denied as the evil AJ stomp on her hoof. Seeing AJ scream in great pain, Spike quickly face Twilight and beg her to stop this but he could see her in great pain as she was holding her head.

***

The blood Twilight started to swing her huge sword like a mad colt and the only thing that the real Twilight could do was just block. Each clash that the blades made when they made contact unleashed colorful sparks. Twilight started to feel worn down and didn't want to drag out this fight any longer, so she pushes back her fake self and unleashed the attack she did back in the ruin ponyville.

“Yuujou wave!” shouted Twilight as she sent the rainbow wave at the blood covered Twilight.

The rainbow wave hit and dragged the fake Twilight as she block it but her sword scatter a part and she was dragged into the large door and she just fell to the ground. The real Twilight fell to her knees as the attack she unleashed drains her strength.

“...never...trust your f-friends...” whispered the fake Twilight as she faded away into thin air.

Twilight stood up as the large door opened and a warm light covered her and the whole room. Outside of the forest, the symbol of honesty appeared. As the light faded, Twilight could see her rusted sword was less rusty and a glowing star on the sword hilt while the other four stars lay dark and rusted.

“You done well, Twilight Sparkle” said the nameless unicorn as she reappeared next to her.

Twilight quickly turn to her and slam her sword into ground and shouted “I thought you said, if I reactive the temple, the sword will recover? It’s still rusted!”.

“...I was hoping this temple will fully recover it but it looks we need to head to the other temples as well.” explained the unicorn as she walk away.

But Twilight quickly blocked her path and shouted in anger as she said “We're not leaving until you tell me what's going on and how I got here!”

“...fine, I will explain everything I know....”

***

Spike was freaking out as Twilight just fainted for no real reason and was trying to wake her. Hearing all the fuss, the evil AJ shouted to him that she was coming but first she needed to finish up here.

“This will be a lot more fun, if you put up a good fight, sour cube but it’s time to end this!” said the evil AJ as she rose her front leg and was about crash AJ head in but something happen...

AJ open her good eye and she could see everything was moving slowly. Then that's when she heard the voice again.

“Hurry! Call my name!” ordered the voice as time started to move faster “I can't slow down time for much longer!”

AJ shut her eye and soon found herself back in the sea of large apple trees. Standing in front of her was the mare from before. She was calling out her name but AJ couldn't hear her....until she heard Twilight voice as she whispered AJ name while she was still pass out. Finally, AJ heard the brown mane pony name.

As time return to normal speed, AJ quickly opened her eyes and a powerful red aura blasted the evil AJ off and across the room. As she recovered, she could see AJ stand up and shout “Element release!” The red aura sent out a powerful blinded light and as it faded, AJ pick up her hat and put it on as she was wearing a cowboy outfit and on her side was a rope/whip weapon and the hilt it had was an apple diamond.

“Shoujiki!” grin AJ as she tips her hat forward.

The evil AJ tip her hat forward and grin as well “I reckon this fight is going to be fun after all, right sour cube?”.

“You bet, you dirty snake imposter!” snorted AJ as she spit and drew her rope.

Evil AJ drew her rope too and both ponies stare each other down and waited for one of them to make a move. Finally, both of them attack at the same time by whipping their ropes at each other. Both ropes clash at each other and gave off powerful shock waves as they made contact. Suddenly, AJ rope got pass the black rope and whip the evil AJ in the face. As she screamed in pain, a black mist shot out of the wound but it quickly faded as the wound healed. Now fire in her eyes, the evil AJ filled her rope with very powerful dark energy. Seeing this, AJ did the same but her rope was filled with white energy. As both ropes were max out with energy, both ponies unleashed it at each other as they swung their weapons. Both ropes clash at each other and created a large explosion which made the chamber collapse on to itself.

Somewhere in Everfree forest, a bright flash appeared and three figures fell to the ground. It was Evil AJ, Spike and Twilight.

“w-what just happen?” ask Spike as he rubs his butt.

“I reckon it was Me.” said Evil AJ as she pointed to Twilight who was still pass out.

Spike was confuse why this AJ would say “me” as she pointed to Twilight but that didn't matter right, what matter was if Twilight was okay?

“We'll be fine, sour cube” explained AJ as she watch as Spike was trying to wake Twilight “But this is your chance to leave you know.”

Spike quickly turn to evil AJ and had tears in his eyes as he spoke “I can't leave her! I would never forgive myself, Applejack!”.

“Hold on, cry baby! My name is Kcajelppa, got it!” snorted KE in anger.

“Kca...what? Is that even a real name?” thought Spike as he turn to Twilight and hope she wakes up soon “...Please Twilight, what's wrong with you?”.

Within the entrance of the temple, a cloak figured came walking out and was carrying a knock out Applejack as the rain finally stop.

End of chapter 3