My mind raced as I looked at the tribal ponies assembled in front of me, all looking like something straight out of my sister's favorite cartoon. "Please tell me I'm not a pony.." I thought, looking down at myself. I took in the dark blue fur, the odd four fingered hands, and the cat like hind legs. "Okay, definitely not a pony..." I paused at that last thought, remembering one of the few times my sadistic sister managed to force me to watch the show with her. My parents had thought it was cute we were spending time together, the traitors. If you ever think I'm bad, just remember that true evil is the little girl who forced me to watch a show about technicolor ponies with just a pout and watery eyes.
"Owie-something, I think?" I shrugged, scratching at a slightly itchy nose with my.. third hand? "I won't freak out, I won't freak out.." I mentally chanted, shuddering and trying to pull my line of thought back on track. "Owi-whatever was that Indiana Jones knock-off's villain, I think." The more I thought about it, the more I felt sure of that fact.
Now that I had shoved the mounting panic to the back of her mind, I noticed something else. Something more important than anything else going on right now. "Woah, I'm tall now!" I thought, mentally comparing myself to the ponies.
My attention shifted as a group of ponies landed heavily on the floor, having been pushed there by some of the tribal ponies. "Cassiopeia, please, you have to understand.." The lead pony begged softly once she had gotten up, "My men and I would never betray you, of course. I had intended to sell the ring to you."
The pony looked familiar.. except I remember her being male in that stupid show. "Caballeron." I took a moment to marvel at the velvety tones my new body possessed. "While I would love to believe you..." I then trailed off, thanking those few classes of improv I had taken for keeping me from freezing up.
The pony raised a hoof, "Uh, it's Caballera-" She wilted as I directed a smoldering glare her way, keeping to the villainous character. "Sorry." She squeaked.
"As I was saying, while I would love to believe you.. It is rather incriminating, the way you held the ring out with a bag of bits at your hooves." I had to think hard to remember the scenes from my sister's show, but I think that sounds about right.
"I hadn't planned on actually giving it to her, of course!" The pony exclaimed, looking around as she tried to come up with some sort of excuse.
"Silence!" I shouted, before looking at her thoughtfully. She is an archaeologist.. "There may be a way you can be useful yet." I mused aloud. This pony would know a lot about this world and it's obscure artifacts, artifacts that may actually hold powers from legends or myths. "Tell me, is there anything that could be used to peer into another world? To track down one not of this realm?"
Caballera was silent for a moment, but she soon gained a hopeful smile. "Yes! Yes, the Mirror of Veils is said to allow those who gaze into it to see other realms. Mostly it was used to peer into the realm of the dead or to spy on others in this world, but it's said that the mirror can pierce the void and gaze into any world."
I tapped a claw against the stone floor in front of me, producing a rather satisfying sound. "Then you will find this mirror, and you will bring it to me. If it works as you claim, I will forgive you this transgression." I drawled.
"And payment?" The pony asked hopefully.
"I will reward you for this endeavor by allowing you to keep your life.. And perhaps, if I am in a good mood, I may be persuaded to pay you for further tasks." I said menacingly, glaring down at the shivering pony. "But if you cross me again, there is not a being in this world which will keep me from finding you.."
"Y-yes, We'll get started right away!" Caballera ran out of the room, followed quickly by three large henchponies that I had barely noticed.
"Don't worry John." I mused quietly, "I'll find you."