//------------------------------// // Mirrored Insight // Story: Soren The Alicorn Part 4: The Rift // by KingNyroc15 //------------------------------// "That's one alicorn found," Soren commented worriedly. Twilight Sparkle kept an even expression as she illuminated her horn. Soren felt his body go numb. The spell didn't cause this, fear did. "You should have listened to Rainbow Dash," Twilight said before casting a spell. This time, Soren felt as though something snapped within his head. He screamed in agony and fell to the ground, grabbing his head to somehow stop the pain. Twilight looked at Sunny, who was horrified at this point, and teleported away for good. Literally smacking herself to get a grip, Sunny sprinted over to Soren. "I know you said this adventure would be dangerous but this is ridiculous," she commented when she reached him. "Why are they only attacking you?" "Cuz I'm a bucking alicorn, why else?!" he yelled in response. Sunny flinched a few steps back. Soren shook his head and stood up. "Of all ponies, she had to be an alicorn!" "Calm down, Soren. Let's just leave." "Why?! So they can get away with torturing me?! I won't let them attack me just so I can flee!" Soren started pacing back and forth. "They have to have a base of operations or something." "Soren?" "I wonder if they are hiding in the Crystal Caverns." "Soren." "Be quiet. I need to think. Where is the cavern?" Sunny sighs, walks up to Soren, and slaps his across the face. "Will you just listen to me?!" "Hit me again...I dare you." "If you continue to ramble without listening, I just might." Sunny scowled at Soren, who looked angry in return. As the two stared at each other, a few ponies began exiting the surrounding buildings. Sunny looked around as Soren still stared at her. "Excuse me," a random mare from nearby said to Sunny. "Did the alicorn hurt your friend?" "No, I'm fine," Soren answered. "You don't seem fine," Sunny retorted. "He was fine before...I think her name was Twilight. Before Twilight attacked him. Now he's acting like somepony pissed in his soup." She shouted purposefully towards the end so Soren would clearly hear. "Give it a blow, Sparky." Sunny was utterly stunned; she wanted to hit him again so bad. "We've seen something like this before," the mare continued. "You should go see the town's shaman, Bastian." "If it'll help Soren, sure. Where can I find him?" --------------- The mare led Sunny and an irritated Soren up to the entrance of the church they saw earlier. As they entered the building, they could see a stage with a large red curtain towards the back; it also had a pipe organ on its center. Practically every wall, floor, and ceiling was made of tan wood. The mare led them towards the back of the building where there was a door with a staircase leading down. The three ponies walked downstairs into an underground cavern illuminated with crystals of various sizes and colors. She explained that some of the ponies from town live underground, especially those who follow Bastian. During the walk deeper into the cave, the mare described Bastian the zebra as the town herbalist and doctor. Even though there aren't too many varieties of plants around Appaloosa, this didn't stop Bastian from growing a few flowers and trees underground. Every plant seemed foreign to Soren, except for the infamous Poison Joke smartly contained in glass. The three ponies entered a medium sized room that connected to the main cavern. They immediately saw Bastian, who was tending to a plant he seemed to be growing. Against most of the room's circular wall were plants and various items, most of which were covered. "Excuse me, Bastian," the mare began. "I'm so sorry to bother you, but we have a bit of a problem." "Alicorn?" he asked in his slightly deep voice. "Actually there are two." Bastian froze. "...Did the other unicorn become one?" "Oh, no no no, the other alicorn is friendly and is right here." He turned around. Bastian walked up to Soren, who still looked angry. Both ponies tilted their heads this way and that as they investigated each other. "You're not like the Evil Ones, are you?" "Me? Like those evil mares? HA! I wouldn't be caught dead helping them." "I see..." Bastian grabbed Soren head, causing Soren to growl and fight back. Bastian poked his hoof on a certain part of Soren's head, causing him to relax immensely. "Wow," Sunny said. "Wish I knew how to do that." "I only use it on those who are restless...or those who have had their minds snapped like this one." "Come again?" "Did the evil alicorn use a spell on him?" "I saw her horn glowing, so I think so." "Then she snapped his mind. She caused his essence to become bitter and sarcastic." The other mare in the room stepped forward. "We were hoping you could fix him quickly." "One would think only magic can counteract magic, but they would be wrong. I do know of one way, but it requires the special talent of the pony whose mind has been damaged. Tell me, red mare—" "Sunny. My name is Sunny Star, and his name is Soren." Bastian nodded in understanding. "Apologies. Tell me, Sunny, do you know Soren's special talent? I would hope a couple knows such information about each other." "We're not a couple. The colt can sing, and so can I." He arched an eyebrow then chuckled. "I shall not press further then. Follow me." Bastian led Soren with a hoof as Sunny followed behind. He let Soren go then he grabbed a particular item from against the wall. Adjusting the item so it faced the three of them, Bastian took off the cover to reveal a brilliantly clear, oval mirror with a gold frame. "Thank you for bringing them," he nodded to their escort. "I will handle things from here." She nodded and left. Bastian situated Soren in front of the mirror, Sunny to the left of Soren, and himself on the right. "We will be using a technique called Mirrored Insight. It can only be used with an enchanted mirror. This is because the magic inside it projects to the pony looking at the mirror their true self. Soren will need to use his special talent and show it to the mirror. He will sing into it and never look away, while we look and sing at him." "This sounds stupid, but you're the shaman," Sunny commented. Bastian looked at Sunny and nodded for her to start. "Sing from the heart and so will he," Bastian said. Sunny thought for a few seconds, took a deep breath, then began. (Sunny): I see you sit and swallow pain For all of those who will not speak You raise your voice, you fill the stage Your eyes are wide You know the weakness that you've felt Is not just yours, so many more, you're not alone The songs you sing are not your own You lift the room with something real (Bastian): You never had it Keep on wantin’ somethin’ more You never had it Keep on wantin’ somethin’ more (Soren): You never had it So you hesitate to try and find it You listen carefully for whispers Of what lurks behind it You play the corners, never get too close To where it might be waitin’ for you Never had it Keep on wantin’ somethin' more As Soren said the last word of his part, he stomped the ground. Without anyone noticing, cracks began to form on the outside of the mirror. (Sunny Star): Keep wantin’ more You never had it Keep wantin’ more You never had it (Bastian): Keep hidin’ the hope And then the pain is not yours No one's holdin’ the rope You gotta pull it on your own All the songs have been sung And all the doors have been closed Keep on wantin’ more (Soren): Keep on wantin’ You keep on wantin’ Keep on wantin’ You keep on wantin’ (Bastian): And I watch you wander through these halls You slouch, you shrug, you shrink away And I call you, stop, you blink, you pause You wonder, who? You think the day will never end And when it does you wait until the building's dark The doors are locked You're on the bus You looked inside but did not touch You never had it Keep on wantin’ somethin’ more You never had it Keep on wantin’ somethin’ more (Soren): You never had it But you know how to provide it So you stand up and call for it Nervous, describin’ what you go through You don’t wanna get caught up in all the Things they say to try to provoke you Don’t need anyone to tell you Keep on wantin’ somethin’ more! The song ends abruptly due to the sound of shattering glass. Soren was singing forcefully enough to let his emotions get the better of him. His emotion-driven magic sparking from his horn accidentally created cracks flowing through the mirror, meeting in the center. Soren found himself unable to stop staring at the broken mirror. Bastian stepped up to Soren and put a hoof on his shoulder. "You are not pleased with yourself," he said. "Deep down, dare I say, you hate yourself. You regret your decisions, your choices." "I have always done that, ever since I can remember," Soren replied. "I don't hate my choices, I simply hate the things I put up with. I hate causing harm and not being able to choose an alternative." Soren looked at Sunny. She lunged forward and hugged him without him returning the gesture. "You're feeling better," she smiled. Soren gently pushed her away. She simply locked eyes with him. "Now...things get serious," Soren said with newfound determination. "Sir Bastian!" a pony shouted while he sprinted into the room. "Someone requires your presence in town!" "Who?" "Some stallion requires an audience with you. He said it has to do with the Evil Ones." Bastian stiffened. "Soren, Sunny, I want you with me. The evil mares don't attack anyone unless they prove a threat. With your magic and stalwartness, you might be able to help us." Soren and Sunny nod as Bastian led them to the surface with a gallop.