Twilight Lost

Chapter 11

Back in Ponyville, the friends and Flurry are about to go their separate ways for a little while. They know it will be some time before Princess Celestia can get back to them, so they decided to check on the town and make sure no other issues may be happening around it. They are now just now just outside of the castle about to say their goodbyes for now when a rip opens in the sky, and an exhausted Discord fall out from it to the ground right in between them all.

"DISCORD; what happened?" Fluttershy's concern came out in her voice. Discord was unable to answer just a weak look at his friend before he passed out. Almost with a look of relief in his face. "DISCORD, DISCORD, DISCORD?" She could not hid her fear.
"Calm down Sugar Cube. He is alive, he just looks tired." Applejack tried her best to calm her friend down as she saw her fear for the worst.
"Yes darling. Remember, he has lived for many years so I am sure he will be just fine." Rarity joined in as well. Even thought the two of them were worried as well. What could cause Discord of all ponies to be this extremely exhausted?"

Starlight rushed over to him and Fluttershy, who was at Discord's side trying her best to comfort him. She cast a spell to check his health signs and make sure that he was truly ok. "This is odd?" She said when she was done checking. "As far as I can tell, he is physically fine. The only thing that seems to be wrong is, he seems to be low on Magic right now?" This confused her some as she had no idea what could have caused this.
"Low on magic huh?" Rainbow Dashed jumped in. "Is anypony having the same thought I am?" She asked the group.
They all thought for a moment, Pinkie jumped in. "He used it all up creating presents for everypony in Equestria, and he planed to deliver them on Hearts Warming Eve?" This left an odd look on all their faces.
"Now Pinkie, why would he do that when Hearts Warming is so far away?" Spike asked the pink pony.
"Well duh. He needs time to make sure that he has the magic to deliver it, silly." Was her response.
"No Pinkie Dear. I think Rainbow may be thinking of something else." Rarity decided it was time to get back on track.
"You don't mean....., but he is back in Tartarus?" Applejack had already deduced what Rainbow was thinking.
"There is no way he could be back?" Rarity joined in on the conversation.
"WHO!?" Pinkie inquired from the group not quite clicking on who they were talking about.
"Pinkie I believe they are talking about Tirek?" Fluttershy had already realized the truth. "But Cerberus wouldn't let that happen." She stated quickly.

Just than an odd light appeared in the sky blocking out the sun. "What in tarnation is going on?" Applejack was the first to speak up. The light was a dark violet in color and began to make the day sky look like night.
"It is to early for night? Maybe Celestia and Luna are trying something new?" Pinkie was trying to make sense of what was happening.
Just as the darkness started to grow even more ominous, Discord woke up enough to say only one thing, he reached up and touched Fluttershy. She leaned in and all he could mutter was one word. "Twilight." Before he passed back out once more. The look on her face showed fear and confusion at the same time.
"Girls. I think Discord just said Twilight?" She informed the group promptly.
They all rushed over to them as to check to see if this was true.

No sooner had they rushed to the side of there friend, a portal unseen to them shows up just over the hill. An outline of an Alicorn is all that can be made out in the odd colored light that has now covered all of Ponyville. Shortly there after a sound could be heard in the castle. Before the girls could go and check the noise, a familiar voice was heard from just a little ways away.
"Why hello there girls. What is everypony doing?" Came the voice.
They all turned quickly to the voice, with smiles on their faces. Sure enough it was their dear friend Twilight Sparkle.
In unison they all yelled"Twilight!" And rushed to her, well all but Fluttershy who stayed with Discord.
"Where have you been Auntie?" Flurry being the first one to ask the question that they all had on their minds. The girls began to ask questions and at the same time try and fill her in on the events that had happened. Spike could do nothing else but hug her just happy to see his dear friend was safe.
"Now girls, I am sure there will be time to fill me in on the rest. First, what is wrong with Discord?" She pointed her hoof at him and Fluttershy.
"We are not sure. It is almost as if the Magic was drained from him." Starlight answered the question promptly.
"Really now? Does he have any strength to tell us what happened?" Twilight continued her questions.
"No. The only thing he said was Twilight before he passed out." Fluttershy informed her.
"I see? Than shall we continue our chat one at a time." She started with each pony. Starting with Rainbow than Pinkie, Rarity, Applejack, Fluttershy and finally Flurry Heart. After being told of all the events that had taken place during her absence she decided to tell them where she had been. "Well to be entirely honest with you girls. I'm not sure where I was all this time. It was like a haze. The last thing I do remember was coming back from visiting Sunburst and Flurry in the Crystal Empire."

This did sound a bit odd to Starlight at first, but she chose to brush it off as some odd experience that Twilight had chose to block it out subconsciously. "Well we are glad to have you back Twilight." She really was to happy to see her.
"Shall we take Discord and head back into the castle, and help him recover?" Twilight suggested to the group.
As they got together to head in to the castle two loud voices were heard from the sky.
"STOP RIGHT THERE PRINCESS TWILIGHT SPARKLE!" The two at the same time. As the group looked into the sky; they see Princess Celestia and Princess Luna approaching them. As Celestia lands she grabs the group leaving Twilight to her sister to separate her from the rest.
"Princess, what's wrong?" Starlight inquired from Princess Celestia.
"That is not the Twilight you all know." Celestia stated to the surprise of the group.
"What are you talking about? We are looking right at her? That is Twilight?" Spike stated in utter shock at what he just heard.
"You are not entirely wrong young dragon." Luna still keeping Twilight away responded.
"But how?" Fluttershy spoke up still as lost as the rest.
"Maybe she was possessed by a dark creature, that is now controlling her?" Pinkie stated.
"No, it can't be that. She is our friend? She is the one that helped bring us all together." Applejack joined in.
"Twilight say something, please darling?" Rarity said looking at her friend.

Twilight still chose not say anything at first, as she looked at her friends.
"Please Auntie, they're wrong right?" Flurry had tears of fear in her eyes.
Just than the sky grow entirely pitch black. The sun covered in darkness. All they could hear was a dark and evil laugh.
"Well; I guess my secret is out now." The voice sent a chill down all the ponies backs.
"Twilight what is happening? Tell us please, we can help you." Starlight tried to call out to her.
"Help me? Why would I need help? For the first time ever, I don't feel lost. I now have an understanding I never could have had before." The dark clouds surrounded her and pushed back Princess Luna from the force of the Magic.
"Please Twilight, we are friends; your family?" Spike began to plead to her.
"Oh don't worry Spike. I'm not going to hurt you. This is only the beginning." The ominous voice of her coming from within the clouds.
Celestia and Luna shot a blast from their horns at the clouds, yet no matter how they tried nothing changed.
Suddenly the clouds began to shrink down little by little till they disappeared, and she was left standing on a hill looking down at them all. "So I promise that I will see you all again My Little Ponies." She said with dark green tint in her eyes. "But for now, I must bid you all farewell. See you all very soon." A dark magic portal appeared behind her and she stepped back into it. Princess Luna lunged at her finally able to move normally but was unable to catch her before the portal vanished as quickly as it had appeared.

"Princess, what........ what just.........I?" Spike could not form the words he wanted to ask. Nopony could. They were all too shocked at everything that had just happened. Their closest friend seemed lost, and none of them could event think of where to begin.
"Before we start, let us head inside." Princess Celestia had motioned to Twilights Palace. "Being outside right now is not our safest place right now."
They all headed inside, Fluttershy and Rainbow Dash aided in getting Discord inside. Princess Luna set up a protective spell around the palace as she headed inside as well.
"Before we begin, you all must understand that this will be a long story, also know, we do not know all of what is happening." Celestia prepared them for what she had to say. They headed into the map room and sat down ready to find out what was going on