(A/N: Sorry about the long wait for an update! I worked on some of this in school after PSATs, so it may sound a bit rushed. All in all, enjoy reading!)

I opened my eyes, and saw the shadow-me frozen in midair. It was merely inches away from my face, ready to gouge out my precious innards in the name of evil. I took a step back from the petrified enemy. Wait, how is it that I can still move? I thought to myself. I asked to nopony in particular, “What the buck is going on?” In response, I could hear an innocent giggle that bounced about the room. I felt shivers go down my spine and I stood completely still when, “BOO!” yelled Pinkie Pie OUT OF NOWHERE! I jumped about ten feet in the air, and my wings were glued to the sides of my body (Flutterscared). I’m pretty sure I yelped out of fear as well.

“You’re really easy to scare, Shadow!” said a certain pink, curly-maned party pony. I stared, incredulously at the pink marvel standing before me, laughing at my little “episode. How in Equestria was she here? I queried my own mind, whom of course, did not know the answer. “Pinkie, how are-“ I began before she started rambling, as usual. “Well apparently some evil pony is messing with your dreams and I was really, really, REALLY worried about you. So then I snuck out of Twilight’s house and got into this creepy little dream of yours to help!” She said with only one noticeable breath.

“You did this?” I pointed to my frozen enemy. Pinkie shook her head, no. “I can’t have possibly done that, I don’t know magic!” She explained. And yet she’s here somehow? “So how are you helping me again?” I asked. As a response, she walked over to the shadow-me and took off its armor. As she laid each piece on the ground, they melted. Then, she reached into her mystery pocket and handed me a whole set of dark blue armor.

“Where did you get the armor of one of Princess Luna’s guards?” I studied it. It was in great condition, and was made out of a very resilient metal. It would take only something as strong as the Princess’ magic to even dent it. Pinkie giggled and answered, “Nope! Spoilers! Can’t tell you, otherwise the writer will figure out what chapter to put it in context, and it might confuse the audience.”

Somewhere in America, a young man in front of his computer facepalmed.

“Audience? Writer?” I was confused. “What are you talking about?” To answer this question, she forcibly put my armor on for me. It was the perfect fit; How did Pinkie find this? “Nope! Like I said no spoilers! I can’t let his few readers learn about the upcoming bat-umm….Ba...BAKING COMPETITION! Yupyup, that should work for now, I can't let you know what's coming up.”

Now I was getting really confused. “Pinkie! Tell me what’s going on?” Pinkie looked nervous now, stepping back. “Oops, said too much!” She smiled and continued. “I gotta go before we break the script and the author rages ‘cause of me.” With that, she vanished.

I felt my eye twitch with minor annoyance. “PIIIIIIINNKIEEEEEE!” I yelled, but I knew she couldn’t hear me. I felt a strong wind blow through the room, and I watched as my adversary unfroze and pounced onto the spot where I was minutes ago.

“How did you-“ It snarled before I took a head-first tackle at its gut.

TEN VIOLENT MINUTES LATER

We stood opposite of each other, both of us battered and exhausted. Without his special armor, he wasn’t as much of a threat. But despite my strong Guard Armor, he could still find weak points and have effective results.

I took another head-first charge at him, and he reciprocated. Seconds before we collided, I spun around and BUCKED THE HELL OUT OF HIM.  I turned and saw him staggering back in pain. Thank you, Applejack! I charged at him, an aimed an upraised hoof towards his horn. This attempt failed, and the douchebag noticed me charging at him. Evil-me lowered his horn and shot a strong beam of magic at me.

My back met the wall with a hard SLAM! I tried to get back up, but my pained wings and spine hurt too much.  My evil adversary cantered towards me, his deadly intent clear. I started to feel paralyzed; as if my fear and pain took over my body.  That was until, thank Luna, a whole in the ceiling appeared and dropped out two familiar ponies.

Dusk and Fire Storm weree "pony-piled" on top of Shadow-Me. They got up immediately after realizing on whom they landed. The evil clone stood back up, a bit dazed. I took advantage of this by rushing at him one final time. He saw me again, and shot another beam at me. I dodged and sent my own beam, one composed of lightning magic. The clone was the one to hit the wall. He was still conscious when I went to check to him. He couldn't move; If he could he would have by then. So, I did what first came to mind: I swung a powerful hoof and broke his horn.

His scream of agony echoed throughout the room, and his body began to glow. It was so bright, the three of us had to look away to avoid being blinded. "NOT THE LAST!" I heard him yell before a small explosion shook the ground beneath us. We looked back and saw only a small, black scorch mark on the wall and floor where my clone had once stood.

I turned to my reunited allies, and saw that they were quite exhausted and hurt as well. Fire began, "Wow, your problem seemed a lot worse then ours." I tilted my head. Dusk continued, "We met back up at an intersection in the maze. Then the paths behind us closed. We walked together for a while, then out of nowhere," He showed his hooves, which were covered in scratches and bloody bite marks. "Shadowy dog creature things came out of nowhere and attacked us." I looked to Fire, who was shaking a little, and finally noticed her wing had a bite mark as well.

It was then a huge light began to shine and envelop the room once more. My sight was now filled with darkness again. I could hear voices. A posh-ish voice, "Girls! Quickly! I think they're waking up!" Another voice, a quieter one, saying "Oh, m-my. I hope they're okay." I slowly opened my eyes, too see where in Equestria I was.

Instead I find a huge pink fluff of mane in my face. "GOOOOD MOOOORNING!!!!!" Pinkie Pie greeted loudly. Now, I was awake. I turned my head and saw a Fire and Dusk to my right; we were in a hospital beds. "Pinkie! Calm down, you're scaring them!" I heard Twilight's voice reprimanding the party pony.

I was quite happy to see that the all of the Mane 6 had come to see us. But why were we in a hosptal? I heard Fire start to talk, she sounded a little hoarse (LOL GENERIC HORSE/PONY PUN DERP).

"What happened to us, Twilight?" The purple unicorn opened her mouth to explain when a dark blue Alicorn entered the room. The Mane 6 bowed, and Luna spoke, "I think I woudl be best to explain."

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

SOMEWHERE IN THE EQUESTRIAN BADLANDS, 100 MILES AWAY FROM EQUESTRIA MAJOR

"So, you have failed?" The Still-Anonymous-Antagonist said with an angry snarl. "How did you fail such an easy task? I gave you some of the powers the Nightmare gave me! Explain that to me, idiot!"

"I'm sorry, My Queen." Clone-Shadow bowed at his superior's hooves. His horn was bandaged and magically replaced. "There was an unexpected...illogical interference. I cannot explain it, but I swear to you, My Regent of Darkness, I will not fail you next time!" With that, he teleported away for his next mission.

Once he was gone, the "Queen" summoned a dozen of Shadow Wolves. They each bowed to her and  and waited for her command. "Follow that one in the shadows. If he fails me again, do not hesitate, do not forgive. Punish him as though he was stupid pony in the way of our rise! I command you to kill him upon his next failure, and make it a long death; make sure he suffers."

The Wolves sunk into the shadows and followed Shadow's clone, ready to do their job upon the circumstance.

The Queen could only smile. She turned to look at a mirror. Her once purple cape had turned into large black wings. Her horn had elongated from its original size. Her coat had turned to black upon the fateful meeting with the Nightmare. With this new-found power and a titanic army at her command, Trixie felt that it was about time for another Great and Powerful return to Ponyville. Her objective: To destroy those meddling humans. She gave an evil laugh that echoed throughout her chambers, and her Cutie Mark (without her notice) began to distort. The Nightmare had greater plans. Next Chapter: Trixie, Why? Estimated time remaining: 14 Minutes