//------------------------------// // The Mirror // Story: Smolder and the Black Mirror // by Blue Sphere Writing //------------------------------// It had been a casual day for the Young Six, attend classes, hang out, and currently they were all exploring more of the Castle of the Two Sisters. Smolder was looking through every door she could find, even though she’d already seen most if not all the rooms. “Been there, seen that, nothing special in there, huh guess I have seen everything there is in here. Wait, what’s in there?” She asked herself. She saw another door at the end of the hallway, it was cracked with green light shining through it. She flew over to it, the light seeming to dim as she got closer. Finally, she got to the door peering into the room. The room was empty and dark, the only light was a dimly glowing gem. That wasn’t the thing that interested Smolder though, it was what was below the gem. It was a mirror, with a black frame. Smolder thought she should go get the rest of her friends, but she was compelled to go in alone. She stared into the mirror but there was no reflection, only a black void. “Huh, well I guess there isn’t anything here,” Smolder said only to do a double take, “Unless, it’s a magic mirror...” She started looking all around the mirror, trying to find a hidden button, lever, entrance, pretty much anything. “Wait, I’m stupid I should’ve just done this first,” Smolder told herself while faceclawing. Smolder cautiously held out her hand, touching the mirror. Just as her claw came in contact with the glass, a large shadow erupted from the point where here claw touched the glass. The shadow appeared to struggle to open, its eyes? Once its eyes were opened, it stared down Smolder, analyzing every detail. “What are you?” The female dragon asked, watching the shadow mold to match her body. Once it was done it appeared as a direct copy of Smolder, only it was a shadow with green eyes, no mouth, and it moved independently. It pointed at the gem, then gestured eating it. Smolder caught on pretty quick, picking up the green gem, looking back at the shadow copy of herself which nodded. Finally, Smolder ate the gem and nothing seemed to happen. Suddenly a voice cut through her head. First, I must thank you for letting me in, every other dragon refuses my request. Smolder stumbled back and nearly fell over. “Ack! Did you just? Did I? What are? I don’t get- ahhh!” She yelled in frustration. I understand you are confused, ask any questions, I can answer them all. I have no name, I do not have a physical form, I can only show myself through the mirror and in the mind of my host. “So, you’re inside my mind right now?” Yes. I could look through all your thoughts, however you are now my host and master, I do as you wish. If it is against your wishes I shall not do it Lord- “Just call me Smolder, and just to clarify, you are something that doesn’t have a physical body, and serve whoever allows you into their mind?” Correct, every other dragon has immediately rejected me, but if you’re wondering what I can do I can list them all off now. “Go ahead.” I can increase the strength of all your natural abilities. For example, I can increase the amount and heat of your fire, make you physically stronger, increase your stamina to allow for longer and faster flight, and much more, although most of it is purely situational. “Are there more of you? Like, more of your species?” Yes, but not all have the best intentions. Not much honor, they use their abilities to increase both the host’s abilities and negative emotions. They thrive off of conflict, jumping from dragon to dragon. Sometimes kicking out others to take control of a host they desire. “So, they take full control of another dragons mind?” No, they just increase emotions like rage, to make them more aggressive. Inevitably creating conflicts, would you like an example. “Sure, if you’d like you could use my friends for your example.” So, let’s say you were “infected” by one of the rage enhancers. Now all the negative thoughts you have about let’s say Gallus, have intensified a hundred times. Now your relationship with Gallus slowly starts to get worse and worse, you start fighting more and more, and it continues spiraling out of control until the invader is done with you and leaves you, searching for a new host. Smolder wondered about the last part, what would she do if one of those things were in her head? What would she do with her friends? “Smolder? Smolder, where the heck are you?!” Gallus called out, clearly irritated. Smolder sprang up turning back towards the door. Don’t worry about me, I’m not confined to this room. I’m only stuck in your head as long as you let me. Smolder sighed now that she understood what she just got herself into, walking towards the door she paused before opening it. “Hey, one more question, if you’re currently inside me, does that put me on the radar for the rest of your species?” She asked hesitantly. Since we have recently paired, it will take a while, even then I cannot tell when we are spotted. “Okay then, you need a name, don’t you?” Would you like me to have one? You can call me whatever you want. “I’ll think of something later.” Smolder sighed, walking out the door. “There you are! I’ve been looking all over for you come on so we can go,” the blue griffon gestured towards the main area of the castle where the rest of their friends were waiting. Smolder rolled her eyes. “You guys didn’t have to wait on me you know,” She smugly stated. “I knew that!” Gallus said, rubbing the back of his head, “I-It’s just the others didn’t want to leave without you!” “Whatever you big blue idiot,” Smolder mocked, punching Gallus in the shoulder, “Let’s just get going already.” “Gallus finally! Are you done stalling? Can we go back to the school now?” Silverstream joked. “Friends said Smolder be okay, but Gallus say he stay until friend comes,” Yona yelled. Gallus started blushing trying to hide his face from everyone. “Seems someone missed me, guess I should stay around more often to keep someone from freaking out,” Smolder teased patting Gallus on the head. Now from the little the others could see of Gallus’ face, he looked like a red baseball. “Let’s just go already,” Gallus hoarsely said. “That’s what we thought you’d say,” Sandbar replied. Gallus refused to talk to the rest of the group, outright avoiding Smolder for the rest of the night. Everyone obviously noticed.