//------------------------------//
// A moment of reflection 
// Story: Hands of Fate 
// by Storm Shine 
//------------------------------//

I drummed my fingers against the stone throne I was seated in. Seriously, who makes a throne out of stone? Because it rhymes? Because it's intimidating or something? It's way too uncomfortable! "I'm so bored.." I murmur, yawning wide to reveal the many sharp teeth my new body had. "Cabara-whatever had better hurry up with that mirror. It's been over a week already"

I stood up and stretched, still marveling at how light and agile my new body is, considering its size. "Surprisingly flexible.." I noted to myself as I stretched. "I wonder how strong this tail is.." I looked at the odd tail with a hand at the end. I really don't know what the heck kind of creature I am now, but I suppose it's nice that I still have hands. "I wonder if it's strong enough to.."

My musings were cut short, somewhat thankfully, by the arrival of a small group of ponies. "Lady Cassiopeia.." The lead pony grovelled slightly, "I have returned with what you asked for." Caballera gestured to her helpers, who parted to allow a third to drag a covered cart into the middle of the room. "I present to you.. The Mirror of Veils!" She exclaimed as she dramatically removed the sheet covering the top of the cart. Unfortunately a corner of the sheet snagged, nearly flinging the mirror from the cart. Caballera nearly had a heart attack, thanking whatever gods may listen that one of her henchponies managed to steady the mirror in time.

"Hmm.." I prowled down to look over the mirror. "How does it work?" I demanded, looking over at the corrupt archaeologist.

"Y-you just need to touch the frame, think about what you want to see, and chant, um..." Caballera pulled a slip of paper out and unfolded it with some difficulty, revealing some charcoal rubbings. "Pierce the Veil and Light the Fire, Tip the Scale and Show my Desire."

Using the hand on my tail I gently grasped the mirror from the top of the frame and brought it over to a wall. Placing it to stand up against the wall, I left my  tail touching the frame as I imagined John and chanted in a soft voice. "Pierce the Veil and Light the Fire, Tip the Scale and Show my Desire."

The reflection in the mirror warped and went black, dark as any void. A pinprick of light appeared in the center, slowly growing larger. Somehow, through the light creatures, horrible and indescribable, were revealed in the darkness. They appeared to growl and stare at the mirror, but slowly backed away from the growing light in the center.. The light rushed to fill the frame, before fading to an image.

"Is that really..?" I couldn't believe my eyes, but I knew it must have been John. An orange human with blonde hair.. no, not human. A blonde half-kaiju. "So he's that character from his favorite movie now.." I smiled softly, watching as he knocked down a giant beast and heated a sword that was used to decapitate it. "And he's not fazed by death or killing- violent as ever when his friends are in danger.." I shivered slightly in restrained joy, grinning as wide as my new features allowed. "Oh John, if only I could've been there to watch this in person.." I had the mirror zoom in on John's new form and brushed a hand against the image of his face. "It'll take a little getting used to, but it's still him.."

"W-what is that thing?" A voice spoke from behind me, sounded a shocked? "Some kind of weird dragon?"

I whirled around to see who had spoken, coming nearly muzzle-to-muzzle with a pegasus in a pith hat. Who the he- oh right, stupid indiana jones knock-off pony. "What do I owe the pleasure?" I drawled, annoyed that this pony was interrupting me. How dare she?

"Daring Do!" Caballera shouted in surprise and anger. Little late on the draw there, no wonder she always beats you.

"That Artifact belongs in a museum! I'm not going to let you use it for your evil plans Cassiopeia!" She shouted (squeakily) angrily, putting her hooves up to fight.

Snarling, I quickly snag her around the neck with the hand on my tail- apparently catching her off guard. "Evil plans you say?" I questioned her rhetorically. I glanced behind me at the image in the mirror. "No, this treasure will stay with me."

"I.. Won't... Let.. You.... Have it..." Daring Do choked out, hooves failing to separate the fingers curled around her neck. "Go ahead and... Put me in.. one of your stupid.. Death traps.."

"Death traps? Oh no, no, no.." I giggled evilly, "That wouldn't do. I can't have you worming your way out of some seemingly inescapable trap to come and take the only means of seeing my beloved. That just wouldn't do."

"Beloved?" The pony gasped out, disgust now written all over her expression. "You and... That thing in the mirror?"

I squeezed her neck a little tighter, bringing her in closer. "Don't insult him." I growled out, before my face fell back into a grin. "Tell me... Daring..." I plucked the pith hat from her head, examining it. "Have you ever had the pleasure of seeing someone die, knowing that you were the cause of it?" I looked at the so-called hero with a manic grin splitting my face. "Watching the light leave their eyes, their last moments in the world knowing that they had crossed you and regretting it?" I plopped the stupid little hat back on her head.

"W-what?" Daring gasped out.. 'This.. This didn't seem like Cassiopeia. Yes, she was evil.. but.. She was always angry, wild, trying to cause problems on a large scale. She was never this collected, never this smart, it was always the same routine. Bust in, try and get the artifact, get caught, get out of the trap, get the artifact, get away. Cassiopeia never caught me personally, never took the time to calmly talk like this unless it was to monologue about her plans.. In fact that was the only thing she ever seemed to talk about.. what changed?' The little pony's mind raced.

"Oh, you heard me. But of course you wouldn't know. You're the good girl after all." I mused, paying less attention to the pony in front of me as her mind raced. "Well, I don't want you getting away, even if you do get the chance." I shifted my weight onto my hind-legs and reached over and grasped one of Daring's legs with my hands. Wrenching hard, the limb broke with a sickening snap. "So I'll make it a little harder on your mobility before throwing you out" I glanced at my hands for a moment, marveling at just how easy that was.

Daring screamed, her world briefly turning white with the pain.  "Who... Who are you?" She panted, the hand around her neck having loosened slightly. "You're not... Cassiopeia..."

"Oh? Noticing something amiss with your little fairy tale world?" My grin became just a little more malicious and I leaned in to whisper into the pony's ear, "Well, I'm afraid that you're right." I grasped one of her wings next, "I'm much worse."

*SNAP*