This is probably my favourite extract from the story so far. I actually teared up while reading it, I’m not kidding.

Extract:

My gaze locked on the raider in my soul.  She trembled, dying from blood loss.  She was grotesque, horrible.“I’m not this!” I cried out.  “I have a purpose!”It… it’s not us, is it? I heard my voice cry.  We’re not the right group of friends.  We can’t bring Equestria back.No, Spike’s voice laughed at me.  You’re not!The saw was so close now.  If I didn’t take the glyphs for protection, it would start cutting me.Let me show you so many secrets!“NO!”  I screamed, crying.  I wanted those secrets.  I tried to fight, but I really, really wanted them.  The saw was gone.  The noises stopped.  The healing booth was no longer a coffin and I was no longer alone.“Enough of this,” Rarity said, stepping forward.  She glared at the glyphs.  “You leave her alone.”When…?  How?The beautiful white unicorn gave me a sad frown.  “I was not that strong either.”  She stared back at the glyphs as the other Ministry Mares walked up from the darkness behind me.  “The Black Book preys on you when you’re weak and alone.  But you’re not alone anymore.”“I’m… how?”“Cuz ya brought us together, didn’tcha?” Applejack smiled.  “It’s what you do.”I think I know who you’re looking for, I remembered telling Spike.“It’s happening differently this time, isn’t it?”  Twilight Sparkle’s voice was curious.  “Well duh,” Rainbow Dash hovered over her.  “Do you think it was the same when it was just Celestia?  Same is boring.”“Ah reckon it’s diff’rent every time.”I was confused yet comforted.  I didn’t know how, but they were with me.  And with them, I had the strength to refuse and fight.  But you don’t want to fight, do you?  Let me give you a taste of what I have to offer.“Hey Pinkie, this is a great party, but I’ve got something that will make it even better,” Pinkie Pie said dourly, her expression cross.  She was staring at the floating runes, but I didn’t think she was seeing quite what the rest of us were.  “You’ve got to try these.  Just take one.  They’ll blow your mind.”  Her hoof stomped.Another voice echoed out of the darkness.  Have you given up your principles for the greater good yet? Red Eye asked.  I see you’ve already become a monster.   Or did you think I wouldn’t hear about Arbu?   The blood began to rise.  “Ah don’t like this feller,” Applejack hissed.And look at that, Red Eye’s voice mocked as I felt a burning in my right foreleg where my PipBuck had merged with my flesh.  You’re becoming more like me every day!“I’m not like you,” I asserted, lying again.  “And I’m not a monster.”  I knew I was.  I could see it in the mirror.“CORRUPTED KINDESS!” Trixie’s voice accused triumphantly, her image floating above the mirror.Fluttershy stepped forward, “How would you know?”“I’M THE GODDESS!  I KNOW EVERYTHING!”“Hush now,” Fluttershy commanded, Staring.  “Quiet now.”The image of Trixie faded, looking abashed.Power, the Black Book cajoled.  Purpose.  Together, we will unlock the world!“Don’t listen to it,” Rarity strengthened.  Applejack rested a hoof on my shoulder.  “Ya already got a purpose.  Yer the Bringer o’ Light, ain’tcha?”“I… I don’t even know what that means.”  I shook my head.  “I don’t have a purpose!  I’m lost.  I have no idea what I’m doing.”“Now listen here,” Applejack said sternly.  “What Ah’m tellin’ ya is the honest truth.  Ya do have a purpose.”“Yer the one that brought ‘em together,” she said as images of my friends floated at the edges of my vision.  My living friends.  Calamity.  Velvet Remedy.  SteelHooves.  Xenith.  Even Pyrelight. They were here with me too.  I felt tears.“Ya find the good ones.  Draw ‘em out.  Clear the path an’ light the way,” Applejack smiled gently.  “There’s a name fer that, y’know.”I wanted to believe her so badly that I was trembling.“But…”  I turned back at the mirror.  To the shot up, bleeding, dying Littlepip in cobbled-together, gore-stained raider armor, barely standing as she faced down her next kill, Little Macintosh floating in front of her, pointing upward.  “…but this is my soul.  Isn’t it?““Of course it is, silly,” Pinkie Pie said, hugging me suddenly and pointing at the mirror.  “You’re just looking at it wrong.”“Look behind you.”