//------------------------------// // Mind Games I // Story: Repercussions // by shallow15 //------------------------------// She was nowhere. A formless, featureless void. It reminded her of being inside Juniper Montage's mirror, except it wasn't quite a blank white expanse. It was hard to figure out exactly what color everything was. One second it was white, but then it seemed blue, or pink or something. After a while, Sunset stopped trying to figure out what it looked like, and also tried to not think too much about what exactly she was standing on. Sunset decided to look down at herself. Instead of her waitress uniform, she was wearing her usual jeans and blue top, along with her black denim jacket with the orange chevrons on the sleeves. “Okay,” she thought. Then stopped, frowning. “Hello?” she thought again. But this time she realized that she wasn't hearing the voice in her head. Her mouth had moved as she thought the words. “Okay, this is kinda weird.” “Oh, for crying out loud. Haven't you figured it out yet?” Sunset spun sharply, looking for the voice that had come from behind her. She didn't see anyone, but her eyes widened as she saw the large ornate mirror that was there. It was almost seven feet tall and mounted in a frame that was gold on the left and silver on the right. She walked closer to the mirror, watching as her reflection grew as she approached. Except something was wrong. The reflection was off. The clothes hung differently. “No,” she said. “They're not hanging differently. They're different.” “Finally, she starts to get it!” said her reflection. Sunset gawped as she reached the mirror. Her reflection was dressed in her old outfit: Leather jacket, orange skirt, magenta shirt with her cutie mark symbol on the front. Her hair seemed different too. The red and gold were bolder, almost luminescent. “This is impossible,” Sunset said. Her reflection folded her arms and gave her a look she knew all too well: the confident sneer she used when she had someone exactly where she wanted them. “Well, duh,” said the reflection. “Come on, you're supposed to be so smart. Your reflection is talking to you and your internal thoughts are getting verbalized. What's the logical conclusion?” Sunset frowned. “I'm dreaming.” “Ding-ding-ding!” crowed her reflection. “Finally. Although, it's not quite that simple.” “You want to stop being cryptic and tell me what the hell is going on?” Sunset snapped, folding her own arms. “Well, let's recap. You got attacked after work by a seven foot tall woman who shot lightning from her fingertips. And thanks to the geode, you got a glimpse inside her mind and lo and behold--” “Shut up!” Sunset snarled. “I know what I saw!” Her reflection grinned. “So... where are you?” “My own mind. I'm asleep. But since I know I'm asleep, I should be able to wake myself up.” Sunset closed her eyes and concentrated. She clenched her fists and bit her bottom lip as she tried to break out of the dream. After a few moments she relaxed and glared at her reflection. “Why can't I wake up?” Her reflection looked at its nails. “You aren't just asleep, SunShim. You're in a coma. In the outside world, you're completely non-responsive.” The reflection grinned. “And probably on the business end of a catheter too. Fun.” Sunset let out a noise of disgust. “I don't have time for this. I need to find a way to wake up.” She turned to leave, but a firm grip grabbed her arm. Sunset turned her head and gaped as her reflection stepped out of the mirror. The reflection was grinning evilly. “Oh no no, Sunny,” it said. “You don't get to walk away from me this time.” Sunset pulled her arm free. “I don't even know what the hell you are.” The reflection quirked an eyebrow. “Really?” “Yeah, really.” The reflection sighed. “The jolt must have scrambled your brain. Either that or hanging out with those six bimbos has caused it to rot.” Sunset's frown deepened. “They're not bimbos.” “Really?” The reflection's grin sharpened. “That's not what you thought about them just over a year ago. Let's refresh your memory, shall we?” The reflection gestured at the mirror. An image of Rarity appeared, looking flustered. After a moment, Sunset heard her voice echoing around them. You seriously thought I'd pay for a dress that looks like an albatross crapped out a wedding cake? I came to you because everybody said you were the best, Rarity. Instead, I get this. Of course, it must be hard to pay attention to what you're doing with your nose so far in the air. There was a hideous sound of cloth ripping and Rarity caught the remains of an elegant and intricately sewn white evening dress. She looked at the dress, then up, then back at the dress. Sunset winced as she saw the tears forming in her friend's eyes. Then the voice returned. That's right. Start crying. Declare your life over and go eat a few cartons of ice cream. I'm sure that won't affect your self worth at all, you vapid wannabe preppy. “How dare you?!” Rarity snapped. Her face contorting into an expression of anger. Oh, save it. I know your family isn't anywhere near as fancy as you like to pretend. Face facts, you're nothing but a sad, pathetic redneck who pretends she's not the backwoods trailer trash that everyone knows she is! Rarity burst into tears, and Sunset felt sick as she heard her own mocking laughter echoing around her. “Stop it,” she hissed to her reflection. “I'm not that person anymore! I apologized to her for that!” “Doesn't matter if there isn't any forgiveness for it,” the reflection said. “She forgave me!” The reflection grinned again. “Are you sure she meant it?” Sunset growled deep in the back of her throat. “I don't have time for this.” She began to stalk away, leaving her reflection behind. She stopped suddenly when her reflection appeared in front of her. “I told you,” it said. The reflection shot out a fist, hitting Sunset right in the sternum. Sunset let our a cry of surprise as she flew backwards through the air. Her cry was cut off as she landed solidly in a chair. Clamps in the arms and legs snapped shut around her wrists and ankles. The chair spun rapidly, causing Sunset's vision to blur. When it came to a halt, she was facing the mirror again. Her reflection leaned up against it, one arm bracing herself, her feet crossed in a casual pose. “You don't get to walk away from me this time. We've got a lot of old ground to tread, you and I.” Sunset struggled against her bonds, but the clamps were immobile. “Let me out! They need me!” The reflection laughed. The same cold, mocking laugh Sunset had used in the past. “No, no, no. I don't think so.” The reflection walked over and leaned down so she was face to face with Sunset. It grinned again, only this time the mouth was full of razor sharp teeth. Sunset looked up from the teeth and inhaled sharply when she saw the reflection's eyes. Pitch black eyes with ice blue irises. Her demon self's eyes. Sunset swallowed as she felt fear travel up her spine. The reflection laughed again as she saw Sunset's reaction. “That's right, Sunset. We're just getting started.”