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The little filly trudged through the snow, her hooves starting to get numb from the cold. She’d read somewhere that frost bite starts with pain but that had long since passed. Fear filled her heart but she kept walking. She didn’t know where she was going but knew stopping was the worst thing she could do.
.:What is this? A crude but promising gem has placed itself before me?:.
Twilight stopped, looking around to find the source of the voice. She couldn’t see through the snow and yet the voice was clear despite the wind. “H-hello? I-is somepony there?!”
.:A gem with ears that listens to shadows as well? How fortuitous.:. It said, revealing itself to the filly. From the snow, ink black smoke erupted from the ground, quickly surrounding the filly. For the first time in hours, Twilight was warm and unconsciously moved closer to the darkness. A smile unseen grew on the entity. .:Tell me, my child, what brings thee such sorrow, to have you wandering about the wasteland?:.
“I…” She sniffled, looking up at the face in the shadows. “I just wanted to be like the princess! B-but I couldn’t… I failed…”
.:Ah. Sweet child, worry not about past failures.:. He assured, caressing her cheek with a misty dark limb. .:For I can sense greatness in you. A brilliant gem just waiting to be polished to a shine.:.
“Like the princess when she raises the sun?” She asked, hope slowly filling her at the stallions words. He smiled and in her eyes it was like a light at the end of an endlessly dark tunnel.
.:When I finish showing you how bright you can shine, not even the sun will measure up to you, my little gem.:. He promised, drawing into his shadows.
Little Twilight Sparkle was never seen again.