//------------------------------// // Chapter 25: Emotions and Mirrors // Story: All Hail the Overlord // by TheAncientPolitzanian //------------------------------// The Overlord gave out a deep sigh as he entered his bedroom. It was large, certainly larger than the one he had at the hive. The room featured two large doors, with built in windows, which lead out to a balcony, a bed, a desk with a built in mirror, and several end tables. He turned his gaze to the mirror in the room. No reflection. He was confused for a second before he remembered what was going on. Not having a reflection was good for intimidating ponies, but it wasn't good for him when he needed to actually work on his appearance. The Overlord's antlers and horn glowed and the spell keeping his reflection invisible stopped. He grinned at the mirror for a second, before his grin fell immediately, replaced by a look of confusion and horror. In the mirror, staring back at him, was a leader who led his people to glory, a leader who was loved, and a leader who was respected. But it wasn't him. It was his alternate self. Lime green and orange. "What?" he asked, cocking an eye brow, and the one in the mirror followed his movements. "Did I transform and forget?" The Overlord was consumed by a burst of red flames. The one in the mirror stayed the same as he looked down to see that he was wearing his own armor, and his carapace was crimson. He growled at the mirror deeply. "What is going on?" he shouted as he started randomly changing forms, but the one in the mirror stayed as his alternate self, even as he turned into all manner of random individuals. Finally, the figure in the mirror transformed alongside him. He would have been happy, if it was literally anyone else. Staring back at him was Queen Chrysalis. His Chrysalis. The one he had usurped. His eyes widened. This time the mirror did not follow his movements, it only stared back at him with sad eyes. He growled, and dropped his disguise, disappearing in a burst of fire one last time. When the flames died down he looked in the mirror once again. Chrysalis was still there, and behind her were hundreds of figures of all races, shapes, and forms, and each of them stared at him. He remembered each and every one of them. They were all beings that he had personally snuffed the life out of. Some were enraged, others sad, but not one seemed even remotely joyous. The Overlord frowned deeply at the mirror. "I killed you! You're dead!" he shouted to the mirror stepping towards it. "Yes. You did," the Chrysalis in the mirror said, causing his eyes to widen. "You killed all of us." The Overlord stepped towards the mirror again. "Then what are you doing here?" Chrysalis shook her head and closed her eyes. "You don't realize, Thorax. You don't realize that you have sealed your own defeat." "What? How?" the Overlord asked, his eyes widening. Chrysalis shook her head again and looked up at him. "Tell me!" he shouted, slamming his hooves onto the desk. Chrysalis's eyes started to water a little in response as she stared deeply into his burning vortexes. "I still love you.... son." Chrysalis said, her voice choking up and tears starting to poor down her face. The Overlord's eyes widened before he roared into the air. He closed his eyes as brought his hoof back and with one single strike, drove it through the mirror, and into the wall behind it. The mirror cracked deeply. He slowly opened his eyes seeing his crimson self in the mirror. Tears were running down his face now, and he didn't know why. Ocellus gulped. Standing before her was the mirror. She nervously reached a hoof out for it, then pulled it back. "I shouldn't... This is a bad idea," she said to herself nervously. "You got that right," she heard a voice behind her, causing her to jump. She quickly turned around to see Spike hovering in the air, staring down at her with his arms crossed. "What do you think you're doing down here?" Ocellus looked at Spike for a minute before she looked back at the mirror. "I... I thought that if King Thorax saw me or one of his other subjects, he would snap out of it..." She said nervously, looking down. Spike looked away and sighed. "That probably wouldn't work. He went after one of his closest friends like a wild animal and broke her arm. I don't think it would work with you." Ocellus stepped towards Spike. "But I have to try!" Ocellus shouted in desperation. "Thorax has dedicated his life to his people, changelings like me, and if he saw a good changeling, he might snap out of it." Spike shook his head. "You can't. Not without protection. Heck, even with protection I'd say no. That guy's brother just chewed up the strongest warriors in the world. I don't even want to imagine what he would do to anyone weaker than them." "But..." Ocellus started before she was cut off by Spike. "No buts," Spike said crossing his arms again and frowning deeply. "You are not allowed to go in there, and that's final. I know you and your friends saved Equestria, but Cozy Glow was one of the weakest threats we faced. Although she was definitely one of the smartest..." Ocellus looked down sadly and gulped. "I... I..." she started. Spike turned away and started to fly away. "Ocellus, I know you want to help, but all you're going to do is get yourself hurt." Spike said as he left the room the mirror was contained in. Ocellus sniffled as she turned back to the mirror. Her reflection had tears running down its face, which was only right. "I... I need to do something..." she said, before she stood up and started to inch towards the mirror once again. She then heard a group of steps behind her. She turned to see her friends who looked at her. "What are you guys doing here?" she asked sadly. "We heard you were going to go through the mirror to try to save everygriff." Silverstream said as she sat down next to her. "Yeah..." Ocellus said as she looked down. "Are you gonna try to talk me out of it?" "Actually, we were gonna help you," Sandbar said as he walked up next to her and looked in the mirror. "Help me?" "Yeah! Yak no want you to go alone, and yak want to help Prince!" Yona shouted, stomping her hoof. "Queen Novo is my aunt. How do you expect me to not try to help her?" Silverstream excitedly said shrugging. "If you guys are going, I'm going!" Sandbar said, indignation filling his eyes. "I can't let you guys go there without me. What kind of friend would I be then?" Gallus said. Smoulder hesitated in the back for a minute before she walked forwards and put a claw on Ocellus's shoulder. "Hey, I'm there too." Ocellus smiled at her friends, before all six of them stood up, and confidently walked through the mirror.