The four of us stood together in the echoing silence of the empty hall for a good long moment, but the silence didn't last long as Pinkie finally spoke.

"Well, that was rude," Pinkie groused, pursing her lips in a mock pout, "what's so hard about calling ponies by their name? I mean seriously, 'the pink one'?"

"What are you planning to do?" Rarity asked, ignoring Pinkie's complaint entire in favor of addressing me, "I understand the need for answers—I'd quite like some myself as it happens, but surely you don't plan to proceed on her terms? We still don't know anything about her, and I personally don't trust her motives."

I considered Rarity's worries, but before I could respond, Spike hopped off my back and turned his draconic green eyes toward me, his own worried frown making itself clear on his face.

"I'm kinda with Rarity on this one, Twilight," he said, glancing in the white mare's direction before looking back at me, "I'm glad Nightmare Moon decided not to attack us and all, but I don't like anything about this situation. Something still feels wrong, and I feel like it'll get worse if you and Pinkie go alone. Even Nightmare Moon has a bad feeling about all this. Nightmare Moon, Twilight!"

"Aw, there's no real need to worry!" Pinkie chimed in with a cheerful smile that fell an instant later as she continued, "...is what I'd like to say, but I'm pretty sure we can all see that proverbial ominous thundercloud in the sky," she paused a second and the smile returned, more subdued but encouraging nonetheless, "but no matter what happens, I'm sure Twilight will pull through when it counts."

I grimaced at that.

I wanted to be heartened by her words, and to an extent I was, but I didn't have as much confidence in my ability to handle what might come next. Sure, there was this unfathomable power hiding inside, but again, it wasn't mine to wield, nor did I want or know how to. I would've continued dwelling on my anxious thoughts if it weren't for the soft white hoof on my shoulder and Rarity's reassuring smile.

"Pinkie's right, dear," she said, "I may have my misgivings about everything that's transpired and might possibly transpire in the near future, but I also have faith in you—not just the Goddess within you, but you, Twilight Sparkle. I know you're a capable mare, I can feel it."

"Darn right she is!" Spike added, giving my leg a hearty slap, "she is Princess Celestia's student after all. You gotta be a capable pony to pull that off."

The positivity proved to be too much, and despite the stress and anxiety, I couldn't help the warm smile that crossed my face at their words.

"Thanks, all of you," I replied, "that... that means a lot, and I'll try not to let you down," my smile faded, replaced by a worried and thoughtful frown, "but Nightmare Moon is right. I don't think we have the time to stand around deliberating on what the best course of action is right now."

"So what do you propose, darling?" Rarity asked, then frowned as she read my motives, "you're going with Pinkie then?"

I nodded.

"Nightmare Moon is just as worried as we are, and like she said, harming me might not be in her best interest... it might not be in any of our best interests," I swallowed nervously at the thought, but quickly pushed it aside and continued, "I think we can trust that she'll keep her word at least, and it'll probably be easier to just do as she says."

"What about me and Rarity?" Spike asked as he, crossing his arms and frowning in dissatisfaction, "what are we supposed to do in the meantime?"

I gave that some thought but didn't have to think long before I came up with an answer. With an idea in mind, I reached out to my unnatural senses and pulled at the invisible bonds that connected me and the other three mare's I'd changed. Without a sound, the familiar forms of Minuette, Lemon Hearts, and Twinkleshine appeared before me.

"Hey there, Goddess! It's been a while!" Minuette chirps immediately, "you gotta call us more often. It gets pretty boring in that hospital."

"Not that it's been all that boring recently," Lemon Hearts muttered before speaking a bit louder, "but it is good to see you again, my G—ah, Twilight."

"The ponies in the hospital, and really all over Canterlot are all super nervous about something, and we can feel it too, like something horrible is about to happen," Twinkleshine said, looking around with a concerned grimace before turning to me, "did something happen?"

"Well, yes, but what happened isn't the reason ponies are worried. We don't really know what the reason is just yet, but I think we'll find out soon," I replied, "I don't exactly have time to explain, but I need your help," I nodded towards Spike and Rarity, "I need you three to help Rarity and Spike find Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy."

"Can do!" Minuette replied with a mock salute, a salute that faltered a second later as confusion set in, "and... who are they again?"

"Rarity?" I began, turning to the mare in question.

"I'll inform them of the details, darling," Rarity replied with a wave of her hoof, "don't you worry about that. Spike and I will be just fine with these three, you and Pinkie just focus on sorting this mess out and make sure to summon us if you need help, we'll be there in a literal instant."

"I know you will," I replied with a small smile. I looked down to see Spike looking more than a little queasy, "Spike? Are you okay?"

"Well, that depends, Twi," Spike answered, looking between Rarity and the other three mares that had just arrived, "am I gonna have to teleport again?"

I gave the drakeling a bemused frown before realization dawned on me and I remembered the last time I teleported with him in tow. I looked up at Rarity and the mare winced before giving Spike an apologetic smile.

"I'm afraid there may be a bit more warping about than you'd like," Rarity answered for me, "I'm sorry, Spike. Just try to bear with it for now," she leaned down close and batted her eyelashes at the baby dragon, "for me?"

I raised an eyebrow at the gesture, but it seemed to work strangely enough if Spike's goofy grin and stammered agreement was anything to go by. I'd honestly thought Spike had gotten over his crush when Rarity became... what she became, thanks to me, but it looked as though her looks and charm had won out in the end. With that taken care of, I turned back to the others.

"I'm not sure why, but something is telling me we all need to stick together," I explained. I hesitated, then frowned and looked each of the newly arrived mares in the eye, "and that means all of you. No more hiding in the hospital for you three. Whatever's coming, I think we all need to be prepared, and I'd rather have you all by my side."

That got a grateful smile out of each of the mares, though Twinkleshine's smile faded first and she looked up and away, her expression wistful and a bit sad.

"I just wish Moon Dancer was here with us. Like us," she said in a quiet, almost absent tone. She lowered her gaze back to me, "if you don't mind, Twilight, could you Awaken her when... if you get a chance? She was probably pretty broken up when none of us showed up at her party, and I don't want to leave her out anymore."

The request hit me like a ton of bricks, not just because I'd essentially have to kill Moon Dancer to accomplish the task, but—and more importantly at the moment—I'd completely forgotten about the mare. To be fair I literally wasn't in my right mind at the time, but that fact did nothing to quell the rapidly rising guilt.

"I... I'll find some time to explain the situation to her," I decided, "if she wants to—and only if she wants to go through with the... process, then I'll do it, but we need to focus on the here and now."

Aside from a few nods and one-worded agreements, nopony said anything else on the matter. They all knew how I felt about it through the bond, but I still couldn't bring myself to return Twinkleshine's sad, knowing smile.

"So... what should we do once we find the others?" Spike asked, breaking the uncomfortable silence, "do we meet up with you, Pinkie and Nightmare Moon?"

"Nightmare who?" Lemon Hearts asked with a quizzical frown.

"I'll tell you later, dear," Rarity offered before turning to me, "but Spike does pose a good question, Twilight, and not only that but do you even know where this 'old castle' is? I know you and Pinkie can handle whatever it throws at you, but the Everfree Forest is a rather large place and you may get lost."

"Oh that won't be a problem," Pinkie replied with a dismissive wave, "trust me."

Everypony looked at Pinkie Pie, but she elaborated no further and I chose not to pry. I did trust Pinkie, and there were more concerning things to worry about... like Rainbow Dash.

"Once you find any of the ponies in question, bring them back here to Town Hall and let me know. I'll... figure out what to do from there," I finally answered, then grimaced, "and... whoever finds Rainbow Dash, be careful. I don't know what she'll do or how she'll react, so regardless of what happens or what state you find her in, let me know immediately," I looked over to Rarity, "did Nightmare Moon—"

"Sweetie Belle and Apple Bloom are both safe," Rarity interjected, already aware of my other worries, "they're all with the other ponies that got teleported by Nightmare Moon."

"Good," I replied with a small sigh of relief, "well, I guess that's it then. You all know what to do, so do it fast, be safe, good luck... and thank you... all of you," I gave them all one last grateful smile, one they all returned, then I looked over to Pinkie, "are you ready, Pinkie?"

"Pfft, ready?" Pinkie scoffed, rolling her eyes, "we're already here!"

I blinked, then looked around and saw that, sure enough, we were at the edge of the Everfree Forest. My mouth dropped open in shock and I turned back to Pinkie.

"When did you..." I paused, and shook my head, "you know what? Never mind," I took another look at the thick line of trees before us and found myself shivering involuntarily. There was something very wrong about the forest and it only added to the nausea I was still trying to ignore. As I observed the trees, a thought came to me and looked back over to Pinkie, "why didn't you send us straight to the old castle? You said it wouldn't be a problem."

"Yeeeaaahh, it wasn't supposed to be a problem," came Pinkie's slow, unsure reply as she eyed the trees with a worried frown, "this was as far as I could take us for some reason," she gave me a shrug and a nervous chuckle, "looks like we're hoofin' it."

I didn't like this.

The situation was already bad, but I knew things were going to get much worse the moment I stepped into that forest. I'd gone from feeling nausea and uneasy to feeling outright sick, and now I could sense something stirring in the back of my mind, something that wanted desperately to break free, but couldn't. I looked at Pinkie and she returned my look. The cheer wasn't there anymore, and in its place was the same unsettled and sick expression that I probably wore.

"We can't just leave and ignore this, Twilight," Pinkie said suddenly, her voice quiet and worried, but nevertheless resolute, "there's something nasty in there, but we have to go."

I continued to stare at her for another long few seconds, but ultimately I agreed with her. Whatever the source of the problem was, it was somewhere in that forest, possibly in the castle with Nightmare Moon. As much as I wanted to turn the other way, I knew I needed to go in there and finally get my answers, and maybe some help. I gave Pinkie a slow nod and together we made our tentative trot towards and past the threshold that separated Ponyville and the Everfree Forest.

The moment I entered the forest I heard a shrill scream and everything fell away from me.

The scream was so close, it could've been Pinkie's or it could've been mine, but it didn't matter either way. The only thing that was left of me was a sudden and agonizing pain. Everything else was deep Darkness and brilliant starlight.

Then the images came.

Flashes of things I'd never seen before, nor had I ever wanted or asked to see. Dark shapes, twisted and hideous monsters in the endless shadows of a nightmare world far removed from my own lay before my mind's eye. A vast land ravaged by a violent war, a grand and destructive war once fought by beings that fell outside equine comprehension. Beyond the swirling black horizon of stars, I could see the silhouette of a massive structure—something impossible in its size and perverse in its construction, blasphemous even.

The images of this alien world assaulted me one after another in rapid succession, but against my will, and despite the horrible pain, I clung to each and every sight. There was much in this world that I saw, and much of it would've twisted and broke the minds of lesser beings, myself included, but I found it all oddly... nostalgic—familiar in a way that felt like home. As that feeling of familiarity grew, the agony began to ebb, and with it, I could feel myself slipping away again.

Eventually, the images faded altogether and my world was once again reduced to endless Darkness and brilliant starlight. The stars began to spin in my fading vision, and it wasn't long before everything disappeared completely, leaving me with feelings of both lingering dread and absolute peace.

And then... nothing.

Nothing but a voice.

A voice?

A scream in the distance, feminine in nature.

Mine?

No, it wasn't my voice, but it was growing closer, more defined and recognizable. It wasn't a wordless scream, but rather a repeated cry of something, some word I couldn't make out.

What is it? What is she saying? I can't understand...

I strained my ears, desperate to hear what was being said, and eventually, the voice became clear enough to hear.

"...ight!"

...Light?

"Twilight!"

Wait... I know that voice, and that word... that name... but... that's not my name. My name is... it's—

"TWILIGHT!"

A groan escapes my lips as I instinctively try to open my eyes, though I quickly shut them against the blindingly bright light of the world beyond my eyelids.

Where is my castle?

Where is my Darkness?

What is this light?

"Twilight!" the high-pitched voice spoke again in a panic, "Twilight, can you hear me?"

I tried to open my eyes again, more slowly this time and with a lot more blinking. The light came again, but it was a bit more bearable, and after a few more seconds I could finally see my surroundings. Thick foliage made up the majority of the scenery in my vision. As more of my senses returned, I could feel rough soil and upraised roots digging into my hide, and the strong smell of damp earth, rotting leaves, and the wild and natural magic that filled the air.

Magic?

Yes... I can smell magic... and something else... something foul and sinister... like the scent of an old foe...

I felt wrong, like a stranger in my own skin, but I also felt powerful, more so than I ever had before. I felt like I could do anything—make any idea a reality. I heard the other voice again, but I ignored it as I tried to rise to my...

Hooves?

"...Twilight?"

The voice was quieter now, more nervous and unsure. I stood up and turned in its direction, and was met with the worried expression of a pink equine with bright blue eyes and an impossibly curly mulberry colored mane. I narrowed my eyes and frowned at the creature standing before me. In a world that felt both terribly alien and oddly recognizable, I could sense the comforting presence of the Darkness within it.

"Who... what manner of creature are you, and... where am I?"

The equine remained silent and furrowed its brow in thought, then its eyes lit up, as if with a sudden idea or realization. It approached me with a slow sort of caution, keeping its face neutral all the while. A sudden impulse to crush the impudent being where it stood filled me, but another voice that I knew was not entirely my own held that impulse at bay. I made no move as it neared me and remained silent as it stopped only a few inches away and stared deep into my eyes.

"My name is Pinkamena Diane Pie, your faithful Servant, your distant sister, and your friend. This is not your home, this is not the Darkness of the Black Dimension, and you are not who you think you are... not entirely."

Confusion was my first reaction to the words the equine spoke, but before I could voice my bewilderment, the words clicked, and the voice that was not entirely my own rose to the surface, filling the nearly empty basin that was my mind with names and other words that meant nothing and everything all at once.

Pinkie Pie.

Princess Celestia.

Nightmare Moon.

Spike, Applejack, Rainbow Dash, Fluttershy, Minuette, Lemon Hearts, Twinkleshine, Equestria, Canterlot, Ponyville, the Everfree Forest...

Skal-Gazaath

Twilight Sparkle.

Two minds sharing one body.

An almighty eldritch Goddess that ruled over a nightmarish dimension of horrors and a prodigious unicorn mare living the comparatively simple life of a Princess's protègè. It should've been impossible, and yet, in that moment, the memories of the mare known as Twilight Sparkle returned in a vicious torrent. Thoughts and histories clashed in a chaotic battle, and somewhere in the distance, a ragged scream could be heard.

For a time, there was no 'I', there was no 'me', and there was no 'my'. There were instead two voices, two souls, two minds, and they fought an unseen but violent battle for dominance. The fight wouldn't last very long, for what simple mortal mind could hope to win a battle against the ancient mind of an immortal Goddess? There could only be one outcome, and for a brief moment, it seemed the clash was at an end with the Goddess as the obvious victor.

Then, just as the mental battle was coming to a close, something unexpected happened.

The two warring minds found common ground.

It was only a single thought, a single memory shared between the two, but it was enough to shake the very foundation of both psyches. Both beings desperately latched onto that one shared memory, the Goddess having long forgotten it over countless eons of existence, and the mare unwilling to let such a precious treasure go. It was that single memory that allowed the two minds to resonate, to harmonize, to realize that even across the unfathomable distance of time and space...

...those two minds had once been one.

Just as quickly as it had been undone, my world was once again restored, or rather, rebuilt. I was changed utterly and immutably, but while there were still large bits and pieces of my memory that eluded me, I finally knew for certain who I was—who I'd always been. At some point, I'd fallen to the ground again, but this time it was much easier for me to recover. As I stood back up, I opened my eyes and turned to Pinkie who beamed back at me, any and all traces of worry gone from her smiling face. I could feel the subtle and not-so-subtle changes that marked my body from both within and without, but that didn't matter right now.

All that mattered was the knowledge that I was, without a doubt, Twilight Sparkle.

Author's Notes:

I realize and acknowledge how confusing this story can be, but I'm sure at least a few of you saw that coming... right?