//------------------------------// // Illusions // Story: Mirror Image // by Horned Eclipse //------------------------------// Twilight stared down at her hooves as she made her way rather slowly to Sugarcube Corner — sleep didn't come easily last night. Her mind was racing so fast she could barely catch her thoughts, flickering from the book to the mirror. More-so the book, because it wouldn't be logical to worry about seeing something in a mirror all night long.. Sighing, she admitted to herself she was more concerned than she wanted to be. It was all such a strange coincidence — if that's what it was. Could the mirror have been related to the book? Did some kind of magical presence release itself with the breakage of a curse? Literally anything was possible, and that meant.. well, it meant she was going to be worried until it was solved. That's how the unicorn worked — if there was an irregularity, it needed to be fixed. Until it gets fixed, she'd obsess over it, no matter how hard she tried not to. The mare was pulled out of her thoughts as she opened the door, her aura surrounding the handle, Pinkie Pie happily chirping as she stepped in, "Good morning Twilight! I've got those cupcakes you wanted right here! I made sure to be extra super duper careful with the icing so it's all equal and nopony feels like they got less! I know that was a problem before so I really tried to measure out the icing I used because I remember you absolutely freaking out a while ago when it was uneven and —" She smiled politely, "Thank you, Pinkie. I really appreciate that." Pinkie nodded and went off on another cheerful monologue, and Twilight relaxed a bit for the first time since yesterday — being in the company of her friend, even if it was mostly just listening, was comforting nonetheless. She thought for a moment maybe she just needed company — she could discuss the book with the rest of the mares, as a group, then she wouldn't be alone with her thoughts. Yes, that sounded reasonable. The next break Pinkie Pie took, she would interject and suggest a meeting. She softly exhaled a laugh through her nose, her smile softly pulling up — it was going to be a while before Pinkie took a break. Oh, well, she had time. Her magenta energy surrounded the box of assorted cupcakes, hovering over the counter for a moment before resting beside her in the air, held firmly in her steady grip. As Pinkie kept going on, Twilight slid the bits needed onto the counter, the hyperactive mare taking them absentmindedly, letting the unicorn pay for the goods without breaking her one-sided conversation. Twilight took a deep breath, enjoying the morning, the scent of baked goods heavy in the air — this was definitely one of the best shops in town. Well, as long as she was here, she might as well browse a bit. Her purple gaze turned down to the display shelves, kept pristine behind the glass — she had other cupcakes, pies, cakes, candies, just about everything under the sun. The glass even shined, kept meticulously clean, her.. reflection.. very clear in its smooth surface. Come on, she snorted — now she was just being silly. Scared of her own reflection? Ridiculous! She mentally rolled her eyes at herself, browsing the pastries, her eyes scanning right, her head turning — Her head.. turning? Her eyes snapped back to her reflection. Smiling at her. Staring into her own eyes, facing directly forward. "Buck!" The mare nearly dropped the cupcakes, her magical grip faltering for a moment before she regained herself. She jumped back from the counter like a parasprite had landed on her nose, knocking over a stray chair in the way, sending it clattering to the ground. Pinkie gasped, startled by her sudden outburst, "Woah, Twilight, are you okay? Did something pinch you or what?" The baker quickly stepped around the counter to the aid of her friend, but Twilight just shook her head. She had to know. She had to test it. Her hooves tapped slowly on the floor as she walked back up to the counter, looking into the glass. She turned her head left — the reflection smiled at her. She turned her head right — the reflection stared. She frowned — the reflection did not. Her voice came out quiet, shaking, "Pinkie.. Can you come here please?" The mare stepped fully to her friend, "I'm right here, Twilight. What is it?" "I need you to look into the glass for me, and tell me if you see anything weird." Pinkie giggled confusedly, "Uh, okay?" She leaned over it, her reflection glinting in the clear surface. Pinkie started babbling, "Well, I see my strawberry surprise cupcakes I made this morning, and I see my double chocolate cherry cake, and —" Twilight's heart plummeted to the bottom of her stomach, the color fading from her face as she froze. "P-Pinkie?" Pinkie turned, the smile instantly leaving her face, "Yeah — woah, Twilight! You look sick! Are you feeling okay?" "You don't see it..?" Pinkie turned again to the glass, "What am I looking for?" She breathed, "Yourself." Pinkie stared hard for a long moment before sighing in defeat, "I'm sorry, Twilight, I don't see anything weird. I mean, I see my reflection, but like.. that's just kinda what glass does! What should I be seeing?" Twilight's eyes were locked with the glass, and she slowly stuttered, "N-nothing, I guess... Nothing.." Pinkie raised an eyebrow, "It doesn't look like you've seen 'nothing'." Twilight forced her eyes back up to her friend, her expression pained, unsure — no. No, this was her own mess, her own problem. If Pinkie can't see it, then good for her. "I have to go. Thanks for the cupcakes, Pinkie." Without looking back, Twilight hurried out of the shop, ignoring the confused shouts following her out the door. With her eyes locked on her hooves and the grass, she speed-walked back home.. It didn't matter though. No matter what her physical eyes looked at, all her mind could see was Pinkie Pie — no, Pinkie Pie's reflection — staring at her. Smiling at her. Watching her. The real Pinkie's head faced the cupcakes, her mouth moving as she spoke, but the reflection just smiled quietly, staring holes through her. Right beside her own. "Here are the cupcakes, Spike." The box dropped on the wooden table haphazardly, Twilight already rushing to her room — Spike barely got the chance to look at her before she was gone. Immediately, her magic grabbed the book from its resting place on the scroll, bringing it up to her face. She was far past worrying about preservation, she was going to touch the book as much as she needed to. "What did you do, huh? What?" She huffed at the book, though she knew she'd be getting no reply. She flipped fast through the pages, to that one final scrawl in the back, "THEY STILL SEE ME". She growled in frustration, "Who?! What still sees you?!" Oh, she was going to figure this out. It was just a simple question of when — when, and how.. The unicorn stared daggers through the old book, anger making her heart race. It was obvious, there was no question it was related, if not the direct cause. It must've done something, which means it can be undone if she just finds out what it is! "Twilight?" The mare turned to see Spike in the doorway, a very concerned, if not frightened look on his face. She sighed, letting her rage simmer down, speaking calmly to the little dragon, "Yes, Spike..?" He nervously stated, "I, um.. heard you.. talking to somepony?" She slowly shook her head, sighing, "No, just.. thinking aloud." The dragon asked, even more worry in his voice, "Is there anything I can do..?" Twilight smiled softly at him — even through this, he just wanted to be helpful. "No, Spike.. but thank you." Nodding, he added, "Well, if you do need anything, just yell for me, okay?" Her smile was genuine as she replied, "I will, Spike. Thank you.." He nodded again, shooting one last nervous glance at the book before leaving, exiting her room. Her eyes turned back to the old tome, the concern within Spike having rubbed off a bit on her as well, making her nervously scan the page's contents.. She would figure this out. She had to, so she would. The unicorn sighed.. She would figure it out, and everything would be okay... right?