Back to present...

Spike sat at the side of the bed, his eyes wide in disbelief as he listened to Sweetie Belle’s terrible recollection. For so long he had thought Sweetie Belle’s cutie mark somehow represented some type of connection to Rarity since she had the three diamonds just like her sister’s, and the blood that covered them was a symbol of that connection being taken away from her.

This was just a theory he had; a theory proven wrong now.

Her cutie mark was a symbol of her deed, a constant reminder of the life that she so brutally took.

“I woke up,” Sweetie Belle said as she tried to finish her story, though it was becoming more and more difficult for the mare. She saw how shocked her dragon was and she could only imagine what Spike was thinking.

“I woke up and looked for her body... but I didn’t find it.”

Spike looked at Sweetie Belle in confusion.

“You didn’t find it? But how?” Spike asked, trying to keep his composure as calm as possible.

“I don’t know,” Sweetie Belle answered as she looked down at the bed sheets, “I looked everywhere for her body, but I just couldn’t find it Spike. There was...”, she paused for a moment.

Spike could see how hard this was for Sweetie Belle to tell all this to him but he couldn’t let her stop now. He needed to hear all of what she had held so long to.

“Was what? What was there?”

Sweetie Belle looked up at him with held back tears.

“There was nothing. No body, no blood, just nothing. It was like it never happened.”

It made sense to Spike but it also didn’t make any type of sense at the same time. When Diamond Tiara was reported missing, everypony, including Sweetie Belle, had helped look for her. They looked in Ponyville and had even ventured out in the Everfree Forest to see if she was there but there was no sign of her or any indication of foul play.

But somepony had to have known. If she killed her, then who would take the body and cover it up?

“But if you didn’t take her body, then who would? Who would cover it up and not say anything?” Spike persisted.

“I don’t know!” Sweetie Belle snapped at him, making the dragon jerk back a bit, “I just know I...I killed her.”

The held back tears that the mare had been holding back began to slowly trickle down her face and her voice became suddenly weak.

“I’m sorry... I didn’t mean to snap like that.”

Never before had Spike seen his marefriend in such a confusing and painful state. She was a mix of pain, anger, regret, and sadness. It was obvious that she regretted what she did but Spike couldn’t help but ask himself one question.

Would I have done the same?

What if Diamond Tiara had said such cruel things about Rarity to him? Would he had taken the same course of action? Half of him said that he wouldn’t and that Sweetie Belle wasn’t justified in what she did. Taking a life could never be justified, but then there was the other half that completely said the exact opposite.

Diamond Tiara deserved what she got.

He couldn’t help but feel that the mare got what was coming to her. Sweetie Belle had to deal with her petty bullying for years and then to come out and say that Rarity deserved to die? This half of him could see himself killing Diamond Tiara for doing something like that... and possibly doing worse than what Sweetie Belle did.

“Sweetie Belle... I don’t blame you,” Spike said, making the mare look at him with shock, “I can’t say that I would do the same, but I’m not sure either.”

“What do you mean?” she asked weakly.

Spike sighed, not knowing what he should be saying or feeling right now and all he could do was be honest.

“I mean that I can’t say that I wouldn’t do the same either. What she said; she should’ve never said what she did about Rarity, but the way you...”

He didn’t want to say it. Trying to imagine his lover actually killing somepony was hard in itself, but to actually say what she did was even harder for him.

“You think I’m a monster, don’t you?” Sweetie Belle asked as more tears fell.

Many would say yes, that she was a monster and probably deserved nothing but scorn and punishment, but he didn’t see that. Instead, he saw Sweetie Belle, the pony he grew to love, the mare that he would do anything for.

But maybe it was his love for her that was making him blind to see the severity of what she had done.

“Sweetie Belle, I don’t see you as that. I still love you and what you did... well... we all make mistakes.”

“It’s not just a simple mistake Spike!” Sweetie Belle exclaimed as she now clenched the sheets and gritted her teeth through a barrage of tears, “I killed her! Don’t you understand that?!”

“I do,” he said calmly.

“Then why aren’t you mad at me?!"

Spike scooted over to Sweetie Belle and looked her straight into her watery eyes. She expected for him to scorn her and damn her for killing Diamond Tiara but instead he was doing the opposite; he was understanding and still loving.

“Because I can’t be. Even if I tried... I really can’t. What you did was... understandable... and I don’t see you as any different. What you did doesn't define you.”

Sweetie Belle looked at Spike for a moment in disbelief but soon turned into a weak smile. She went into his embrace and hugged him.

“Spike...” was all she could say now as they both held each other.

No more words needed to be said.

Later that night, Twilight and Pinkie’s room...

“It’s not your fault Twilight. Spike really likes her and it would be kind of mean to say no,” Pinkie Pie said with a gentle smile as she sat on the side of their bed.

“No, it was my fault. I gave him the okay to do it and looked what that caused,” Twilight said in annoyance, sitting on the other side.

She wasn't annoyed with Pinkie, seeing that her pink mare was simply trying to comfort her, but annoyed with herself. Twilight repeated over and over in her head that she should’ve said no and hated the fact that she didn’t go with her first thought.

All she wanted was a normal day, a day without the memories and the constant reminder of Luna being on the watch for them but it seemed she couldn’t even manage that. Even when she tried her hardest, she yet still failed to do such a simple task.

Pinkie Pie grimaced a bit, trying her hardest to cheer her marefriend up a bit but it wasn’t proving to be the best.

“But Spike loves her. Like, if somepony said I couldn’t give you a present and I reeeeally wanted to give it to you, then I would still do it.”

But Pinkie Pie didn’t understand and Twilight simply waved off her assurance. Regardless if Spike was adamant about giving Sweetie Belle that ruby, it still wasn’t worth the pain that she must’ve made Sweetie Belle remember.

“But not at her expense Pinkie,” Twilight said as she turned to meet party pony’s gaze, “I should’ve said no to prevent all this but instead I ruined her day.”

Pinkie let out a soft sigh, seeing that her efforts were futile.

“Well then maybe just talk to her in the morning about it Twilight. Work it out and just tell her that you didn’t mean any harm by allowing it.”

Twilight wish it was that simple but this wasn’t like working out some type of friendship problem like she used to when she was younger. Those were easy to work with compared to now...especially when it was a topic about a dead sister.

“I appreciate you trying to help Pinkie but I screwed up and that’s all there is to it. I’ll talk to her but I think it’s best that I just give her space for now. I think the last thing she wants to do early in the morning is talk about Rarity.”

Pinkie simply nodded with a frown.

“If you say so I guess.”

“Besides,” Twilight began, now throwing her whole body onto the bed and looking up at the ceiling, “I have to get back working on Rebris anyways. If there’s one thing I can do right, that would be research.”

“Do you mean right now? It’s late,” Pinkie informed, hoping that Twilight wasn’t going to be doing another all nighter like she had in the past concerning that detested trinket.

It would get my mind off things...

As ironic as it was, studying Rebris right now would actually help.

But it will put your mind in worse places Twilight.

Twilight ignored her inner companion. She knew that studying Rebris would only make her mind go from thinking about what she had done to Sweetie Belle to what she wanted to do to Luna.

But she rather have that. As twisted as it was, thinking about the ways she wanted to kill and torture Luna comforted her. Her dark fantasies seem to be the only way her mind ever came to peace within itself now.

But Pinkie Pie...

Twilight was also fully aware why Pinkie was telling her it was late. It was no hidden secret that Pinkie hated when Twilight studied Rebris for hours on end but Pinkie didn’t know now how imperative it was that she figured out the damned gem. Luna was looking and time was now against them.

The longer she took with Rebris, the closer Luna would get to them, and the closer she got, the closer their lives would come to an end.

“I know it’s late Pinkie but I can sleep later,” Twilight said with a firmness in her tone as she got up from the bed.

Pinkie made a more than audible huff at her answer.

“Twilight, I really wish you would just get some sleep at least. You’ve been working since this morning to get Sweetie Belle’s party set up-”

“Which I ruined, so it was a waste,” Twilight interjected.

Pinkie frowned a bit more but continued with her plea.

“But maybe you’re just a bit cranky since you don’t really sleep that much.”

Twilight wish it was just that but thinking about today’s events; Shining Armor and the reports of dead families, Spike and his gift, and Sweetie Belle yelling at her were all taking it’s toll.

She was simply fed up and her only remedy for it right now was to work on the necklace and hopefully unlock its secrets.

“I just need to do some research is all, then I’ll feel better,” Twilight stated flatly as she made her way to her desk that was covered in books, parchment, quills, and ink.

Pinkie Pie got up and walked over to Twilight, still not wanting to give up and let the unicorn attend her desired task.

“Twilight please, just get some rest for tonight. You can study that thing tomorrow. Or if you don’t want to sleep, maybe you and I could drink some cider tonight and have some fun,” Pinkie suggested with a weak smile, now resorting to her last option to somehow stop the mare.

Twilight cleared off her desk and looked over to Pinkie and her awkward smiling self. Twilight couldn’t help but let a small smile escape her, seeing how hard Pinkie was trying to keep her from staying up...even if that meant using sex as a means to keep her from Rebris.

The unicorn gave the pink mare a small peck on the mouth.

“It sounds fun Pinkie but I’m really not in the mood for that tonight. I just really want to work...sorry.”

Pinkie hung her head in defeat a bit and finally gave in.

“Okay...fine.” She looked back up to Twilight, “Just promise that you will at least get some sleep tonight, okay?”

Twilight nodded her head, though she wasn’t too sure if she would uphold that promise. With even more pressure added on, thanks to the information that her brother had given her about Luna, she didn’t know if she really could afford sleep at this point.

Either way, she didn’t want to discuss this anymore with Pinkie.

“I will Pinkie,” Twilight said with a small smile, trying to reassure her pink mare.

Pinkie Pie eyed her for a few moments before returning the smile.

“Okie dokie lokie then,” Pinkie chimed, “Then I'll just go to bed and wait for you.”

Pinkie began to hop away and prepare herself for bed as Twilight now pulled out her desk chair and plopped her rump on it. Her horn lit up and levitated a quill and parchment in front of her amid the clutter. She then began to levitate Rebris out of the clutter and eyed the trinket.

The gold chain still had its luster and the black gem still had what looked likes some type of swirling smoke inside it. She set the necklace down onto the desk gently and stared deep into the hypnotizing black swirl. It looked like some type of storm was going on inside the jewel. These weren’t gentle swirls of black smoke but they seemed fast and aggressive, almost chaotic with no order in the way they swirled.

I will figure you out. I will get my friends back and I will kill Luna. This all happened because of you...now you’re going to help me finish it...somehow.

“Hey Twilight?”

Twilight broke herself from the hypnotizing pattern and brought her attention back to Pinkie. Hopefully it wasn’t more protest about her getting some rest.

“Yeah Pinkie? I thought you were getting ready to get in bed?”

Pinkie Pie hopped back over to Twilight’s desk, her pink mane and tail bouncing in the air along with her.

“My silly brain just remembered that I have to get more tape because I used all of it to hang up the streamers for today, so just wanted to tell you that I’m going to go out to the store real quick and get some...soooo....”

“So you need me to cast the transfiguration spell on you,” Twilight finished.

“Yep!”

Well...at least that gives me time alone I suppose.

It was one thing when her brother and his wife went out. They had friends out here and those friends made sure that they would stay safe but for Pinkie Pie and herself, they couldn’t allow themselves to trust anypony.. They had to keep themselves out of sight as they both knew that Luna had eyes everywhere.

Twilight got up from her chair so she could cast the spell quickly.

“Alright, stay still Pinkie.”

Pinkie obeyed and stiffened her body like some type of statue.

Twilight concentrated for a moment and her horn glowed a warm purplish aura. A stream of sparkling magic started to seep out of it and floated over to Pinkie and engulfed her body. Slowly it swirled around the party pony. This continued for a few seconds longer as Twilight concentrated on what she wanted done until the swirling magic began to dissipate.

Pinkie opened her eyes and looked over herself.

“Hey...it didn’t work.”

Twilight rolled her eyes playfully, seeing that Pinkie still didn’t get what the spell actually did. It was a transfiguration spell but it was a very clever one. Twilight had designed the spell to where it would only make Pinkie look like a different pony to everyone else except herself and the caster. If Shining or Spike would see her now, she would look different.

“Don’t worry Pinkie. This will keep you hidden and no pony will notice you. Just remember, it only has an hour limit so don’t take too long,” Twilight cautioned.

“Don’t worry silly, I’m just getting tape,” Pinke assured and gave a peck on Twilight’s cheek, “I’ll be right back.”

“Okay,” Twilight answered. Pinkie barely went out as it was and when she did, she was always quick about it.

So why was Twilight making sure Pinkie understood that she needed to be quick?

It was Pinkie Pie, that’s why.

“Do you need anything before I go?” Pinkie asked as she made her way to the bedroom door.

Twilight shook her head.

“No, I’m fine. I’ll just be right here. Just hurry back okay?”

Pinkie Pie nodded with a smile and opened the bedroom door and made her way downstairs, leaving Twilight now in her own solace.

Can’t believe we been reduced down to using transfiguration spells just to get tape...

You do what is required Twilight.

Twilight went back over to her desk and sat down.

No, what I do is so we can survive and not get killed, not what’s required.

The unicorn scooted back into her desk and simply stared at Rebris that laid idly in the middle of everything, wondering why they had to live like this. Why did they have to live in constant fear and watch even their most simple moves? Pinkie simply wanted to get more tape and here she was constantly reminding her of the time limit on the spell and to be quick...but she had to. Twilight didn’t know what she would do if somehow Luna found Pinkie simply because she neglected to remind her lover of how dangerous it was for them now to go out.

Then tell me, what is required?

Twilight sighed, knowing that her companion already knew the answer.

You already know what I think is required.

I do and I can tell you that what you want and what is necessary are two different things Twilight Sparkle.

Twilight scrunched her muzzle in slight dismay.

We been hiding for a month and while we just sit here, Luna is out killing entire families and Celestia knows what else. We should come AFTER her and stop her as quickly as possible.

And why is that?

Because if we don’t, she will take Equestria straight to hell.

Twilight already failed once in stopping her and because of it, Luna now held the throne and was free to do whatever she wished. The mare knew it was her fault, regardless of what Pinkie or her brother had told her.

She had to rectify such failure.

Or is it you are just so consumed by vengeance and regret that you want to kill Luna? Is it really for the good of Equestria...or for yourself?

Twilight clenched her hoof around Rebris, trying to act as if she just didn’t hear such a comment.

I have work to do...

Was it really for Equestria? Did she want to stop Luna because of the lives that she had taken not just from her, but from others that now suffered? Was it to save Equestria from the destruction that Luna would bring upon it?

Or was it for herself? Maybe she didn’t really care for the lives that Luna had taken, but what Luna took from her. Perhaps Twilight didn’t care if Equestria burned around her. Maybe as long as she had Luna’s corpse under her hooves, everything else could suffer?

She wasn’t sure what the answer was but only knew that Luna’s death would surely end it all.

But for now, she had to get past Rebris first before anything.

Twilight stared back into the jewel and it’s chaotic swirls of black smoke. Her eyes followed the spinning smoke over and over again. It was entrancing to say the least. She had seen many magical artifacts in her time with her late mentor but Rebris simply boggled her mind. Twilight didn’t understand it, nor really comprehend what its purpose was .

One thing was certain though: Luna wanted it to ascend to some type of being that was beyond a god.

Twilight turned the necklace over as she now pondered something.

Why would Luna go this far just to obtain power? She was one of the..

She stopped and bit her tongue for a moment.

She’s the most powerful pony there is now...why go farther? What makes her think that she needs more?

It was always that question of why. Why did Luna want so much power? Twilight thought back to the first time she met Luna after ridding her of Nightmare Moon. She recalled how awkward and out of place Luna felt and her desire to simply make friends. She wasn’t full of malice and never showed any signs of one who was hungry for power and control.

It didn’t matter though...not anymore. The question of why would be answered during the alicorn’s final moments. Twilight would make sure of that.

The mare brought her attention back to Rebris once more. She ran her hoof across its jagged texture. It felt cold, though inside her room was plenty warm. Her eyes came back to the black swirls and suddenly noticed that they weren’t fast and disorganized from earlier, but now slow and calm. She brought her face close, trying to see what caused this sudden change but all her eyes could do was follow the swirls as something whispered.

Al fine, c'è caos e nel caos, c'è ordine...

She heard the small voice whisper in her head but her mind couldn’t comprehend it.Watching the slow swirls of black smoke seem to slowly pacify her mind, making it calm and blank while the voice that spoke soothed her. All she wanted to do was watch the black swirls inside the black jewel.

Al fine, c'è caos e nel caos, c'è ordine...

The whisper repeated the same, unknown phrase. Twilight began to feel a comfortable warm sensation fill her body, making her relax. Her head began to feel light and her purple eyes began to flutter.

Al fine, c'è caos e nel caos, c'è ordine...

Twilight Sparkle closed her eyes and the phrase from this unknown, gentle voice filled her mind. With a soft thud, the unicorn laid her head on her desk and the world around her faded out. The soothing darkness took her and sent her off into blissful sleep.

“Wake up Twilight Sparkle.”

Twilight felt a light wind brush across her face. It felt hot and dry and she felt particles of dust or rock lightly pelt her face

“I said wake up,” the voice commanded.

She slowly began to open her eyes but quickly closed them as a bright, dark red light blinded her.
The mare took a breath but quickly began coughing, as the air was too rough and it was so dry that it felt like it was choking her.

“Wake up Twilight. You and I have much to talk about,” the voice said with a lower tone.

Again, she slowly opened her eyes, careful to let her pupils take in the red light that seemed to hang over her. Within a few seconds that seemed like eternity for her, her eyes were fully open and she saw what this red light was that.

The sun?

The sky was a blood red with very few clouds and the sun shared a darker, bloodier red. Along the burning stars surface was several, burning orange cracks across it. Her body felt hot from the heat and she figured that explained why the air was so arid.

“You need to get up Twilight. We must talk.”

Twilight slowly got up on all fours, trying to control her breathing. She looked around to see who was speaking to her but all she found was dirt and burnt rock. There was no pony or any type of civilization to be seen for miles.

This land was desolate and burned.

What the-? Where am I?

Twilight looked around some more but all she saw was nothing but rock and ash. There was no life, not even a blade of grass, that seemed to to make itself present. There was nothing she noticed about this place to tell where she was.

“Your dream. Where else would you be when one falls asleep?”

“Huh?” Twilight said in surprise.

I was looking at Rebris...I fell asleep?

“Yes, just as I wanted,” the voice answered, making the mare jump a bit.

Twilight turned her entire body, trying to look for who was speaking with her and how they knew her thoughts. There was only one who knew the things she thought about and that was the Element of Magic that resided in her but this was not the wise, gentle voice of it. This voice sounded much younger, more energetic, but she could sense that there was something underneath the voice that made her uneasy for some reason.

“What do you mean? Who are you?” she asked out into the open as wind and dust swirled.

“Oh come now Twilight, you surely know who I am. It hasn't been that long has it?” the voice echoed as the wind calmed down a bit.

Her heart began to pound against her chest and she felt her insides turn and twist. The voice was somewhat low and she noticed the darkness it held. She had heard this particular voice before but she couldn’t remember when or where.

“I...I don’t know who you are. Show yourself and then maybe I will,” Twilight answered to what almost sounded like a plea of some sort.

As if on cue, the wind suddenly died out and the ash and dust that danced within it was gone. A bright white light flashed out in the distance but the intensity of it made Twilight throw her forelegs up to protect her eyes before it blinded her.

“What the hell?” she said as the light became brighter and brighter.

“If you insist,” the voice replied.

Then the light was gone.

Twilight slowly lowered her forelegs, noticing that the bright white light had instantly disappeared. She set her legs down and the sight of barren and burnt land was gone. Instead, it was now replaced by something completely different.

“My dream...my dream from last night.”

She noticed the hill she was now on and the lush green grass that swayed and brushed against her legs with gentle passing. More importantly, she noticed that she could see the entirety of Equestria under the red sun and sky that hung over it. Canterlot stood in all its glory while Ponyville sat idle and peaceful. There was life and Equestria seemed to be buzzing with it, contrary to what she had seen moments ago.

“Nice view isn’t it?”

Twilight immediately turned around. Her eyes met a pair of red seething ones that seemed to burn like fire and without pause, she knew now why this voice was so familiar.

No...no not him!

The figure’s body was covered in some type of black moving smoke that acted like it’s coat. Its pupils were burning red, and the white of it’s eyes wasn’t white but black. Its mane was short but billowed like flame, the figures tail following suit. Its face held the same features of any normal pony but there was no mouth.

She knew now why this voice was so familiar as she slowly backed away from it. She now knew why her body felt wary and uneasy and its visage only confirmed of why she was like that.

“You’re him...from that dream after I brought Pinkie to Ponyvillle,” Twilight whispered in blood cold fear, “You put me in chains. You tortured me and...and...”

Her hoof went over her stomach as she remembered exactly what happened at the end of that horrid nightmare.

“I showed you what you are Twilight,” the dark figure said coolly, “But now you remember me, don’t you?”

She nodded as she backed away more and her body went freezing cold.

“Malum...your name is Malum.”.

He nodded his head, seemingly pleased with this answer.

“Very good. It seems I made a good impression last time we met,” Malum said in a taunting voice.

Good impression was an understatement. Twilight couldn’t help but let her fear consume her. Malum stood before her and his very presence made her fur stand up on her neck and she now only wanted to run and wake up before he did whatever he planned for her.

“W..why are you here?” Twilight asked, fearing of what that answer would be.

“Calm yourself Twilight,” Malum chuckled darkly, “I’m not here for what you think. I simply want to talk.”

Talk? Why would he, the embodiment of everything ill within her, would want to simply talk now? She couldn’t break her mind from that terrible nightmare and all she could believe was that he only wanted to torture her and make her scream for death just as she did last time.

“Why would you want to talk?!” She exclaimed, trying to not break under such intense fear of him, “Because as far as I’m concerned, we have nothing to talk about!”

Malum’s eyes burned a bit brighter but he didn’t move from his still position.

“Because I want to help...just as I always have. That’s all I-”

“Bullshit!” Twilight yelled back, “How is torturing and making that...that...thing rip out of me help me?! The Element of Magic already told me what you really want to do to me. It told-!”

“Enough!” Malum bellowed, making Twilight immediately cower, “You speak as if you know so much when in reality you know so little,” he sneered.

“What are you talking about?” Twilight asked weakly, careful now not to induce this monsters rage.

“I know exactly, what you call the Element of Magic, has said about me and it’s amusing to see how readily you are to believe everything it says considering everything you been through. It says that I want control of you but yet, it has no idea of what my true intention is.”

Twilight recalled what the Element of Magic had said to her after fighting Luna and before being impaled by the regal. The voice that told her to kill Luna and make her suffer, even to the point of making Twilight say things that was not of her, was Malum, and it told her that he was no simple figment of a dream but something that was actually real within her. He wanted to control her and use her for his own dark purposes, though not even her element knew what those dark purposes were.

“Then what do you want from me then? If that’s not your intention as you say, then why do what you did last time? Why were you there and speaking to me while I was fighting Luna?”

“As I said before, I only want to help you. You may question my methods and I will admit that our last meeting was a bit...” Malum began to chuckle softly, “Messy, but it was all to help and prepare you.”

Twilight didn’t see how this was making sense. How was torturing and making one beg for death a way to help or prepare someone? She didn’t believe a word he was saying but she didn’t make it known. She wanted to see what he wanted from her and maybe understand better what he truly was and why he was back.

“You still didn’t answer my question. What do you want from me if you say you’re trying to help me?”

Malum stood silent for a moment before he spoke.

“I only want you to listen. Nothing less and nothing more. I tried offering you power but you refused it last time. Now that you have seen how far your power gets you, maybe you will understand why you need mine.”

He looked out over Equestria, as if he was trying to admire the view.

“Maybe you can deliver the salvation needed for this land and succeed where I have failed,” he whispered, seemingly forgetting that Twilight was there.

What is he talking about? Succeed where he failed?

The gears in her mind began to grind against each other as she tried to comprehend what Malum was musing about. He spoke of preparation and her succeeding where he had failed and by the way he looked, it almost seemed like he was speaking of saving Equestria.

But he’s just...no...no that can’t be.

Her fear was replaced now by a sudden curiosity and she asked the question.

“Were you...were you an actual pony?”

Malum turned to her with his glowing red eyes and simply nodded.

“Many millennia ago, yes. I was just as real as you..fighting for a cause that I once thought was right, but that was a long time ago. It was through your hate and rage that I have come and now want to help you with your endeavor.”

Twilight kept her mouth from dropping but the shock was apparent. Malum wasn’t only some type of embodiment or entity, but was he an actual pony once.

But then why was he living within her mind? She didn’t understand how that could be if he lived milleniums ago.

“But how? How are you here with me and-”

But he silenced with the raising of his dark hoof.

“I don’t have time for such questions Twilight Sparkle. Just know that I am here to help and I only ask that you accept it.”

“What kind of help?” Twilight asked, though inside she felt like she shouldn’t be indulging in Malum’s offer.

But now she was more interested in him than scared. She didn’t let her guard down but it was that characteristic of her; her hunger for knowledge that now wanted to know more.

Malum began walking towards her but she didn’t move. She only watched as he came to her and looked her straight in the eyes, almost muzzle to muzzle.

“I know the secrets that are kept from you Twilight. I know the world’s evil that surrounds you and I know the goddess that wants your life.” He came closer and brought his face close to her ear.

“I know how to bring your friends back Twilight,” he whispered in his dark tone, “ And I know how to unlock Rebris and deliver your revenge against Luna.”

Her heart stopped and she stopped breathing. Did Malum really know the secrets of Rebris and knew how to get her friends back?

He’s lying...he’s trying to trick me somehow.

Malum backed his face away and stared at her once more and laughed a bit.

“Is that what you think? You think that I would lie about such things when I myself have went through the same and worse?”

Twilight looked at him but she didn’t know what to think. Malum had tortured her and done things that she herself thought were not possible and now he was telling her that he knew of Rebris and how to use it?

“How do you know of Rebris? How would you know how to bring my friends back?”

Malum turned away from her and walked away until he stopped at a lonely tree that sat on the hill.

“I was there Twilight. I saw how Rebris was created and I know the true purpose of it. Now, if you choose not to believe me,” he turned back to her, “Then I can guarantee that you will fail once again and you and anyone that sided with you will share the same fate.”

Twilight gritted her teeth hearing such bold words.

“I won’t let that happen.”

Malum scoffed at her.

“You already let it happen once already Twilight! You failed to kill Luna when you had the chance, refused to use the power that I have offered you, and in turn, almost got yourself killed. Not to mention-”

“Don’t say it...” Twilight interrupted, knowing exactly where this was going.

Malum simply cocked his head.

“Does it make you angry Twilight? I know how you can’t accept the fact that your mentor is dead because of you.”

A shot of anger and pain spiked through her heart hearing that Celestia’s death was her fault and she gritted her teeth even more.

“It wasn’t my fault...she died-”

“She died because of you,” Malum proclaimed, pointing his hoof at her, “If you wouldn’t had been so damn weak, she would be alive and you would have your friends back! Instead, you hide and cower as Luna comes for you. Every life that is taken now is because of you Twilight and if you don’t kill her then all this,” Malum motioned his hoof towards the view of Equestria.

Twilight followed and looked out to see Equestria. The scene of peace and life that she had seen only several moments was now gone. Everything was now burning in flames and she could hear the screams of ponies throughout the land.

“No!” she yelled as she ran to the side of the hill.

“All of this will be because of you,” Malum said calmly as he now appeared by her side.

Tears begun to fall from her face as she looked out to a burning Equestria. She knew this was just a dream and none of this was real but it still broke her to see her beloved home burn while everypony suffered.

“But you can stop it. You can prevent such a fate...with my help.”

Twilight looked over to Malum with teary eyes as he looked out to the fire and smoke.

“How do I do it? How do I bring my friends back?” she begged, now desperate to know if this dark pony really knew how to use Rebris.

Malum looked over to her and though he had no mouth, Twilight could see that he was happy with her question. She could feel the pleasure he took in it.

“You will learn through my story Twilight. As I have said, the only thing I need from you is to listen to me and in turn, I will tell you how to get your friends back so you may kill Luna once and for all..but this is not the time...not yet.”

“What?!” she exclaimed, “I thought you said you wanted to talk? I’ll listen to what you have to say, just tell me how I bring my friends back!”

Twilight was desperate. The scene of Equestria burning and knowing that the truth was that Celestia’s death was ultimately her fault drove her to the point that she was now willing to listen to whatever Malum had to tell her. All the nights she had studied Rebris during the past month never got her any closer to figuring the damned artifact and now she was now being teased with the prospect of finally figuring it out.

Malum put his cold hoof up to Twilight’s face and began to stroke her cheek.

“You will learn Twilight...”

In an instant, Malum bursted into a plume of black smoke, making Twilight reel back and look around for him.

“Wait! Don’t go, not yet!”

What was she saying? Before she wanted nothing to do with this figure but now she was calling out to him, telling him not to go.

“We will speak again Twilight and I will tell you my story then. For now, it’s time that you wake and help your lover.”

Twilight scrunched her face in confusion and the world around her began to melt away.

“What are you talking about?! Pinkie Pie?! You’re not making any sense!” Twilight yelled out into the melting void.

Malum’s laugh echoed and everything began to fade away. Twilight felt herself beginning to fade and she knew that she was slowly waking up, but she needed to know. Her desire and desperation to know Rebris had hold of her.

“Tell me! Tell me about Rebris! Help me make sense of all this!” she cried out one last time but she faded away and all that was left was a black void and her dream came to an end, for Pinkie Pie needed her help.

But Malum spoke one last thing after she faded away.

Now Twilight...

What fun is there in making sense?

(Next Part: Taste The Blood)