//------------------------------// // Deride // Story: In Reflection, The Same // by Faedelaide //------------------------------// Twilight hummed in joy as she took in the pleasantly warm air of the Crystal Kingdom. If ever there were a place to vacation during the winter, it would have to be the always sunny skies of the Crystal Kingdom, and she might've been tempted to stay another week if a small, barely noticeable voice in her head nagged her to get back to work. Oh well, vacation at Cadance's would have to wait another day. Rainbow Dash walked up beside her as she stood waiting for her remaining friend. When she approached, she granted Twilight a quick smile, which she immediately returned. All the while, her mind stayed resolute in its conclusion. She and Gillian were up to something, but what could it possibly be? It frustrated her to no end to be left so in the dark, and by her own companions. It made her miss the consistency of Twilice's accompaniment. Thank Celestia she'd get to hear her voice again soon. The two ponies stood patiently, watching the fluffy clouds above swirl and shift in the sky. It was a while until Gillian finally showed up. Twilight could hear the scratching of her claws on the crystal pavement, and was reminded of Spike back at her own castle. It was a thought that made her sad for a moment. She wanted to go back to sitting with Spike and her friends in her castle and reading a good book. But she would get that back once she finished her job. She would get to see life's simple joys again. And all she had to do was listen to Twilice's every word once she got back to the cabin. Simple enough. "Hey guys, I got some good news!" Gillian's voice rang clearly throughout the open crystal streets. Twilight hadn't realized until now just how scratchy and high pitched her voice was. her voice oozed with a curious enthusiasm that, to Twilice, was quickly becoming an unbearable nuisance. Why was she thinking this now? she hadn't felt this way about her voice before, so where were these feelings coming from? Perhaps it was due to the knowledge that she and Rainbow were plotting against her, that they both saw her as nothing but a madmare with nothing but ice on her mind. Maybe she was, but that didn't allow her to judge her so harshly so as to concoct some hack kneed scheme against her. Twilice let out a silent huff. "What's the news?" "Princess Cadance's comin' with us," Gillian squealed, "the crystal princess herself!" A cloud wrapped itself around her mind again, but this time she accepted it willingly. The cloud filled her every thought and feeling with an indescribable rage mixed with a burning hatred. A hatred for that Wall, a hatred for the Crystal Kingdom, and most prominently, a hatred for her so called "friend". Now this disheveled misshapen avian abomination roped her sister into this whole scheme, and worst of all, there was nothing she could do about it. Twilight tried her best to remain stone-faced as Cadance joined their party. She flew down from one of the castle's high windows to greet the group. What surprised Twilight more was that she was clad in a set of bright cerulean armor. Her crown was neatly fastened into a bright, sky blue helmet emblazoned with a symbol that was completely different than the one that marked the arrow. "Uh, what's with all the armor?" Rainbow Dash wondered. "I have to look presentable for the citizens of Griffonstone if I'm going to be meeting them in person." Cadance replied sweetly. "D'you really think that's..." Gillian gulped, "gonna be necessary?" Cadance's expression suddenly twisted into a hollow, somber mask. She flicked a quick glance at, no, through Twilight, seeming to look at something within her. "Only if circumstances deem it so." The red hot cloud of rage continued to swirl, only riled more by the princesses words. So they were colluding. She knew it. Well, it didn't matter any more. It wouldn't matter once Twilight freed her other self and staved the ice. Then everyone would see her as she was truly meant to be seen. And this putrid Crystal Kingdom would rue they day they ever thought to rebel against her. Geez, Twilight was really starting to think like Twilice all of a sudden. That was odd. Cadance cleared her throat. "Are we ready to fly?" Rainbow lifted herself into the air, and Gillian gave the princess a thumbs up. Twilight only gave her a slight nod. She would be perfectly happy if she never had to speak to this thing ever again. As Twilight readied her wings, she suddenly came to a realization. "Hey Cadance, if you're coming with us, who's keeping charge of the Crystal Kingdom?" "Kingdom? that's an odd way to put it," Cadance chuckled quietly. "Shining Armor will be taking my position for the next few days while I help you with your mission." Twilight nodded again, and ascended above the crystal streets into the open air. That didn't really seem like a very tactically sound decision. With how unstable the Wall was looking, if even one of it's more dangerous occupants found their way to the Crystal Kingdom, she wasn't sure if they'd be helpless to stop it. After all, from what she'd seen, the crystal ponies didn't use aether magic anymore... with one obvious exception. Twilight turned her head around to look behind her at the small crystalline podium sitting directly under the great crystal castle. There, the crystal heart floated peacefully, without a care in the world. She could feel her hair blowing in the wind as she continued to eye it's flat, geometric edges and soft blue glow. Twilice smiled as she looked at it, and as she turned her head to look back at the others, her rage subsided. A calm, pleasant aura surrounded her as a mental image burned itself onto her brain. It was all she could think of on the flight back to the cabin in Griffonstone. That crystal heart would make a great centerpiece among a throne of bones.