Twilight Sparkle was absolutely dumbfounded. She had constantly dealt with a voice in her head since her release and just recently decided it was Sombra. However, the voice revealed it was herself.

"What do you mean "your me" exactly?" asked Twilight confused.

The voice let out a laugh.

("I told you, I am you.") answered the voice.

"I don't understand." said Twilight.

The voice let out a groan.

("I am your inner guilt, self - hatred and depression.") answered the voice.

"That has manifested its self in this voice." realized Twilight.

The voice again let out a laugh.

("We have a winner!") declared the voice.

"How do I get you to go away?" asked Twilight demanding.

("Oh, I'm not going anywhere.") answered the voice.

"I demand you do!" demanded Twilight.

("Nope.") replied the voice.

Twilight rubbed her temples with her hooves.

"Oh come on." begged Twilight.

("I won't leave.") stated the voice.

"Why?" asked Twilight annoyed.

("I will always be here. I am never going to leave.") said the voice.

"No!" cried Twilight.

("Too bad.") chuckled the voice.

Twilight hung her head.

"I'm screwed." said Twilight flatly.

("Bingo!") cried the voice.

Sunset and Spike soon returned.

"How is it going?" asked Twilight.

"Ponyville is tied with Cloudsdale!" declared Spike.

"Wow." replied Twilight flatly.

"What's wrong?" asked Sunset.

Twilight let out a sigh.

"I am hearing voices." answered Twilight.

"Fuck." cursed Sunset.

"It turns out they're not Sombra." continued Twilight.

"Then who is it?" asked Spike worried.

"Myself." answered Twilight sadly.

"What?" asked Spike confused.

"It's her guilt and self hatred." answered Sunset.

Twilight groaned sadly.

"It's okay Twilight." began Sunset sympathetically.

Sunset sat on the bed.

"It's better know that things are in the open." continued Sunset.

"Yeah. Know we can help you." added Spike.

"I don't know." said Twilight unsure.

"Hey! Knock that off!" demanded Sunset.

"Maybe you're right." agreed Twilight.

"You gotta be positive." said Spike.

Twilight rubbed her face with her hooves.

"I just don't know." said Twilight.

"Do you want to tell the others?" asked Sunset.

Twilight took a moment.

"We should." answered Twilight.

The three waited until the Equestria Games ended. Ponyville managed to come out on top barely on top winning the medal count by one medal. The girls returned to recount the exciting victory they had. Seeing how excited they where; Twilight, Sunset and Spike decided to hold off on telling them. A few days passed and it was a beautiful day in Ponyville. Sunset was summoned to Canterlot leaving Twilight and Spike alone.

"Twilight, its already afternoon." noted Spike.

"Coming!" called Twilight.

Twilight got up and went down stairs.

"Hey Twilight, how are you doing?" asked Spike.

Twilight got downstairs.

"Okay." answered Twilight.

"Twilight, your mane is messy." said Spike.

Twilight walked over to a mirror and saw Spike was correct.

"Spike, can you get a brush." requested Twilight.

"Can do." said Spike.

Spike ran off and returned with a brush which Twilight took with her hoof.

"Thanks." replied Twilight.

Twilight brushed her hair in the mirror.

"Much better." sighed Twilight in relief.

"You're doing so well without magic." said Spike happily.

"I've gotten used to it." said Twilight.

Sunset Shimmer burst in.

"Guys! We've got an emergency!" declared Sunset.

"What it is?" asked Twilight worried.

"A dangerous villain named Tirek escaped Tartarus." answered Twilight.

"How?!" asked Spike, freaking out.

"Apparently Cerberus escaped." answered Sunset.

"During your time travel freak out!" gasped Spike.

"I'll explain later Sunset." said Twilight.

"Whatever. Right now we have to gather the others." said Sunset.

Sunset, Spike and Twilight quickly left Golden Oaks Library. They raced to outskirts of Ponyville passed angry glares at Twilight. At the edge of Ponvyille they found Applejack, Rarity, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy and Pinkie waiting. The group made their way through the Everfree Forest and reached the Castle of the Two Sisters. On their way, Sunset explained how Tirek used Cerberus' temporary absence to escape and was now draining ponies of their magic. Upon reaching the Castle, the group headed to the library.

"I can't believe the princesses are countin' on Discord." said Applejack.

"I'm sure Discord will do his best." said Fluttershy.

"Yeah sure." grumbled Rainbow.

The group began looking around for anything that could prove helpful.

"I can't find anything." sighed Rainbow.

"Me neither." said Applejack.

"I fear that have also come up short hoofed." added Rarity.

"If only I could see that rainbow thing again." said Pinkie.

"You saw that too?!" asked Rainbow.

"So did I." revealed Rarity.

"Me too." said Fluttershy.

"Yeah. I saw that too." said Applejack.

The girls quickly recounted their sightings.

"Girls, run back home and grab those items then come back and meet me at the Tree of Harmony." instructed Sunset.

The ponies did as instructed. Applejack, Rainbow, Rarity, Fluttershy and Pinkie left. Applejack returned with the Bit she got from Silver Shill. Rainbow returned with the badge, Rarity returned with the spool of rainbow thread, Fluttershy returned with the flower and Pinkie returned with Boneless. They gathered at the Tree of Harmony.

"Lay them out." said Sunset.

The girls did just that lying their items on the ground.

"Okay, I don't see anything that could give us a clue to where the keys might be." mused Twilight.

Twilight was puzzled.

"They're just ordinary, everyday objects." noted Twilight.

Pinkie grabbed Boneless and began shaking him.

"Come on Boneless! Give us that key!" demanded Pinkie.

"Maybe it's some sort of map." proposed Sunset.

"Or puzzle." said Twilight.

Pinkie tossed Boneless hitting the chest. As he did, the chest magically turned Boneless into a key and inserted it into one of the locks.

"I think we have our answer." stated Sunset surprised.

Pinkie, Rainbow, Rarity and Applejack brought their keys over and the same thing happened.

"There's one key missing." said Twilight.

Twilight turned to Sunset.

"Do you know where your key is?" asked Twilight.

Sunset was surprised by this question.

"You're the Element bearer Twilight. I think it's your key that's needed." replied Sunset.

"I'm sure if we've gotten our keys then you must have too Twilight." said Fluttershy.

Rarity walked over.

"Think Twilight, when have you completed a difficult magically task and in doing so encouraged another pony to do the same?" asked Rarity.

"I've most been wallowing in my own self pity." answered Twilight.

("You're a failure.") said the voice, in a sing-song tone.

"Not now." sighed Twilight.

"Are you talking to it again?" asked Sunset worried.

"Yeah." confirmed Twilight flatly.

Sunset turned and quickly explained the voice.

"I knew it!" cried Applejack worried.

"I'll be okay! We have to focus!" declared Twilight firmly.

"I'm sure you'll find your key." said Spike.

("Doubt it.") said the voice.

Twilight decided to try and ignore the voice.

"I pray you're right." sighed Twilight.

"I can't believe we have to rely on Discord." said Sunset.

Meanwhile, Tirek was reeking havoc in Equestria. Discord had been summoned by the princesses to do stop Tirek, but the Element of Chaos was skeptical. It was only when Sunset Shimmer mentioned Fluttershy that Discord agreed. That night, Tirek was hunting for unicorn magic reading a newspaper. The unicorn was brown with a black mane and tail. He had a tornado cutie mark.

"You're magic is mine." thought Tirek.

As Triek closed in, the unicorn turned his head which suddenly changed.

"Tirek, I presume." said Discord.

Tirek was taken aback by this.

"Discord, you're free." noted Tirek confused.

Discord suddenly turned into a bird on a perch.

"As a bird." said Discord proudly.

"I commend you on your escape." said Tirek impressed.

Discord turned into his normal self.

"I'm afraid the feeling isn't mutual." said Discord.

Discord snapped his fingers and Tirek found himself cuffed. Tirek fired a blast of magic, but Discord cut himself in half and escaped.

"I should have known you would want to have Equestria all to yourself." said Tirek spitefully.

Discord was now wearing a police uniform and twirling a baton.

"I'm not doing this for me..." began Discord.

Discord tossed the baton into the air.

"I'm doing it for my friends." revealed Discord.

Discord, now bare, leaned into to Tirek.

"Between you and me, it's mostly for Fluttershy." whispered Discord.

Discord backed happily.

"Fluttershy. You're not saying you're friends with ponies." said Tirek surprised.

"Surprise!" exclaimed Discord.

Discord jumped out of a cake.

"I'm surprised someone with your intelligence doesn't see this friendship as a new form of imprisonment." replied Tirek.

Discord produced a harp and halo.

"Clearly you have to forgo your true nature to stay in their good graces." said Tirek.

Discord tossed the harp.

"I have done no such thing." stated Discord.

Discord shooed the halo away.

"Please, I've seen it before. But, he was too weak minded." said Tirek disgusted.

Tirek approached Discord.

"But you are Discord. You are legend. You cannot fall into the same trap that claimed my brother." said Tirek.

Discord began thinking.

"Help my grow stronger and you'll be rewarded with something greater than friendship: freedom." said Tirek.

"But, I've had no problem...except for Twilight." thought Discord.

Discord began thinking of Twilight and how the others where again friends with her.

"I'm in." said Discord.

Author's Notes:

A/N: That is where we'll end things for now. The stage is set for the climax of our story. Next chapter is the finale. Please review.