Mirror Mirror

by LittleFaerieFire

34. Extraneous Exaltations

Even before I opened my eyes once more I knew something was wrong. No pony had intruded within the royal train car, that was easy enough to check as the wards hadn’t been breached and whether I was asleep or not would have been alerted at the attempt. It wasn’t the fact that one of my experiments had gone awry, I hadn’t brought any of them with me after all. What was it then? What was the cause of this faint dread that enveloped my very existence?

After further contemplation about what it was that I was missing and being unable to come to a fitting conclusion, I opened my eyes to a sight that strangled my breath before it could escape my lips. Even to one as craven as I, the vision that was before me was a peerless delight. Beautiful. Cadance even tangled in the sheet as she was, once more an incomparable sight. The first rays of the waking sun filter through her mane to create an incandescent array of dancing lights. Every breath she took caused her coat to shimmer as the filtered rays of the Sun caused her to glow with an ethereal luminescence. One that only one other pony could compare to.

My earlier worries were disregarded as I observed the transcendent goddess that had deigned to allow me even an infinitesimal fraction of its attention. Enraptured by the one that had shared my bed… I burned away the chaotic mess that resulted from that errant thought. Thanking Princess Celestia that Cadance was still asleep, while I ensured that my purging flame was internal. Thankfully I had managed to keep that flame resting within my mortal flesh.

Taking a moment more to bask in the warmth of the pony that was my partner twice over, even now that thought alone was enough to bring forth another deluge of warmth. I took a deep breath and allowed it to fade as I took one more gander at my still-slumbering partner. This time taking a shallow breath as I took care to maneuver my way out of her grasp slowly but surely, doing my best to ensure that my movements wouldn’t wake Cadance. Yet no matter what I tried, I found no avenue of escape from this prison of flesh and feathers.

Almost as if we were to be stitched together, our flesh wound into one singular existence. No. I can’t do that. Not again. The thought alone brought forth ideas colored by flame and shadow. Depravities that gleamed in the darkness, clamoring for attention once more. Ones that should be left abandoned in the past, left forgotten in the deepest recesses of my mind. That was no longer a path forward. She was more than the sum of what I could glean from her flesh, reave from her mind, scrape from her soul. I knew not when such a thing became fact, but that didn’t change the undeniable truth that it was. 

Once more, I fell back upon my magic, weaving together alterations with my teleportation spell to escape these almost blessed confines that I had found myself chained within. Muffling the snort of amusement that almost slipped past my lips, I let my magic take effect. I was consumed entirely and deposited not even a hoof step away from my partner who hadn’t noticed I had escaped from her bindings of flesh and blood.

As I stood silently before my partner I was afflicted by a strange keening need. For what exactly I was uncertain, but I felt that unknown desire flower. Ignoring it for the moment, I pulled together a surprise for any that dared attempt Cadance harm. My protection burned into existence; I turned on my frog and the yearning that had been smothered, returned with a vengeance. Stopping me before I could attempt to move further.

Frowning I turned around once more and the unknown seedling of impulse that had blossomed now lessened its hold over my mind. Strange. Why did it lessen? What was the cause? I fell back into a process I had initially been taught and then mastered by my initiative. Dissecting magic, enchantments, flames, flesh, life, and reality itself into its base parts to gain mastery over it. 

My magic freely flowed over myself ensuring that whatever this affliction that had managed to infect me would be found. Yet as I ran through these spells seeking out this source of malcontent that I had felt within my blood, I found little. Nothing. Odd, was it something far more rare or esoteric? Changing my retinue of spells from the more commonplace ones that most Unicorns that stood atop the rest knew to versions of my design. Ones that I had only shared with one other. The one who had taught me herself.

Yet once more I found nothing. Not a single spell touched upon me that I had not designed myself. Wait… What? No. That wasn’t entirely correct. Shunting myself away from Cadance, if I was to explode I would rather her not get touched by my volatile flesh. A precautionary measure was taken, and my eyes opened once more to the strange spell that had found itself affixed to me.

It was innately familiar to me. Yet impossibly I held no memory of fashioning this spell matrix. It was fascinating I could see the familiar print of magic that no matter how muddled, every spell I conjurered held. It was my unique marker that my flame enforced upon reality. It was impossible. It was the truth written upon this harsh reality that held no warmth. A chilled gust brought with it a familiar cloying cold that pierced my coat and sunk into my flesh. Seeking to sap my warmth until there was nothing more that remained other than a frozen husk of worthless existence.

This spell couldn’t exist. I hadn’t carefully constructed any of the theorems that this spell ran upon. Or perhaps I hadn’t yet? I held no desire to once more bring chronokinesis to the forefront of my mind. Not after what I had done. Not after I had hastened my inevitable demise. Silently roaring in defiance at the weakness of those thoughts that I dared think. Biting at my tongue to release a familiar taste of warm iron, I began a vain attempt to work through the mess of fruitless understanding that encompassed me. This was why no pony liked working with the complexities of time. Not even having Princess Celestia being my teacher, had allowed me to enjoy those specific lessons. Well beyond her once more allowing me to be within her physical presence once again that was.

It was interesting and worthwhile, yes, but on the same hoof, it was a pointless mess of worthless understanding. The one true spell that Princess Celestia herself had described, or at least the one she trusted me to know of its existence, was a closed loop. There was no start or stop to it. Instead it all but enforced itself into reality as if it had always happened. As it had indeed always happened. 

However, there were half-completed theorems. Ramblings of mad ponies that had lost themselves within the understanding of the arcane. Replacing their sanity with an understanding of laws that most ponies could barely comprehend. Even then, having peered beyond the veil of truth, they still could not be compared to me. I had fashioned my spell out of their madness, and with it, I could claim partial dominance over time immemorial.

I was the greatest Unicorn that had ever stepped upon Equestria, no Equus. I was not ruled by fear of great magic that would rend the user’s sanity. My flame immolated all upon its pyre forged through my aspiration and comprehension. Magic bent before my will. Burning away reality as I spilled blood upon my path, that no pony had ever before forged. Nor could any follow.  

Change. That avenue of thought won’t work. Instead of attempting to understand how the spell was constructed I instead turned my focus upon the effect that it held. It at its most simple was an amplification spell. Yet unlike most of its brethren that focused on amplifying a pony's physical or rarely mental attributes, this one amplified its… Prodding at the spell I once more attempted to change the results of my swift but thorough testing, yet I could only glare into the air at the result that refused to change.

Existence. That was what this spell, that held my workings, amplified. Even though I knew I was acting like a foal, the thoughts didn’t prevent me from wishing for any form of enemy to appear before me. So that I could reduce them to a little more than kindling. Yet even as I taunted reality so, none dared answer my beckons. Instead, I was left alone with my magic. Fine.

I had worked wonders in the past. This was nothing new. I needed no other but myself. This was but another question for me to answer. Another task to be completed. Another test to perfect. Another quest to clear. I was…
 
Who was I?

In that eternal moment where I searched for any semblance of self to be found, I found nothing more than burned ruins. A faintly familiar landscape reduced to little more than ashes and rubble. Among which innumerable dancing shades moved to a song I couldn’t comprehend. Screaming out in song at their suffering, begging for a conclusion to their tale. Even if it had once more ended in grand tragedy they wished for it to end. Even then watching this facade of moving shadows traipsing through the ruins of reality, it wasn’t enough. I had lost my way. Had I ever found one?

Their prancing forms brought me no understanding. No comprehension. No further flashings of insight. NOTHING. They were worthless. They pranced upon strings of flame that flickered at the movement of my gaze. Consuming them for a time once more. Yet I still held no answer for a question that should have never been asked. Why now did I ask it?

It was only then was my question answered, as the curtains of darkness receded bringing forth a bloodied cage of summoned iron, wreathed in blackened flames that held a singular burning star high above the other torched remains. Her majesty illuminated a world left forgotten in darkness. Her warmth spilled beyond the fashioned prison of my making. Her very existence is a soothing balm to my fractured soul. I had yet to finish.

Continue. Frowning at the cascading fault that had interrupted my thoughts, I burned away the waste that clung to my mind. Thinking clearly once more I gazed upon the spell that dared infuriate me. Existence itself was a rather simple concept that even the youngest of foals intrinsically understand even if they know not the word that describes that innate knowledge.  

All this spell did was amplify the weight of one's existence. It was a gross simplification of a, even to me, horrendous piece of magic. Oh, it was a masterpiece that no doubt countless Unicorns would end bloodlines over, but it was also little more than nothing. It was a gleaming, glittering sword, that edge was honed to such a point where reality itself was cut in twain. It was a mere showpiece, bedazzled with pointless ornaments, unable to be swung.

It was a contradiction. One in which I was lost. There was often beauty to be found in the flames of chaos. But this? Nothing beyond the artificial ascribement that was enforced upon its matrix was pleasing. Even as I attempted to spin the spell into fruition to see what this so-called amplification of existence would do, I could only fail.

“What?” I was far too confused to fall into my everpresent anger at the failure. The spell had begun, my magic fueling its likely mediocrity, and yet it failed. Failed once more. Just as its caster had so commonly. Attempting to cast it again I was greeted with a hollow pain that resounded within my blood. “How in Celestia’s name?” I was drained… of any magic that I could call upon to incinerate the world.

There wasn’t even a lick of magical might within my flesh. My blood, which was often molten, began to cool in my veins. Perhaps I would have found such a thing odd, my blood beginning to coagulate properly once again, but the rage that finally found me blinded any form of scientific curiosity that I may have held.

I wasn’t some paltry foal who had just performed their first spell! I was not a hoof step away from embracing the shadow of death! I was the greatest Unicorn to have ever existed! This spell couldn’t have been one of my creations. After all, I couldn’t cast it myself. No. I could.
I just needed an external source of power. My eyes flickered over toward my still-slumbering bedmate. NO! There were others that I could use. I needed to collect them. Those who were blinded by their mediocrity. Those who shied away from the Sun that offered them warmth and light.

They would become my fuel. They would burn away to suit my purpose. Then I would cast this spell that dared claim me as its creator. Then I would tear it apart and stitch it back together. Reconstructed to be perfect. Just as I had done to myself.

Snarling I shunted the information of the spell from the front of my mind and marched my way out of the royal train car. The door that separated those that were important from the masses, didn’t even have the good grace to allow me to turn it into slag. Instead, it turned ethereal before I could begin my assault upon it.

Stepping out back into where I belonged, I could once more feel the rumble of the train under the hoof. Good, we were still making progress to Hollow Shades. The sooner I ascended the better my ending would be. I would not suffer being abandoned once more. Forgotten. Left behind as an afterthought. This was my tale. My ending.

One hoof in front of the others as I blazed my way towards the front of the train. It was a short march, only two cars separated the royal car from the front of the locomotive. A worm of anger sprouted at the change, however with it brought a trickling of warmth. Magic. It wasn’t much but for my purposes, it was enough to set alight Canterlot, much less for my intentions towards the engineer. 

Spells snarled out as I threw open the final set of doors that separated me from my target. Only to pause, it seemed another had beaten me to it. For another pony appeared to have been threatening the engineer, now he turned towards me. He was accompanied by two other ponies that one could easily describe in a single word. Ruffians. The only reason that I didn’t spear them with flames was the rusted knife that bled magic, still licking the throat of the pony that ran this train.

“What is this? I thought you swore that you had taken care of the alarms?” The gruff pony spat out towards one of his accomplices. The pony in question just looked back at the machinery and shrugged back. Incompetence truly was the affliction of many. “Well now that the breezy has sprung the barn, let’s make one thing clear here, miss. You don’t want to get hurt, you listen to us, we complete our heist and we all go home happy.” He was professional about this. That didn’t stop me from nearly guffawing at his words, but I held in my amusement.

He must have taken my silence as consent that I wouldn’t cause any trouble. That I like nearly all of my race would be far too frightened by the prospect of violence. That I would bend over like a good hostage and allow myself to be bound by the fool who had a fraying rope in his mouth. 

“Before I am…” what could I even describe such a scenario? Taking a moment to think of the choices that bloomed from the flames until one finally fit the situation. “-captured. Could you at least inform me what it is you wretched criminals are after?” I softly asked, ensuring my anticipation didn’t color my words. Batting my eyes in a way I had seen others do, all to further sell the performance I was putting on. They seemed to all buy it other than the conductor who was slightly looking frightened but rather confused. How did he… Oh yes, the two foal sitters had likely informed him of myself and Cadance.

One of the most certainly hired help was about to open his mouth but the boss of the operation silenced him with but a glare.

“No gloating until after the job is done. How many times do I have to remind you?” That was a shame. But it wasn’t anything that I couldn’t rip from his mind after I reduced him to a mess of burned meat. “I'm sorry but unfortunately that is for us to know and for you to likely find out in the papers.” Oh? Was he planning to let me live? That was thoughtful of him. Perhaps I could let this farce of his heist continue for a tad longer?

I allowed the pony holding the rope to wrap it around me, not even bothering to pretend to be annoyed as he tied it too tight. All the while the pony with the knife had returned to threatening the conductor asking about a particular crate that was being shipped.

“Don’t even think about it.” I hissed at the walking corpse that had pulled out a piece of iron that held the familiar taint of anti-magic. He froze as a sweltering cascade of heat wafted off from my anger. “I let you place your bindings upon me. Do not dare push your luck any further.” My hissed words promised pain beyond death and from the way that the stopper dropped from the shaking hoofs of the frozen yet-to-be-immolated corpse understood that as well. 

 “We have a problem over there?” The calm collected voice of the pony in charge asked. His attempt at hiding his confusion was pathetic. My patience for this act over, the blade that the orchestrator held at the throat of the conductor was reasonably far enough. I could likely ensure he lived. I burned.

The ropes around me immolated as I reappeared next to the pony in charge of this rather poorly planned heist. Ribbons of flame flickered into existence, binding around the three so-called criminals. They were pathetic. Even now at my young age, I had performed greater heists than they could imagine.

Even as they screamed in pain and shock my magic grasped the blade that had been haphazardly thrown into the air. Pulling it to my side to study later, I turned towards the conductor who held his hoofs over his face as he was huddled upon the floor. Was every pony worthless?

Even as the question whispered in my mind, two exceptions flickered forth. Even in the throes of heat and flames, I could feel my cheeks catch aflame with another form of warmth. I banished the thought and allowed myself the pittance of a single breath before I continued.

“Get up. You are alive.” Seeing that the pony that I had saved was still wavering in the throes of fear I couldn’t help but sigh. Why couldn’t he be more like Cadance? I understood that she was an Alicorn and that both he and I held no way to truly compare to her majesty, but this was ridiculous. Even if she had been frightened she at least hadn’t been reduced to a sniveling mess crying out for Princess Celestia to save him. I hadn’t even killed his would-be attackers.

Patience already frayed I asked once more. “Get up or I will finish what they started!” My words finally got the waste of flesh and sentience to stand upright. His eyes were still clenched shut, yet that didn’t prevent the tears from cascading out from them. My physical form twitched. Cursing my life I sent the wastrel to sleep before I turned to the would-be thieves.

They were writhing with pain upon the floor but they were still conscience. They were actively looking to escape the bindings of flame that I had enforced upon them. Pulling them into my privacy ward I dispelled the ribbons that had seared into their flesh and burned their coats. “Rejoice you are less annoying than the conductor.” I couldn’t help but draw out as I allowed them to catch their breaths from screaming.

Rolling my eyes at the way that the two hired help clung to each other. At least the leader was able to shakily pull himself up to stand on his own… and he just collapsed. How Equestria would survive without Princess Celestia I knew not. Turning my attention towards the now slumbering conductor, I began to delve into his mind. Searching for whatever it was these fools that had infuriated me less than the one I had been searching for.

A map? One that was recently recovered and was being transferred to some pony in Hollow Shades to be translated. Oh my, it seems I had found myself at the beginning of one of those Daring Whatever books. Perhaps if it was on the way Cadance and I could perhaps find whatever it was this map led to? I wasn’t the most well versed in the matters of the heart but nothing immediately jumped out at me for it being a bad idea. From my understanding, a great many romances involved finding treasurers.

“I am unsure if I should thank Princess Celestia that you stopped burning us or pray to her for whatever it is you are about to do to us next.” The leader gravelly intoned after he managed to get to his hooves and stay standing. Well, it was nice to see that some pony understood how the world worked.

“I am not planning on burning you alive just yet.” The muffled gasps from the hench ponies were a delight upon my ears. “So why don’t you explain this little plan of yours.” I was morbidly curious at how they had constructed the plan in the first place. They could also provide a clue for what lay at the end of this map.

“Well then miss…” After seeing that I wasn’t going to introduce myself he continued. “My compatriots and I are simply ponies that have fallen on harsh times and with the recent turmoil that is spreading through Equestria, no Equus itself. We decided to ensure that our families were kept well-fed and watered throughout these trying times. Even if we must go against the might of Princess Celestia herself we would ensure that those ponies that relied on us were safe. Is that so wrong?” I was impressed. It was a beautiful lie that no doubt would have tugged at the heartstrings of any pony that held such an organ. Unfortunately for him, I was better than those ponies. 

“Truly?” At his frantic nodding he was swiftly joined in by his two henchlings. I smiled. They flinched. “Then why is it you were enquiring about an untranslated map instead of the pile of bits that this train is also carrying?” I couldn’t prevent the joy I felt at their clear fear, bubbling into a mocking laugh that bled out. “Oh? Were you not planning to use whatever treasures you found to allow your families to survive?” They should know better than this, they were criminals who bucked the system that Princess Celestia enforced. Even if it irritated me that they dared stand against the Princess herself. Malcontent was inevitable with a large enough population.

These were simply the opportunists who realized the truth. That some pony is always better than you. Some pony is always scarier than you. Some pony is willing to do far worse than you. I was all three. “Please what was your plan if a Princess was riding on the train?” My question carried a sharpened heat that cauterized their still weeping wounds. They bit at their tongues as they screamed out.

“I have an acquaintance in the guard who keeps me informed of the Princess's movements. He made mention of her rallying all of her troops and going after a threat.” Was I a mere threat? Seeing that he wasn’t about to continue I beckoned him forth with a burst of searing heat that accompanied my words. 

“What about the newest Princess?” What about Cadance? What about my partner? What about the one that still slumbered on this train? What about the one that was still mortal? I heard something snap but I didn’t dare move my eyes from where they were burrowing into this fool's soul. Awaiting for his answer.

“What about her? She’s still kidnapped by the demon!” The pony yelped out no longer even attempting to put on the gentle pony disguise he had earlier adopted. She was still kidnapped, was she? By me no less? The thought brought me warmth. I had indeed kidnapped her, but she stayed by my side.

“What would you have done if she was here? If she was the one to interrupt you?” My voice held a strange affliction of both tone and heat. Ones that I couldn’t recall, yet they proved more than enough to frighten the pony before me ever further into submission.

“We were going to flee! We don’t need the sort of heat that you get for harming a Princess! I swear on my antique collection of letters!” He yelped out, fear ever present in both his wavering form and warbling words. I didn’t doubt he was lying. I doubted he even had the presence of mind to even contemplate anything other than the truth.

What was it that Princess Celestia had once told me? ‘The truth shall set you free?’ Even now I could envision her peerless form whispering those to a filly whose entire world revolved around her. I had done my best to follow after those words. Yet like everything when it comes to Princess Celestia… it never lasts.

Sighing I allowed the heat to bleed from my flesh, dissipating into the air before cleansing it with the cooling charm. Pointedly ignoring the way I instinctively looked for my partner, so that I could cling to her and chase away the cold within her embrace. I was enshrined within a prison of my own making. Yet I couldn’t bring myself to escape. 

“You’re free to go.” I finally intoned as I dropped the privacy ward. I was expecting the three ponies that were still conscience before me to immediately scamper away at the first opportunity but instead, they glanced at each other, then to the door, before finally back to me. “Or you can continue to test my patience like this fool.” I punctuated my point with a wave of the still unconscious conductor who I dragged through the air without a second thought.

“Not that we don’t appreciate your generous offer,” then why aren’t you fleeing like the vermin that you are? “ -but shouldn’t you be turning us into the guards?” Was this how I looked at times to Cadance? I groaned as I slammed my hoof into my head at the realization. “Not that we want you to turn us in, that is.” The pony quickly hurried, perhaps realizing what his words implied.

“No, I have no plans to turn you into the guards. I have no plan to escort you fools to Princess Celestia herself. In truth, I couldn't care less about what you do at the moment. You were in my way so I dealt with you.” Now you weren’t my problem, don’t change that. Went unsaid but the pony before me seemed to be somewhat intelligent. More so than the conductor at least.

“Well then miss we will be going our separate way then. I thank you for your kind generosity and for not turning us into a pile of coals.” He offered with a shaky bow and a wince as he pulled at the burned skin that covered his form. Should I heal them? Yet before I could even contemplate the question the three would-be criminals hastily retreated away from me.

Turning my gaze back to the pony of my intentions I began to weave my magic into his will, enforcing my desire upon his psyche. Even if it killed him he would ensure that this train made it to Hollow Shades as fast as possible. Then for good measure, I wiped the entire ordeal with the would-be heisters from his mind. Replacing it with the memory of him collapsing after walking into a door.

Ponies said that I couldn’t be kind. I believe that the multiple acts of kindness that I had just performed would have Princess Celestia even smiling upon me. I could feel my lips curl into a snarl at the thought. Allowing the kindling flame to blossom and burn itself out, I made my way back to the royal car.

Slipping back through the ethereal door I could only pause as I spotted my partner waiting for me with a small smile on her face. Alarm bells began to resound in my head, I wasn’t sure why but I felt as if I was in danger. Wait, why did her smile seem so fake?

“Sunset, what have I said about leaving me to wake up alone in a bed in which we spent the night together?” My heart caught in my throat at her words and it took me nearly hacking it out to regain control of my thoughts. It seems I had once more offended the divine. Judging by the way that she took an almost… there was, no almost about the perverse way that she just smiled at the way that I shivered at her words. All I could do was gulp as I put a hoof forward, an excuse already leaving my lips.

“I couldn’t bring myself to wake you.” Yet I had never backed down just because the enemy before me was among the divine. “It would have been as if I had ruined a work of priceless art.” I nearly chortled at the way that she flushed at my retort. Didn’t think that I wouldn’t flirt back did you Princess? It would have been my overwhelming victory but I knew that she could hear the rapid palpations of my heart that only sped up as her eyes narrowed and met mine.

The battle between the Alicorn and the Unicorn had only just begun anew it seemed.