"Where am I? And why do you look like me?"

"Not curious as to who I am?"

"That too."

A chuckle echoed through the darkness.

"I am not important, but my blind companion here is Justice. Don't worry, he won't speak. I'm doing all the talking today."

"Justice. I suppose it was stupid of me to think I could run from you."

"Correct."

"So what now?"

"You know, it's polite to introduce yourself."

"You already know who I am."

"Do I?" Another bark of laughter. "Do you?"

"I'm Twilight Sparkle."

"And?"

"What do you mean by that?"

"Are you just Twilight Sparkle?"

"I... I am also Celestia's personal protégé."

"And?"

"The Knight Protector of Equestria?"

"I don't know. Are you?"

"Enough with the stupid games! Just tel-"

"Do you really think you can take on a Spirit?"

"... Fine." A sigh. "I am... was... the Knight Protector of Equestria."

"Ah, skipping your time working under Nightmare Moon, I see."

There was a harsh silence.

"I'm also the Knight Commander of Nightmare Moon's army."

"There's no need to be so angry at me. After all, I did find your soul and bring it back together. Otherwise, there was no way we could be having this conversation right now. So I ask again, who are you?"

"I am a monster who committed sin after sin, who happily and wantonly wallowed in deepest of depravities. I am a monster who would rather die than face her judgment. Rather have my soul obliterated than be sent to Tartarus where I'd be punished, and where I'd be forced to remember everything I had done. To be reincarnated again and again, each time to only come back to my nightmares. To face those whom I had killed in cold blood and see the loathing and hate in their eyes, knowing I'd never be able to be forgiven or hide. I am a monster and a coward."

"Correct."

"I-I-I... I sacrificed everything damn it! I scarified every fucking thing! I did all of that for them. Friendship, family, morals, my future, my life. Everything! Even my sanity in the end. And what do I get out of it? For a random Spirit and Justice to personally kick my ass that's what! Well fuck you, Equestria! Fuck! You!"

"So who are you?"

"I am Twilight Sparkle, Celestia's personal protégé and her most faithful student. I am Knight Commander of Nightmare Moon's army and Knight Protector of Equestria. I am the former Element of Magic. I am a monster and a coward."

"And?"

"And... and... What else is there!?"

"You tell me."

"Gah!"

"How about an easier question then? Who am I?"

"You? You're... You're... A Spirit right? Of course you are, that's Justice standing beside you. You must be related to me in some way otherwise you would not be here right now, nor would you have been able to piece me back together. You can't be Magic for that belongs to Trixie now. Harmony? No... I don't think so at least. Harmony would not bother talking to a low life like me."

"It's not that hard."

"Shut up!"

Silence.

"Sorry. Just... Just let me think alright?"

Pause.

"It's not that simple. Surely not? Your Sacrifice aren't you? I'm Sacrifice. I, Twilight Sparkle, am Sacrifice. No. No! This is not happening. I should be punished, not elevated! This makes no sense! I won't go along with it. I just won't."

"You make it sound as though you have a choice. And do you really think this isn't a punishment? You will live forever, you will be eternal. Your nightmares, your sins, you actions will haunt you forever. You will not be able to run away, nor will you be able to change your shape. You will live for all eternity with the knowledge of what you are. And in the end, you will spend eternity trying to atone for your sins. Why else do you think Justice is here with us? Justice has passed judgement. So it, Twilight Sparkle. Say what you are."

"I am Twilight Sparkle, the Spirit of Sacrifice."

And then, there was light.

My body hurt. Every last inch of my body hurt as though I had been trampled by a herd of buffalos. Twice. Climbing shakily onto my hooves, a sense of vertigo overcame me and I collapsed back onto my rump. It took five tries before I could stand up properly and I was immensely glad that no one was around to see my epic failure. Making sure to stretch out my new body, I took a hesitant step forwards towards the edge of the cliff.

It's silly really, but when I was just a soul and lacked a body, the thing I missed the most was the wind through my mane and the scent on the breeze. The feeling of grass and leaves crunching underhoof was another thing. I suppose being dead can really snap everything into perspective.

Looking to my right, I blinked in surprise. There, on the ground, lay Celestia and the rest of my friends and before them was a statue of me. Though it warmed my heart and made me want to cry, not a single tear escaped. Working under Nightmare Moon forced me to lock my emotions away and while my heart screamed at me to cry, I did not know how.

Not anymore.

Why here? Why had they dropped me here? A test? Did they want me to wake them up or run away? I refused to believe it was pure coincidence.

Walking over, I stopped before Celestia, gazing down at her lovingly.

I suppose I could wake them up, for that was what they wanted. Right? To come back, to be hated and scorned by the whole of Equestria. But if I were to do that, then there would be a public outcry. By all intents and purposes, Equestria would implode into a new civil war and after everything I had done, I was not about to let that happen again.

No, I was not meant to wake them up.

One thousand years. That was how long Nightmare Moon was gone so it was as good as a timeframe as anything. A one thousand year exile from my friends. To wander the world, help those in need, and learn. Well, after I made sure Equestria had finished rebuilding. I'd act in the background, helping out where I can without revealing myself. The public would know of my existence, but not my friends. I'll hide as the unicorn Twilight Sparkle in some corner of Equestria. I'll constantly move. I'll be scorned and hated, but I'll help out.

Who knows? Maybe I'll even visit the gryphon kingdom and see the dragon nation.

One thousand years without friends, without family. The only thing I'll have are my sins and nightmares to keep my company.

Well, I better get started then.

My name is Twilight Sparkle, and a new chapter has begun.

For all of us.