Starstruck

by Vest


Chapter 7: Reflection

Illustration by Arctic-Sekai.
Special pre-reader thanks to Dracon Pyrothayan

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Swallowed in treasure, they hold their place

Challenged by humbleness and showing grace.

False images within the mirror’s face

Find reflection with the gifts of space.

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Chapter 7

Reflection

As far as they were concerned, it should’ve just been another dragon.

So far, the spoils provided by the lower Archive sanctum had provided to be nothing but a veritable bouquet of danger, obstruction, and dragging the worst of their minds to the forefront. It was all so ornately crafted, so delicately engineered, as to keep one persistently tip-hoofing the tightrope between acting impulsively and clenching restraint.

“So you’re not going to give us anything more than that story?” Devon pressed.

Adding a talking, breathing, calculating soul to the interwoven structure of traps and guardians would only complicate things further. For now the two receding travelers were caught in the now familiar bewilderment of whether they should restrain trust or embrace the dragon slayer openly.

“Nyyope.”

At least a dragon had the courtesy of immediately showing hostility. This one... she was different.

“So,” the charcoal unicorn tilted his head, peering with a narrowed eye towards her. “You going to explain what brought you here?”

“Heh,” she sneered. “Fine way to say ‘you’re welcome.’ I could’a just let you and your bad jokes get all smooshed up.”

She had a point...

“So why didn’t you?”

... And so did he.

Gina grinned as they rounded another hallway, sinking rapidly back into horn-lit gloom and dancing shadows. “I told ya all yer gonna get outta me, so ya can stop askin’.” While he could not see far, the charcoal unicorn saw the winning grin with perfect clarity. Devon’s frustrated groan echoed all the way through the vast hallways.

“Methinks thou art trying to squeeze water from a stone,” Luna gently chided him. “What matters now is from whence hailed this... Gina, it was?”

“Yeah!” Gina was quick to chime into anything that sounded like a defense. “You just gotta trus-”

The Princess turned her head away with a stamp on the ground. “We shan’t trust her as far as we can kick her.”

Some defense.

“Aw come on, Princess Lulu! Not you too!” Gina whimpered for a moment, then broke into another manic laugh. “Jeez, when did everypony get all reasonable!?” Chuckling merrily, the orange mare let things fall into silence as the hallway end and a large chamber appeared in the murky distance. She twisted her saunter to the side, flipping her blonde mane dismissively at them.

Devon could recall the jokes and stereotypes that usually preceded the alien and unknown realm he called fillies. His own close upbringing in constant contact around his mother had opened him up to the crazy world of gossip, deceit, and petty bickering that flapped between groups of so-called friends. How they’d spend a long evening laughing and demurely sipping fine cider, only to immediately turn each other in suppressed giggled when one briefly dismisses herself, as to deride and speak ill of their dress, their mane cut, or their overdue hooficure.

Yet, those insignificant feuds seemed more in the spirit of entertaining one another at the silent expense of another.

The electric tension that hung over the Princess and their suddenly introduced companion was more sincere. The orange unicorn held low posture and signs of subtle retreat around the Princess, while Luna’s own weary eyes hardly broke attention.

“Excuse me a sec,” Gina trot forward to the looming unfinished door before them. She gripped the adornment previously on the lava dragon’s tail with a foreleg, tightening it along the other. She craned her neck up, arching her back, and a marigold light crept from the jeweled gauntlet up her neck. “Aaand... ”

In a glittering pulse of gold luminance, glowing bands popped into view atop the featureless door. Spirals, circles, and floral designs coalesced and radiated on the center of the door, spinning into place. Within each circle, a radius of different shapes lined around the circumference, and as they spun, they suddenly matched with their sibling geometric designs, locking into place.

“... Open!”

The golden symbol suddenly flickered away, the overwhelming luminance clicking into a disappointing swath of black.

“I must say,” Luna sighed after a short lapse in the dark, “most dejecting.”

She was immediately interrupted by a chorus of mechanical contraptions firing into action behind the door, a muffled succession of rotating machinery echoed across the chamber.

“Just allow me,” Gina chuckled. “I know what I’m doing here.”

A thudding bang shook the floor, kicking up a ring of swirling dust around the massive door’s frame. It creaked, strained, and groaned in its struggling groan to crack free, the churning miasma of noise gradually augmenting in volume until-

*Kloonk*

A small panel dropped open on the bottom half of the door, no taller than a stout pony.

Luna jabbed the charcoal unicorn in the shoulder. “Guess that’s the Devon-door.”

Thanks.

A soft aura of deep blue descended from the opening, casting a faint path of luminance before them. As they approached, Gina retained a high-stepping walk of pride, beaming in her usefulness. It was an unfortunate realization, not so much for him, but as he could imagine for the Princess. The air was certainly scented in bitter distrust between the two, but even though he couldn’t quite pinpoint a hoof onto why, he did retain certainty over the simple fact they needed her.

She knew something.

She knew some things that would inevitably come to light later one, but something they’d have to wait for and be ready.

Drawing closer to the dim light, the opening expanded into a wider space. This was no hallway, it was a room. But as the horn lights danced off the crystals jutting from the ceiling and wall, the room expanded into something truly astonishing.

Long gone were the blasted and shocked rocks of the caverns before; in their place were great swathes of crystal. Ephemeral lights twinkled within the gems, casting the vast chamber in crystalline blue and white light. The oppressive heat and air from the lava-filled chambers became a distant memory as a line of charcoal, cobalt, and orange hooves strode forward.

The crystal cavern was cut and carved into an elaborate plaza, a long, winding staircase leading down into a vast open space. The grandeur of the natural crystal formations combined with the patient skill in carving the room would make even Canterlot palace at its finest look tawdry in comparison. Each hoofstep down the staircase echoed and carried through the vast silence.

“We must be truly deep now,” Luna mused. “Such crystals only exist at the deepest heart of Canterlot’s mountains.” Her cobalt aura blended with the light emanating from the crystals. “We are near to our goal now.” Devon could hear the excitement in her tone, she was impatiently trying to get through this, a mysterious force seemingly pushing her on.

Gina piped up as the party reached the bottom of the crystal staircase. “Of course..." Before them loomed the chamber’s main door. “Still gotta get past that.” It was the height of a two story home in Canterlot, and nearly as wide, all cut from reflective crystal.

“Incredible,” Devon murmured, expressing a thought that he thought he’d have worn out by this much time spent in this hidden labyrinth. Before the three was the great door to the chamber, many times higher than any pony, carved from a single piece of marvelously reflective crystal. Facing them were their reflections, identical and so perfectly reflected that they appeared to be there. Curiously, Devon extended his hoof and pressed it against the mirrored finish of the crystal door. Expectedly, his reflection matched his movement until their hooves touched, forming a perfect connection between two symmetrical halves. Lifting his head, Devon met the eyes of his reflection, holding it with the other ‘him’ in a long stare.

Then he blinked.

“Um..." Devon cocked his head. “Did you just... see that?”

“Nay, we did not, Devon,” Luna’s attention was to the wider chamber. Gina simply shook her head with the same unsettling smile as before. “But dost thou see a means to open it? Clearly tis some other vile trap, but how whilst we open such a slab?”

“I dunno,” Devon mused sarcastically. “Maybe we can just knock?” He saw a twinkling smile and repressed giggle slip from Luna. “Or..." Odd, wasn’t supposed to be a quip, but whatever lifts the Princess’ spirits...

“Well, but of course, what an easy approach. But thinketh! If thou were the vile mind behind this puzzle, thy doorknocker would be pulled by cockatrices and cloaked in jalapeno fondant.” Luna rolled her eyes and nudged the unicorn with her wing before drawing her eyes around the rest of the door. “Be there anything in the journal about yonder passage?”

One step ahead.

He already had the book out, and in answer to the Princess’ inquiry...

... Plenty.

Work is a comfort compared to what waits for me when I return home. And even more to what awaits when the sun falls. I’ve done all I can to keep the contracts from my mind, but they are there. It is like some itch that never leaves and remains always on the periphery. I caught myself doodling at the morning assembly today... and when I looked down, I had sketched out contracts and quills.

The project is nearly over, hopefully by the time it finishes, the Princesses can devote their energy to aiding my crisis before it is too damaging.

I made an unexpected bout of progress with my beloved over the last few nights. The stars remained quiet, allowing the previously lost inspiration to flow through me more freely. It began when I was working on a Saturday, and had to cancel our garden walk. I hinted that I liked the royal garden, and she’s been taking me there... a little too much now, but how much she tries.

I got her a nice set of earrings made from the depleted echothyst from before. Certainly one of a kind. But when she put them on and looked at herself in the mirror, how much she beamed and smiled, but for a second I swore from the corner of my eye I saw her reflection grimace in disgust.

It was only for a second, but I could swear, I saw the real... or at least what my memory declared real... I swear it was her.

I crafted some wards to try and turn the mirror into a reflection of the inner soul, and focused its traits on the personality we saw in the lava dragon. It was a wild shot, but in separating the reflected light from reflected identity, our humble bedroom mirror became a sort of looking glass that was triggered by the most prominent event; in our case, an act of generosity.

I tried it out again, this time purchasing a beautiful scarf for my beloved, and stood her in front to see if it would work.

It did.

She wasn’t in the mood to look at me, or talk to me. All of the reflection’s attention focused on my beloved, and only seemed intent upon pulling her in. Terrifying doesn’t even begin. Thinking fast, I jumped into the struggle between Gina and her reflection, and swapped out the scarf around her neck with the only treasure in my saddlebag, the trinket I borrowed earlier under tight scrutiny.

The Element of Magic.

The reflection suddenly changed personality, and fell back into the mirror, now adopting the same distraught look of my beloved clamoring on the floor. But as she got up, her face suddenly changed, and both she and her reflection shared the same wide smile of appreciation.

We’re pressed for time on the guardian of the next chamber. I can no longer risk having this abomination in my house. Seems two problems are going to cancel each other out into a morbid, albeit clever solution. These mirrors are unsettling at the best of times, but what befalls anypony who doesn’t succeed makes me shudder. The previous guardians and traps were dangerous to be sure, but they were direct and honest and... swift. Who can say what happens to the poor soul who suffers the reflections.

“Well, nothing but bad news..." Devon mused, blowing out hard. “Whatever this chamber does, it even has this GB scribe scared out of his horseshoes.” Dragging his hoof over the pages, Devon scanned it for anything more concrete. “Ah, here’s something... ”

I sincerely hope that any thieves who have made it this far will simply empty the treasure vault and move on, lest they risk the perils of the mirror. When one pony offers a gift to another, the mirror reflects the true nature of the gift to the recipient. If the gift is truly heartfelt, and matches the honest desires of those receiving it, then the mirror will do them no harm.

But so rarely is a gift such a thing. Most are vanities by the giver, a suggestion or assumption with a mind to improve their own status. Gifts can be such selfish things. The truest gift is one that hurts ever so slightly. Nopony expects one to agonize over a gift, but to give away one’s own desires for the sake of another. A gift should hurt, just a bit.

“C’mon, Dev’s! Luna!” Gina called from opposite the main chamber door. “There’s another door over here, and it’s open!”

“I swear that I saw that reflection blink..." Devon murmured, turning away and following Gina as she explored the rest of the chamber. Behind him, out of view, the reflection turned its head, a small grin of its own crawling up its face as it joined the reflections of Luna and Gina in the unknown depths of the mirror. The door Gina discovered was not of crystal, but thick wooden planks.

“Erf! I think it’s open anyway,” she puffed as the mare threw her shoulder into it again. The door wobbled a few inches, but remained shut. “Gimme a hoof here!”

With a combined shove, the three slid the heavy oaken door open. Creaking, ancient hinges begrudgingly gave way. Small whirlwinds of dust danced across the floor as the movement and light poured inside. Ambient light from the crystals in the main chamber sparkled off of others set into the new room, igniting them with sparks of ingrained magic. And as the light spread, more crystals illuminated in a cascading chain reaction of twinkling light. Amplifying the light further was the contents of the room.

In the mirrored hall before them, there was nothing but sets of long shelves, stretching to the ceiling and to the back of the room. Every shelf was bowed down with the weight of their contents; hundreds, thousands of obviously valuable treasure. Golden statuettes, gem-encrusted charms, tomes of forgotten magic and countless others filled the chamber. Shining crystals reflected the light onto the treasures and it danced in a dazzling display of refraction with the mirrored walls.

A moment of silence dawned over the three ponies as their minds labored with the fact that they stared at a bounty that dwarfed Canterlot’s treasury. Even a the contents of a single shelf could fund entire wings of the palace. A single tome could advance knowledge of magic and history generations. Such was the display of the wealth and potential that this fact stood obvious; this was no hidden wealth, no potential, it was patently ready for release. Even Luna in her station of power and supreme comfort of life, felt her jaw lowering slightly.

“That’s..." Devon observed through a small squeak. “That’s a lot. Anypony want to put five bits on it trying to kill us if we touch it?”

“Ha!” Luna snorted. “We’d be throwing our money away then, Devon. This is far too straightforward.” She stepped carefully, ever wary of more floor tiles that might unleash Celestia-knows-what onto them until she reached the first shelf. The Princesses’ eyes danced up and down the stocks of priceless artifacts.

“I’ll take ya up on that, just to make it interesting,” Gina smirked. “Just sayin’.”

“Don’t make a bet you can’t pay off, Gina,” Devon grinned as the three fanned out across the vault, weaving and roaming between the shelves. Despite the majesty of the room, all three ponies were nearly silent, absorbed in the treasures on display, or in Devon’s case, returning his attention to the journal. “So, if I’m reading this right,” the charcoal unicorn’s voice carried well against the mirrored walls, “we just need to find the perfect gift for somepony.”

“So, reckon one of us needs to be the one gettin’ a gift?” Gina mused thoughtfully. “Well, none of this stuff really matters t’me. Doubt I’d be a good taker. I mean... I know what I want and it ain’t any of the things here.”

“Hm..." Devon rubbed a hoof over his chin. “Well, I’m not sure about whatever the journal said about those mirrors. I’m not looking forward to any more of the freakshow magic going on down here.”

“Then it seems we hath no other choice. We volunteer!” Luna’s voice boomed in like an unexpected guest. “Tis but fair for us to face one of the horrors of this place. For thou hast faced thy own trial, Devon.” Luna beamed with an unusual energy and happiness. “We would be happy to balance such an inequality for thee.”

“Uh, Luna are you sure?” Devon asked, snapping the book closed and rounding. “I didn’t mean to put you on the spot or anything. We can probably just..” His words trailed off into nothingness as he saw Luna’s giggling frame turn and leave the vault.

“Do not keepth us waiting!” her laughing voice sang from the door. “We look forward to what thou choose for us!”

“Huh..." Devon turned away as Luna exited. “Did that seem kind of strange to you, Gina?” At the far end of the hallway, he spied Gina quietly chastizing a diamond and star sapphire encrusted music box for being off-key. “Y’know what? Nevermind.” Alone in the chamber with Gina, the charcoal unicorn rounded around. Just gotta find the perfect gift for... Princess Luna, shouldn’t be too hard. Just thousands of relics that would make headlines to choose from. No problem at all...

Strolling down one of the aisles, a shape caught his eye and Devon hefted a pink diamond tiara in his teeth. He wondered how such a shade could appeal to anypony, let alone one with vast wealth to have such a piece made. The only pony he knew that would was his mother, who knitted his first baby blanket for him before he was even born. Good sentiment, but her desire for a daughter led to a scathingly pink baby blanket for a colt.

A wild crash of rattling bells snapped Devon from the momentary reverie. Peeking down the neighboring row of treasures, he spotted Gina sprawled out on her stomach, nose buried under a hat so heavily weighted with bells and jingling charms that she could not wear it off the ground. Devon withheld a tiny laugh before seizing the hat and hauling it just enough off the ground to allow Gina to free herself.

“Grufhph..." she muttered. “Dunno how Starswirl pulled that outfit off. Didja find anything yet, Dev’s?”

Devon remembered similar bells on a regretted gift of his past. For his first day of school, his mother hoof-stiched him a set of booties, complete with bells, frills, ruffles, bands, streamers and another layer of bells. Sara ached for him to be as popular and attention-grabbing as she was in her youth. Even though she meant well, Devon still fought waves of lingering shame whenever he even heard normal bells.

“Not really. Just a lot of weird memories so far.”

“Hyeh... like what?” Gina asked before stopping. “Wait, wait, first can ya be a sweets and float that... bracelet thingy off of the high shelf there?” Gina blinked in momentary confusion at Devon’’s blank look. “What?”

“No magic.”

“Pardon?” Gina inclined her head. “I coulda swore ya said-”

“No magic. Yes, yes, laugh it up.”

“Don’t mind if I do!” Gina snickered, then burst into a full-bellied laugh that put her back on the floor. “Gaah! A unicorn without magic?! How d’ya even EAT?! How d’ya even keep yerself clean?!”

“Somehow, I found a way,” Devon replied with a glum puff. “Everypony without a horn made it work, so did I.”

“I mean..." Gina paused, trying to cobble together the concept in her unstable mind. To her, unicorns just had magic. The fortunate of her time apprenticed under masters of the art and the notion of magic schools were just coming to life. “I mean, you had a master, right? Or somepony to teach you?”

“Ugh... don’t even ask,” Devon groaned. “Yeah, I had a magic tutor. It was awful. It was this way too enthusiastic unicorn who followed me everywhere I went, even in school.” Devon shot a look to Gina, who struggled to hold back a snicker. “Everything to him was, I think he called them experiences. And he wouldn’t leave me alone until I was a laughingstock. He called it a chance to build my ponysona.”

“Pfft. I’m a thousand years outta date and even I can tell that’s horseapples, Dev’s.”

“My mom thought it’d be good for me. Heart was in the right place, but... yeah.”

* * * * *

“Where did you get a rope?”

“Where did you get an attitude!?” Stormblade sneered, turning away from the cyan pegasus. With the fibers clenched in his teeth, he pressed the tailing rope against the ground, weaving it over itself. “Going to tie this down nice and secure here around this sturdy thick root.” He laced it between two narrow twigs sticking out of the ground, one of them fluttered loose from the rock from the force of Stormblade exhaling in its proximity. “Nice and steady.”

“Sir, with all respect I think that-”

“And to reinforce it!” The Captain proclaimed, waving an instructive hoof to his rope work, “we shall tie it into itself to make a double-looped figure gaite knot!” Stormblade twisted and wrenched his jaw, tearing the other root from the ground, but quickly pressing it back into to the floor with a stealthy press of a forehoof. “There, perfect!” A jumbled mass of loose rope hung defeated over the thin root. “Textbook haunch hitch!”

“You said it was a figure-gaite-”

“All right, now to rappel downward!” Stormblade leaned over the steep lip of rock. The cavern dipped violently downward, a harrowing cone of jagged stones lined the angled walls into a ring of darkness. In the middle of the encompassing depths, a dim orange light glowed softly through a hole where the contracting well suddenly expanded into a massive cavern. Certain death greeted anypony who tried climbing down, unless they fulfilled all necessary measures of preparation to venture forward. “I’ve fulfilled all necessary measures of preparation to venture forward!”

Certain death also awaited all featherbrains regardless.

The Captain looped the rope around his waist twice, then gripped the taught end under his fetlock. He backed up to the edge of the rock well. Jetstream immediately lunged up to the cave wall, and propped himself behind a small boulder.

“Sir, wait!”

“Duhn, dun-uh, duuuhn!!” Stormblade chanted a swelling orchestral number that sounded much better in his head. He propped down low, and flung himself off the edge.

Jestream rapidly flapped his wings, exerting as much force as he could. He heard the wrenching sliding of rope sliding free, and the subtle snap of a teeny tiny root succumbing to obvious inevitability. “Hy-yagh!” The small boulder gave, quickly dropping on the careening tail of loose rope. Under the crushing weight, the rope snagged securely in place, holding so firm that its burden jangled with sudden force from beyond the well’s lip.

Sharp, pleased laughter echoed from below. “Aha! Adventure awaits!” A faded sliding of rope resonated through the echoing cave as the Captain made another repelling bound downward. “Duhn du-nuh, nuuuh! Duhn, nu-nuuuh!”

Great. Theme music.

To the private’s dismay, the Captain was now giving himself a heroic overture.

Jetstream galloped to the well, seeing the Captain only two haunches below. “Yep,” the Captain assured him. “Adventure!” He eased his grip on the taught end of the rope, dropping a half haunch before gripping it again and swinging back to the steep wall. “Duh-nu-nuh, nuuuh!”

Floating casually behind him, the cyan pegasus hovered patiently behind the Captain. “So... sir, do you want some help on your way down, Captain?”

“That’s Doctor Captain..." Stormblade paused. “Err, Captain Doctor, yes, Captain Doctor Storming Do!”

Oh, mule dander. When he earlier mentioned how the journey into the caves would be like the Daring Do series, he didn’t think he was actually going to take it seriously.

“Yessir, Captain Doctor Storming Do, sir.”

Stormblade waved a hoof at him. “Eh, eh!” He chided the pegasus sharply. “What did we rehearse, Short Mount?”

Short Mount. Wonderful. Even nicknamed him after the stout colt in Daring Do and the Temple of Glue. While he expected the Captain to assume some delusion of fantasy as a means of adapting to the unknown depths of the cave, Jetstream merely discarded his foalish diatribes of excitement as more of his trivial banter.

Jetstream huffed, then contracted his neck and shoulders together. “Okie dokie lokie, Doctor Do!”

He also didn’t think the Captain was going to press him so much as to... actually, scratch that. Jetstream winced, his inner psyche scolding him with caustic resentment that he should’ve expected this all along.

This was his story after all, and he was just treating his pawn like, well, a pawn. A nibbling thought remained fixated on his mind for the last several hours. The sudden resolve for progress regardless of proper procedure. The insistence he alone venture into finding Luna without notifying anypony else. And speaking of, he regretfully humored the prospect of wondering... just how many chapters of that fan fiction he was going to write? How long had he been doing it? And how far had he developed his own fictitious story of he and Luna, and if he’d fallen so deep into his own narrative, was the line between reality and fantasy blurred?

Slide.

Or had the line eroded to a gradient?

“Duh-nuh, nuuh, nuuh, NUUUH!”

Stomp. Jangle.

* * * * *

Outside, Luna paced in front of the large mirror. Her mind raced with the strange, giddy excitement of an impending gift, yet even she questioned that excitement. She had been showered with gifts despite her repeated insistence of no need. Courtiers, politicians, visiting dignitaries and countless others paraded before her throne with gifts all thought to be ‘just what she’d like’ when they were merely vanity.

Not her own vanity. But the vanity of the giver. Each one of them had the ideal image to present to her, a reaction they were trying to draw from her. The politicians all wanted favor, her weight and the influence of her crown directed to their own ends. Dignitaries wished to impress her, a symbol meant to astound. And others simply thought a single gift, thoughtfully chosen, would gain them any kind of affection. Of course, if only a tenth of the thought that went into crafting that image went into considering the recipient.

“T’would seem,” Luna mused to her reflection as another rattling crash from the treasure room shook the chamber, “that we shall wait for some time.”

I need help... and the stars were happy to offer. Too happy.

The secret in unmaking one of these contracts is straightforward, though still is nearly impossible. If I wish to return my Gina to her state, all ‘pieces’ of her must be returned, along with the contract. All of those are easy enough.

But it also requires a spark of unimaginable magic. The stars were not clear in their words, but the message was undeniable.

I need the Element of Magic for myself.

But how? If anypony were to discover this act, at the very best this magic would grow in demand. Ponies would come from all corners, with their own wishes to present to the stars, all of them twisted by the stars and I would become the broker of such accursed details. I refuse to play the middlepony to anypony wishing to ruin their lives.

I will steal the Element of Magic. Celestia forgive me.

I knew it would not be that simple. The stars’ plans for me were never that straightforward, but I foalishly followed them to the letter. Stealing the Element of Magic from where it was housed for the final chamber was simple. So simple that I knew I had ‘help’ from above. It was as if I was meant to steal it. Even if I had intentionally tried to be caught, I would be ignored.

But once everything was assembled... and the ritual completed, all the stars gave me was my own mocking laughter. ‘Everything is nearly assembled. But you are missing a piece’ I heard my own voice chiding me like I rebuking a simple error. But I had everything! Gina was there! The contract was present! All of the gifts and benefits given to me because of her influence were destroyed! She was weeping at my cruelty, but it was not freeing her.

A mote of Gina’s essence.

A speck of dust was out of place.

The speck she placed in the enchantment we placed on the lava guardian. That gauntlet we put on its tail to bind the spell held enough of her essence to block the entire contract. I destroyed Gina’s love in front of her eyes, false as it was, and destroyed her to free her. And it was for NOTHING.

I need help. Certainly not from the stars, no. But from one who has dealt with them before, and would better understand the way they work.

I arranged a meeting with Princess Luna this evening, moments after the raising of the night sky. I used to relish the display, but when it reveals the stars, it heralds another night of their invasive whispers and taunts.

But, unfortunately, it seems I am not the only pony in Canterlot facing crisis. Princess Luna was astonished that I would visit her, I could feel the bitterness in her words as she railed against her sister and the citizens of Canterlot for well over an hour before I could speak. Even when I did speak, I could not find the heart to burden the Princess more. I made up an explanation for my visit on the spot, but in the middle of our talk, the stars began to whisper again.

They whispered the unthinkable.

They wish me to bind the Princess to one of their contracts!

But this was no whispered idea... this was an order! A command! There is nothing they can do to make me betray and ensnare our Princess!

I underestimated their influence.

By Celestia I underestimated their power.

I woke in the morning and I was writing! Not just one, but many! By the sun and moon, what was I doing? I was asleep this whole time! But I am holding dozens of these contracts in my hooves. Luna’s is at the top, but I know the names on these other ones. They are workers, politicians, guards... why are their names here? Why are their wishes laid out before me?

I asked Gina if I was moving last night. She didn’t answer. She just smiled. The same smile.

I destroyed the contracts, burned every last one last night. This morning, the stack was returned. My hoofwriting is unmistakable.

What am I going to do?

If this is the stars’ plan for my fate... I cannot fight it.

The stars demand Luna. They demand my loyalty and I can no longer fight their compulsion openly. They do not understand context, and everything is said straightforward and plain. Perhaps... perhaps these contracts can be modified. I may not be able to save these unfortunates from whatever predatory urge the stars have in store, but I can shield them from the worst of it.

I can adjust the contracts to bind them first to my family. In that way, they are preserved and so long as responsible ponies of foresight lead my clan, these contracts will hold.

This is a desperate plan, but I have no others.

My stars above reigning the night.
Our darkened eyes yearn for your light.”
Hold virtues true to give me might,
The wrongs I do to do what's right.

Who would have imagined such a vow would carry so many twisted meanings? Stars or not, I will not fall prey to their schemes. If I cannot deflect the stars’ intentions, I will subvert them. I will save Princess Luna, though my own conscience and salvation are the price.

So be it.

Gina and Devon fell into silent perusal again. For long minutes, the two wove between piles of treasure and poked at boxes of unimaginable wealth. For the first time, Devon realized just how hard choosing a gift was. Each potential selection appealed on a single aspect. It might appeal to Luna’s nobility, or intelligence, yet at the same time it neglected other aspects of her. A history tome might appeal to her intellectual side, yet it was tawdry and quaint, hardly befitting royal stature.

He certainly had no experience to draw from. All of the gifts of his life were well-intentioned, but woefully inaccurate. Each one accepted with a weak smile and inward groan, too afraid to admit the truth and besides, accepting it with a fake smile meant things went so smoothly for everypony.

“But..." Gina stammered to nothing. At this point, Devon was almost used to it and didn’t turn his head. “What do you mean... ?" She argued to herself. "Him?!” Her pacing trot ground to a halt in the mirrored hallway. “No! No way! I won’t do it!” Turning, Devon saw the orange mare in a frenzied argument with the mirrored crystal in front of her. The charcoal unicorn had had his share of conversations in the mirror, though he had never felt the need to pause to listen for answers, nor to glare at his own reflection with such undisguised resentment. Gina quivered with frustration.

“I... will... NOT!” Gina stamped her hoof down into the glassy surface. “And there’s nothing, NOTHING you can tell me or say to me to make me!” With a snarl, the orange mare lit her horn and sent a pulse of magic into the crystal mirror, obliterating it with a reckless burst of magic. All around her, shards of broken polished crystal danced, each reflecting a tiny piece of the larger image back to her. As each shard shattered on the ground in delicate tinkles, Gina froze again.

“Uh... Gina?” Devon finally spoke after a moment of hushed silence.

“Ack..n-no! Please!” Her pleas were genuine, sincere. “It’s... GAH! It has... !” But even as she spoke and railed against the invisible voice, Gina’s body moved, Gina’s horn ignited again. The clasps and straps of the gauntlet around Gina’s hoof were wrapped in magic and slowly opened and loosened until she stepped out of it. “Please Devs..." she huffed, each word and movement a struggle. “Please take... c-c-c-care of this.” Wrapping her telekinesis around the gauntlet, Gina floated it towards Devon, her face contorting into a smile that somehow combined agony and pleasure into a single unsettling mask. “This is... the..." she huffed, words coming from her more steadily. “The generosity room, right? So... I... we’ll be generous too. N-no sense in letting you have all th’fun of giving, right?”

“Um..." Devon blurted eloquently. “Are you sure about this, Gina? I don’t think this is... ”

“Take it!” she hissed, shoving the brass sleeve and glove into his chest with a surge of force. “It’ll mean a lot for me if you... take care of it.” Even as she tried to violently discard the gauntlet, Gina started longingly at it. “Please take re-real good care of it.”

“Wait, I don’t know about this.”

“TAKE IT!” Gina screamed,a burst of poorly-withheld magic shattering one of the nearby shelves and scattering its contents to the floor. “Please... ” she huffed, “just... take it.” Gina angled the gauntlet until it stood upright in her magic, the sleeve open before Devon’s forelegs.

Gingerly, Devon extended his hoof towards the gauntlet. As his hoof drew closer, the unicorn could felt an indescribable something. Time slowed around him as he pushed his hoof into the leather-lined sleeve, a weight that grew more intense as he pushed in all the way. Tickling sensations sparked through his body and mind, hints of experiences and emotions that he had never held. He recognized the emotions; they were not unknown. Expressions of love, fear, happiness, sorrow and anger trickled in and out of his perception like the ghosts of long-gone ponies. While he recognized every emotion, and could feel them, Devon was keenly aware that the emotions were not his own.

“What... what is this?” he croaked, unable to summon the strength to move his legs and pull away from the brass clamping around his leg. The phantasmal emotions grew stronger, their talons dug deeper. Like invisible hands, he felt all of them flowing up his leg, converging on a thousand disparate routes to a single destination.

His horn.

“Magic.” A voice said with unsettling calm given its source. Gina glared at Devon as he winced as another spike of unknown emotion trickled up his leg and gathered at his horn. “Magic is emotion given force, channeled through horn.” The orange unicorn spoke evenly Gina quoted the oldest precepts of magic. Devon knew them, it was the first lesson taught in any unicorn school or by any magic tutor. Emotions channeled through the unicorn’s horn took shape as spells and force. “You’ve... ” Gina hesitated, as if waiting for the next line. “You have the understanding of how it works, Dev’s, but your heart is all mixed up, isn’t it?”

Devon tried to respond, but he could only muster a quivering, hacking gasp as dozens of unusual emotions rushed across his face and piled at his horn. He felt the joy and warmth of an unknown unicorn’s healing spell, the ironclad resolve of a guardian’s barrier, the momentary fear and displacement of teleportation or the fiery madness of destructive shockwaves. But every emotion was a skin not fitting to his own, it was natural, but didn’t fit.

“Your emotions don’t allow your magic to flow. What’re you bottling up, Dev’s?” Gina asked evenly. It was a sympathetic question, with an insight that sliced unerringly to the core of the issue, but spoken without a hint of empathy. If anything, all Devon could get from it was a barely-withheld despise. “You’re no good to anypony like this. So this tool will make you useful.” Another surge of marigold shocked through Devon and the emotions started to blend, merging into an incomprehensible mess in his mind. It was all utterly alien, but now so incoherent that his mind could no longer distinguish Devon from the miasma of others’ emotions.

“Dev’n, ya’s a unicorn, but what’s keepin’ yer magic gone? What’ve ya got bottled up?”

“Gah..." Devon croaked again. His head swam in airy bubbles and he felt all four legs threatening to collapse at any time as the rising tide of emotion and confusion reached a crescendo. Moments before he felt like his identity would be forever swallowed by the amalgam, something broke.

Everything was clear. Devon was himself again, but his head throbbed. He felt the other emotions creeping through his senses, but they were mere whispers compared to their previous roar.

“I’m sorry, Miss Bookmark. All of our medical tests show there’s nothing wrong with his horn. We’ve brought in magic therapists, but unless his mind can allow the magic, it’ll stay stuck.”

“Think fast!” A sharpened crystal shrieked through the air, the last traces of orange magic pulling away from it as physics took over. With no time to dodge or move, the charcoal unicorn braced himself for the slicing impact of the crystal with his face.

And waited...

“There’s nothing that I can teach him, Miss Bookmark. His understanding and focus are wonderful, but until he can move the emotions he has, it will do him no good.”

And waited...

Slowly, Devon opened one eye, then another. How did that not hit me? I should have a huge lump or worse on my head. Instead, all I feel is this weird pulsing...

Devon caught his reflection in the mirrors. His horn was lit with a steady gray aura. Beside him, the thrown stone rested dutifully in a pocket of telekinesis, also gray. At his hoof, the brass gauntlets’ whirling attachments spun and twisted of their own accord, leaking a third matching gray aura. As he noticed the movement, Devon could feel its effects, boosting through him and using that alien mass of emotions to bypass whatever blocks and barriers existed in his own to allow his magic to...

“Did I... ?” Devon finally spoke. “Am I... ?” He felt a quivering thrill. “I am!” His heart soared. “I’m actually doing MAGIC!”

“Yes,” Gina said steadily, her eyes fixed solely on the gauntlet and not on Devon. “You are.”

“Ha! Ha! This is... awesome!” Devon gasped, a hidden laugh escaping from his throat. “I’m. Doing. MAGIC!” A childlike wonder rushed through him as he floated the stone around his face in small patterns. All of his learning and understanding of magic sprung from dormancy, now armed with the raw capacity for magic. Fundamental theories gained instant application, spells he had studied relentlessly as a colt flooded back into full use like flowers erupting in bloom.

“Momma, I just want to be like any other unicorn.”

In a gleeful rush, Devon turned his horn towards the shelves lined with treasures and trinkets. Like a new limb, finally freed, his telekinesis snaked outward, snagging item after item and hauling them forward. They moved at erratic speeds as he found his strength, but the liberated laughter told far more. The charcoal unicorn was so lost in his revels that he did not feel a new tickle in his mind. Assuming it was just another one of those alien emotions, Devon dismissed the sensation as a new emotion joined the mass in his mind; an emotion born from a terrified charcoal unicorn colt. It was ignored as it joined the other emotions, mingling around them like water.

Reality melded together with a tangible grasp onto his emotions, the raw energy from within culminating so fluidly around the very objects he focused on they floated weightlessly beneath a cushion of his simple will. It was like he had just gotten a hold of a new limb of unlimited potential, like a blind old buck opening his eyes for the first time in his life, like his whole existence had formed together as a sensical entity like he at last... finally... he... he got to...

Wake up.

Impulsively, he shifted his eyes back to the line of ornate jewelry on the crystalline shelves. Without any time wasted browsing through the shimmering nicknacks, his vision pinched into a tight fold, immediately culminating a gray telekinetic aura around the largest, most ornately detailed tiara of the collection. In a swift tug of ashen light, the adornment situated assuredly before him, every facet and pinpoint of reflected light glittering in dazzling temptation.

His new raw magic even came with the trusty ol’ unicorn intuition, even! No longer did he have to think things through or rack his brain for guidance. His heart must have known all along that only the brightest and best would fit for somepony as distinguished as the Princess of the Night.

How the jewels radiated and flickered like her eyes. The craftsmareship of the platinum decor was the only thing that dared come close to the same flowing beauty of Luna’s mane. Of course his magic knew all along that just like Luna herself, the gift would have to reflect her ability to make everypony’s head turn. Even the engraved flowers around the rim seemed to twinkle like the night sky.

“So,” Devon smiled, shaking the gauntlet approvingly before him. “You said something about magic being from your emotions, and from your heart?”

Gina chuckled. “Pfft-haw, that’s the one you-” She stopped herself, and lowered her head with a smile. “I mean, yes, that’s what I said.”

The charcoal unicorn lowered the ornate tiara and shot a narrow glance at Gina. “Okay,” he groused, “what are you trying to pull here?”

“Me? Oh, nothing, nothing, I just,” she nudged up beside him, sliding an inquisitive hoof against the tiarra. “Yes that’s certainly a, uh, gift.”

“Well,” Devon rolled his eyes, “that’s encouraging.” He raised a forehoof, sliding the levitating adornment closer to his gaze. He softened his sarcasm, looking at both the gauntlet and the tiara as each rippling aura ebbed rhythmically together. “But it’s what my magic immediately went for, so it’s what my heart knows is right.”

“Not exactly your magic that-”

“And so!” Devon continued, “I’ve made up my mind, I’m certain. The gift that best represents Luna is... ”

* * * * *

“... This yonder pile of oyster spit?” The confused glance of the Princess immediately caught Devon off guard, an invisible hoof bucking him in the chest. “Forsooth I certainly feel thy heart be sincere, but..." She trailed off into an exhale as she lifted the excessively decorated headwear.

“I think it would look wonderful on you.” Devon attempted. “It really brings out your royalty, and I bet you’d get all the mares scolding in jealousy upon seeing you in it.” His magic chose it! It had to be right! He’d never been so certain of anything, and as she brought the adornment closer, he could feel his own sense of pride welling up at seeing just how beautifully it melded into her features.

Like a foggy veil ascending above her, Luna’s face radiated and beamed the moment the tiara rested atop her head, the brilliant white and blue jewelry cast out an enchanting radius of light that pulled his eyes to hers.

Devon clapped his hooves together in jovial success. “You look absolutely stunning, m’lady! Look,” he pointed her toward the mirror. “Come take a look.”

The charcoal unicorn looked up to her, and saw Luna’s eyes wince in uncertainty. She started walking closer to the mirror, with each step taking a closer look at herself in the reflection. Over the reflection of Luna’s shoulder, he saw Gina jump up behind her, waving her arms in a manner to get his attention in a foalish manner. He couldn’t understand why this strange new companion could act so desperately for attention, and he turned around to see what she was trying to convey.

“What?” Devon turned around quickly, only to see the orange unicorn resting slyly against the wall. “Never mind,” he turned back, only to see her jumping around behind Luna again waving her arms. “Yeah, I see you, very funny.” Did she always play jokes and make fun of them behind their backs like this?

They continued walking towards the mirror. He was certain of his choice, unwavering in it for sure, but Devon didn’t realize he was smiling as much as he was until he saw the reflection. He let out a couple loose giggles just seeing how intense his tight grin was, almost amazed at just how much it crept up his cheeks. Sweet Celestia, even the way Luna approached with a regal cantor, the way the tiara complimented her royal demure, he could see her own face warming up.

Her lips parted, letting out a silent giggle as he eyes lit up. Her head swayed approvingly, scoping out the finer details of the adornment in multiple angles as they got closer to the mirror. He knew she’d like it. Even if his mind knew that the tiara was a bit hefty and eccentric, his heart certainly knew that she’d eventually grow into a sincere liking of it.

Close to the reflection, she laughed. “It’s beautiful!” Unimpeded by Gina’s sophomoric antics behind her, Luna could only pour out her appreciation while Devon shifted his attention between her beaming face and his own expanding smile. “Wonderful!” He didn’t even know he could smile that crazily, but the mirror’s reflection suggested the contrary. “Gorgeous!” Through the mirror, he saw Gina leap up in a fast dive towards him, threatening to tackle them both.

Devon spun around. “Gina I swear I-” He hesitated. The orange unicorn remained nonchalantly positioned on the opposite wall.

“What?” She protested... “What are you-” ... Then seized, her mouth falling agape.

“D-Devon, s-s-sirrah?” Luna slowly stammered.

Hearing her troubled voice, Devon immediately turned back to the mirror. Luna smiled maniacally in return. “I love it!” The reflection continued. “It’s beautiful!”

Immediately noticing the discrepancy, he looked up beside him to see Luna’s face locked in a deep panic, her narrow eyes trying to divert from her reflection. His own smile quickly fell into a disoriented grimace, though a cursory glance forward showed a cartoonishly shimmering toothy grin on him.

But his heart! His magic! Everything pointed to this being the right gift! How could it be wrong!?

His flow of thought evaporated as he saw a blur of cobal hooves lunge toward him, sinking onto Luna! She jumped back, attempting to dodge the hurling legs, but slid sideways in her attempted bound to retreat, hooves unable to find purchase on the glassy floor. She tried pulling herself forward, but found herself incapable of any proper footing as her rear legs were firmly held by two navy blue hooves.

Devon pulled back, just barely escaping the glancing assault of charcoal forelegs reaching for his neck. He ducked down, kicking a floor tile loose. Impulsively, the tile floated up in front of him in a gray aura in his path.

Strange, he didn’t remember summoning any telekinesis to-

*Crack*

The tile slapped across his face, disorienting him and causing him to trip over Luna’s flailing attempts to break free from her own reflection. Another tile shuddered before him, peeling and breaking free from the floor in another fit of sporadic telekinesis. Devon rolled to the side, feeling the cold edge of the tile cut dangerously close to his neck.

“Oh fine!” Devon yelled, clamping a hoof down flat on the tile, feeling it shake attempting to break free. “You wanna do this the hard way!?” He rolled to his hooves, pivoting on top of the pinned tile. “We’ll do this the har-”

*Cr-crack!*

“Dyagh!” He shouted as two more tiles smashed into dust before his eyes. Blinded by the errant dust, he jumped back wielding his forehoof before him, shaking the gauntlet. He could hear the aura around it shimmer to life as the newfound warmth crept up his horn again. Show time.

He tried opening his eyes, “Ergff,” but stumbled as a volley of stinging dust bit into his sight. Through the dry blurriness, his horn made an immediate search for any nearby object, and felt the telekinetic grip quickly grasp onto something. A faded white blob aligned before him, and facing back to the mirror, flung it at the gray blur before him. The piercing crack of splitting glass filled his ear, and a bright burst of spontaneous light exploded outwards from the mirror. Shaking his head, his vision cleared, the focus pulling back together to show the ornate tiara jammed through the middle of the mirror. A jagged split bolted across the glass, intersecting through Devon’s reflection, splitting his ghostly projection into two separate halves that clamored and pulled in flailing attempts to retreat back into the mirror.

Luna spun around, bucking and kicking at her own reflection but unable to land a solid blow to knock it away. She caught a glimpse at Devon’s apparition falling back, converging together behind the wedging crack back into a single pony. As the charcoal blur fell away in a stumble, she eyed the tiara.

With a frantic tug, the cobalt reflection wrapped a pair of hooves around both of the Princess' legs, pulling them together. Luna swiveled sideways, feeling the chilling embrace of the mirror’s glass wrapping around her as her legs sunk through.

“It’s so beautiful!” Her reflection beamed triumphantly as it dragged the Princess deeper into the mirror. “I love it!”

Luna swung upward, gripping her hooves onto the impaled tiara. “Ooooh,” she smiled. “You’re going to like this tiara!” She pulled, unhooking it from the glass crack. “And you’re going to like it more than anything!”

The reflection hesitated, seeing the tiara waving in Luna’s hoof. Luna curled up her legs, and taking advantage of her pause, kicked the reflection off of her. She clamored spinning across the floor to pull her legs out of the mirror. It felt like icy quicksilver all around her skin as Luna pulled free of the mirror. The reflection dove forward, but gasped as a cobalt glow torpedoed through it.

“I want it!” The reflection looked downward, seeing the dissipating embers of magic steaming from the tiara sticking out of the mirror. “I... neeed... iiit... .” Another series of cracks crept across the mirror, slicing the single reflection into many Lunas like a hydra. The half-dozen all twisted their glances inward, and slowly piled onto the adornment as they slowly slid back into the mirror pulling the tiara with them.

As the last wisp of the reflection’s mane descended into the cracked glass, a white flash cascaded out of the multiple cracks, pulling the mirror back together. Melting flat, the previously split and broken surface pieced into one.

Devon stood up, slowly sauntering back to the mirror in a cautious pace. Holding his head out to the side, he saw his own reflection looking back at him from the side. He grinned. He scowled. He crossed his eyes, stuck out his tongue, dropped his ears, and pulled back his lips to flash his gums.

Luna groaned, fluffing the dust from her wing. “Hath they departed?”

The charcoal unicorn stood before the mirror, blinking each eye ensuring the reflection followed in accordance. “Not sure.” He danced, kicking his hooves in alternating steps while waving his two arms in front of him with his tongue sticking out. “Maybe.” He lay down low, shaking his tail side to side. The twisting tail descended, revealing Gina casually leaning against the crystal wall in nonchalant poise. “Yeah, definitely.”

* * * * *

Inevitability beget inevitability.

Or so the flow of words coursed through the cyan pegasus’ mind. In what was obviously a poorly thought out plan devised from impulse and the errant belief that the Captain could magically improvise a brilliant plan regardless of the overwhelming weight of failure burdening his execution, inevitability only seemed fitting when stated as a redundancy. Jetstream’s consciousness murmured the word so frequently within his own mind, the very meaning of the word diminished. Sure, his recollection of basic language dictated inevitability as the immutable destination of a particular action, perhaps the blaring target that all signs pointed to.

Yet the word rang so frequently, the very syllables washed into one another like a malleable soup of lyrics. The word blended into a song, inevitability backed by the percussion of shuffling hoof on stone and the melody of rhythmic jangles.

Like a chorus winding down from a repetitive coda... “End of the rope.” ... Stormblade brought the ballad of his plan’s inevitable conclusion full circle.

Beneath him, the maw of the expanding cavern was about a dozen haunches above him. There was certainly enough rope to make the final descent, but getting that extra rope was a mental exercise of its own.

“Not to worry!” Stormblade proclaimed, smiling to Jetstream. “Short Mount!” Oh right, smiling to, gyugh... Short Mount. “How far to the bottom of the cavern?”

From this height, the pegasus had no idea. Fifty? Seventy haunches? Looking below, he saw the floor of the cavern littered in debris, and not all of it rock. It seemed like a garbage disposal site, with all the metal bits, gleaming blades, and pipes strewn about the floor. Even a second hole opened up in the middle of the cavern, dropping into an even deeper chasm with a slight hint of pink luminance emanating from its unseen depths. At the rate the Captain was descending, they could take all night just getting to the bottom.

“About a rope-length I’d guess, Captain Stor-” Eh! Eh! “Err, Captain Doctor Storming Do.”

Ya know, he could just as easily fly him down with the grace of a snowflake.

“Excellent, I’ll be making my entrance in a jiff!”

But yeah, epic solo story or whatever.

The Captain pressed against the rock, testing his hoofing along a narrow rock ledge. He nudged his body side to side, ensuring his weight held. “Now look close, Short Mount!” Stormblade yanked at the rope, tugging it tight in rapid succession. “Since I... ergh... used a haunch hitch knot it should... hyick... give with just the right tug at... hurgh... the right angle and..." He pulled with extra strength on the rope. “What the... it’s like there’s... hyrrgh!... a boulder or something on the... Gyer-HYAAH!

The Captain flopped sideways off the ledge, and amid rapid panicked gasps for air, clamored his hooves for a firm grip. He drifted away from the rock face, dangling in a slow spin from his frantic inertia.

Within the second, the cyan pegasus dove downwards and leveled beside the Captain. Jetstream pressed a hoof against the Captains shoulder, and quickly beating his wings, started pushing him back to the wall of the rock well.

A black hoof smacked the pegasus’ away. “I’m fine,” Stormblade gruffed, swinging back out into the open. “I can do this all on my own, so if you’ll exc-uuuse me, I’ll just swing..." He reached for the rock face. “... My way..." His outward motions reacted in the same manner of basic physics. “... Over.” In the same manner of basic inevitability.

Yeah, this was going to take too long.

“Sir, perhaps-”

“Oh for Pete’s sake, Short Mount,” the Captain stopped his struggle, and opted instead to stare in silent contempt at the pegasus. “I’m fine.” The Captain’s growl suggested that to him, a solitary accomplishment was paramount to any other, like he wanted to pen a story where he could write out any supporting character and not suffer from any plot holes upon its recollection. Again, Jetstream pondered, knowing the impending regret in doing so, just how far gone the Captain was in his own interpretation of the hero’s journey, and if his sentience was somehow already living in the future with no consideration for how to get there in the present.

Ah, and there’s that impending regret. Seriously. Creating starfields with a magical swoosh of his hooves, earth ponies with powerful magic, those horrible exclamations of cheesy adulation, yee-he-he-heesh...

The pegasus’ focus snapped back into the real world, the Captain’s frustrated grunting permeating through his ears. “Be patient!” He swung a hoof behind him, sending the rope into a long creaking swing. “The last thing I’m going to ask is for you to save me-”

*Snap*

“Save me! Save me! Save me!”

Jetstream’s eyes widened, seeing the black coated officer plummeting at a murderous pace to the jagged cavern floor below. He tucked his wings inward, beating them rapidly against his flanks. A deafening gust of musty air buffeted against his mane, the rainbow strands licking then brushing aside from his face. He thrust his wings again, feeling an intense cushion of hot air lapping against his shoulders while the cavern expanded outward.

In a familiar diving position, he could more naturally determine the distance to the floor.

Fifty haunches.

He reached his forelegs out, positioning them to keep the falling Captain fixated between them.

Forty haunches.

Jetstream narrowed his eyes, and kicked his rear hooves straight behind him.

Thirty haunches.

He tucked in his wings with a final push, and sunk his head between his forelegs.

Twenty haunches.

Jangling fabric lashed and nipped at his fetlock.

Ten haunches.

With a frantic tug, the Captain flopped against his shoulder. Jetstream expanded his wings, all knowing he couldn’t stop in time, all he could do was pull up and aim for the gaping hole in the middle of the chamber.

A jarring shock ricocheted through his ribs as he felt the side of his flank clip against the hole’s rim. His body careened forward, dropping with the weight of the Captain propelling him into a forward flip. Jetstream flailed upside down, his eyes seeing the rapidly cascading wall before him just spitting distance from grinding off his muzzle.

He pressed his wings towards it to make more distance, but felt it smack flat against another errant rock ledge sending him into a tumble. The Captain flopped from his shoulder.

With the jangling burden temporarily off of him, Jetstream quickly reoriented himself, finding his bearings already halfway down into the second larger chamber. Cracks of glowing pink magma loomed in ravenous anticipation beneath them, the flickering miasma of molten misfortune seeming to open up to swallow the plummeting Captain.

Jetstream narrowed himself again, and reached out for the quick grab. He pulled his wings out again, but felt a sudden pain with the muscles straining from the injury of hitting the wall.

Hyeerrgh-gh!” Jetstream grit his teeth, fighting against the rapid fire pangs of lightning shooting up his shoulder. “Come on!” The wing strained and fought back, trying to succumb to the reflex to curl up to avoid further injury.

Leering and increasing speed to the magma-crusted floor, the imbalance pulled the two into a slow spin, disorienting Jetstream further. A hot jolt of pain cracked through his ribs, “K-kyack!” when his wing finally propped open to full extent.

Jetstream arched his back, swooping himself gradually into a horizontal position. This was going to be close.

Twenty haunches.

The ground angled away, the scattered rocky remains of several collapsed stone blocks loomed before them.

Fifteen haunches.

He could feel the searing heat of magma pricking against his underside.

Ten haunches.

Jetstream pulled back with all his strength, seeing that he had finally got himself level, but the downward momentum still plunged them towards the magma.

Five haunches.

The stone blocks were so close now! Just a little more, just a little more!

Two haunches.

The biting mist of pink magma prickled against his fetlocks. He extended his forehooves, and braced for crash position.

Stormblade gasped. “Short Mount!”

“Hold on to your potatoes!”

The world suddenly flipped into a horrifying spin. Jetstream’s vision pinched and darkened by the force as he felt himself careening sideways in a flailing burst of waving limbs. The Captain flopped away from him in a terrified cry across the collapsed stone blocks, while Jetstream clenched his eyes shut anticipating the next inevitable pummeling.

And inevitability... beget inevitability.

* * * * *

“I don’t get it!” Devon moaned as he returned again to the hall of mirrors and treasures. Confusion held court in his mind as he browsed the gifts with renewed focus. Something wasn’t working. Every tiara he brought out got the same result, a new giggling face of Luna in the mirror and another groping, reaching hoof threatening to drag her in. Too many more of these and their combined weak pulls would eventually overpower Luna entirely.

“You were here when this was being built,” Devon spoke to Gina suddenly. “What’s the trick?”

“Trick?” Gina quirked an eyebrow, then snickered. “There ain’t a trick to it, Dev’s. Y’just need the right gift.”

“Horseapples,” Devon countered. He turned to a shelf he had surveyed ten times before, scanning it again in the vain hope that some inspiration would come to mind. “All of these treasures are worthy of a princess, at least I think so!” He waves his un-gauntleted hoof around the display. “What the hay do I give Princess Luna that’s even close to what she’s actually worth?” His cheeks ran red as he lifted a statuette of two dancing pegasi in his newfound telekinesis. A logical corner of his mind knew that this was part of the puzzle and necessary, but his heart told him otherwise.

“Devon! Gina!” Luna’s voice flew into the treasure room. “I... I’m starting to slip!” Her precarious grip and hoofholds were losing their strength. “Gryah! Get thy hooves off me!” That last yell melted into more frantic struggles as Luna writhed to hold her ground.

* * * * *

Hold on to your potatoes.

The residual emotions of frustration prompted Jetstream to ping back into consciousness could have been easily attributed to the stiff soreness in his shoulders, the twinging aches running the length of his wings, or that killer spinning headache that disoriented him. He didn’t even know if he’d come to rest upside down, sideways, or headlong into the afterlife.

But what pained the downed pegasus more than the physical beating he took on his crash landing... was that in the heat of the moment, he’d reflexively gotten into character and recited a one-liner from Daring Do and the Temple of Glue.

“Hey, Short Mount!” A rugged voice coughed in the distance.

Oh, this better not be the afterlife. If he had to spend eternity placating forevermore in that overbearing featherbrain’s delusional fantasy...

“I... I don’t get what this stone says!”

Naw, couldn’t be. No way would his paradise even contain the voice of the Captain, and no way would eternal punishment allow him the capability to discern how messed up it was...

Hold on to your potatoes.

Oh, Celestia, how messed up it was that the Captain’s influence was actually taking root. Oh, no no no, not allowed. He opened his eyes, the worn cavern walls flickered in pink veins cast from the floor in a dizzying orbit.

“It says, ‘What did the rake-using serf tell the spade-using serf’?”

He held and rotated his forehooves before him, ensuring nothing was broken. He rolled, feeling a sheet of dust slide off him.

“Didest thou forget thy tongs?”

His legs held as he took a tentative step forward. He sauntered slowly forward, shaking off the aches and cramps with each leg extension. The spinning receded, and as his vision pulled the features of the room into coherent focus, he couldn’t help but recognize his good fortune and counted his blessings.

“Is... is this... a joke?”

He counted his blessings... minus one.

* * * * *

“Ta-daaa!” Gina beamed, hopping from behind a shelf of jewels. She shimmered from head to toe, covered in the dozens upon dozens of tiaras, bracelets, necklaces, horn rings, chains, capes, and draperies Devon rejected and threw aside. “Whaddya think?”

He thought this was no time for her to be joking around.

Of all the ornaments and trinkets that surrounded him, he couldn’t help but feel overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing just one. Just one! One that reflects Luna’s wants. One that reflects her likes. One that reflects... hopefully not another malevolent reflection.

Yeesh, he still couldn’t get that unnatural laugh of her reflection out of his mind.

I want it. I need it!

“I really like her mane,” Gina commented, looking out the door. “Perhaps something that matches it?”

Devon shuffled along another row of jewels, and saw an odd saddlebag resting at an awkward position in the bottom row. Strange, he scoured and browsed this aisle before, but didn’t remember seeing that there. He nuzzled into it, propping the bag open, and lit up upon seeing a golden encrusted jewel within it. He smiled, pulling it out, the violet star-shaped jewel in the middle acting as a perfect complement for the Princess of the Night!

“Like, maybe these earrings, they just-” Gina gasped, and sprinted to Devon. In a galloping dive, she lashed out, tightly clenching the Element of Magic against her chest. “Nothing, nothing!” She panted, backing up slowly, her eyes darting back and forth. “Absolutely nothing at all, don’t you worry, hyeh-heh, no, just it’s... ”

“Gina?”

“Yes, umm..." She breathed out, but the panic in her voice continued to stab her in the back. “You may, eh-heheh, yes, be wondering why... I’m... totally freaking out and it’s because, ha, hah!”

“Gina?”

“Because it’s a, gift, yes, a gift of my own, from a very special somepony who... ”

The only treasure in my saddlebag, the trinket I borrowed earlier under tight scrutiny.

“The Element of Magic.” Devon shot a caustic scowl at the orange unicorn.

“Hy’oh, no no no no no,” She quivered through grit giggles, timidly backing towards the door, “This ol’ thing, pfft, n’yaww, you’re mistaken. Mistaken! This is all just one, huge..." Her rump nudged into a tall barrier of navy blue.

The ducked and spun around, the Princess looming profoundly above her. In her shock, she clamored and bobbled the element in her grasp, firing desperate looks in every direction except towards the scowling teal irises pressing upon her. She looked over at the gauntlet around Devon’s foreleg, realizing how much she needed it. Looking upward, she pleaded internally for some input from above, but sank in the continuous quiet they relegated to her.

“Aha!” The orange unicorn jumped out proudly, and with a suddenly boastful grin sauntered up to the Princess. “Look at who I found, umm, stealing this priceless treasure!” She pointed an accusing hoof over to Devon. “We have found our magic thief! Seize him-hey!”

Yanked out of her hooves in a cobalt aura, the element of magic hung before the Princess. She frowned, lowering her eyes to the orange unicorn. “Thou hast been much occupied,” she growled. “But I hath reigned long enough to no longer be rendered surprised by the errant convictions of cowards!” Exhaling deeply, she lowered the Element to Devon. “My bond unto this is past,” Luna continued. “Carry this with utmost care, whilst I ponder a proper approach for our..." She rounded the doorway, disappearing out of view. “... Conspirator.”

“Princess, wait!” Both Devon and Gina reached toward her.

“I need the company of none, now! All everypony needs is Princess this, Princess that, for now at least resume thy perusing whilst I determine... ”

Devon hung his head out into the corridor, seeing the Princess staring into the mirror. Sitting alone, her reflection stared back to her in a sincerely identical disappointment.

“... Everything.”

Like she always did. Looking upon her, Devon could see the circulating weights of Canterlot in general hovering over her, pressing her shoulders forward. It was a posture the charcoal unicorn was more than familiar with, and could recognize immediately. Many nights after long shifts in the archives, even dating back as far as his school years, how he’d retreat and just hang low in his solitary refuge with books while his mother would pressure him to join her at group soirees, festivals, tailgates, and parties.

A flutter of chirps and teal light caught his attention. Devon turned to his saddlebag, seeing the combative squeals of alarm from the Glyph waving and sputtering angrily at the interloping orange mouth stealthily gnawing at the flaps.

“Hey!” Devon swung the bag aside, hearing the reassuring clang of the Element of Magic settling inside of it.

“But we need it!”

“We!?” He faltered away from her, pressing against the wall. “No, nuh-uh, sorry.” He looked back at the Princess, seeing her peering back at them. “Royal orders.”

That look. All he ever wanted then was his own opportunity to hunker down, to think, to just process the day and not have to worry about the perpetual nibbling of others trying to drag him to some elite gathering of hoity-toity individuals. All he ever wanted then was a bit of amnesty.

Then it hit him.

He slowly approached her, but stopped himself twenty haunches short.

“You have to trust me, Luna.” Devon pressed his hooves against Luna to help her back up and pull her back from the mirror. “I know what you want.”

“What I want, Devon,” Luna huffed as the ghostly reflections withdrew, eagerly awaiting another failed gift to strengthen their pull on Luna. “Is to be rid of these shades!” She staggered slightly, leering away from the mirror. “I fear I cannot withstand another of their pulls, Devon. What didest thou find?”

“I found the perfect gift, Luna,” Devon smiled, stepping back from the mirror and leaving Luna standing. Before she could express her confusion with more than her expression, he continued. “I know none of these things mean that much to you. They’re valuable, sure but... well they don’t mean more than that.” Devon sighed before speaking. All of his personal wants whimpered at the notion of this gift. It hurt. “So what I’m going to give you is something I think you need more. Space.”

Devon stepped further back and motioned Gina to follow him. “It’s space from me, from this chase, from whatever you want. For as long as you want. I can offer it for sure here, but once we get out of here, I’ll help give you any space you might need.” He smiled weakly. This gift hurt to give. He wanted to be with her at all times, to be in that space with her, but he finally realized that a gift is not about him. It’s about the recipient. Stepping further away, Devon led Gina up the stairs and back towards the corridors. “You have all the space you need, until you need us, Luna.”

Devon’s voice faded until only his hoofsteps remained and then those too faded.

“Space..." Luna whispered, turning her gaze back to the mirrored door. Where before stood twisted mockeries of herself delighting in the inaccurate and vain gifts, she saw only herself. Alone. Surrounded by the blissful stillness that she never could appreciate at her position. Celebrities and other leaders always had time on their side, their stars would eventually flicker and fade, gifting their twilight with reflective space. But for a being like Luna, there was no such welcoming respite. She stood as Princess of the Night for as long as she could remember, and would stand for as far as she could perceive.

Every one of the worldly treasures that lay scattered around her hooves were meaningless to a Princess beyond time’s grasp. What were they more than baubles? Valuable to be sure, but their luster would fade, their value would falter and they would be placed in yet another forgotten vault to be reborn as priceless to some other age. But space, her own space free of the pressures of rule and maintaining the night was a treasure beyond measure. The stallion who had clearly longed for nothing more than to be with her offered it up without expectation of reward. It hurt him to give it, it strained him to offer away what he desired from her, but he did. It was all she could hope for. It was the perfect gift.

Luna’s reflection was herself. Everything was right and it matched her smile even as it morphed into a frown of concern.

The door requires a partner.

Luna swung her head back towards where Devon had hidden himself and Gina away. They left to give her the space she craved. But now she needed to return the gift. Every treasure he brought out to her she knew would fail and doom the charcoal unicorn to the same unhappy fate battling the wraiths in the mirror. He would appreciate them, but it would not be what he ached for.

“Devon.”

Luna’s voice now seemed small in comparison to the echoing, roaring cacophony of whispers and calls from moments ago. It carried out until it melted into silence until a set of hoofsteps answered them.

Emerging from the shadowy middle distance, Devon spoke. “Everything okay? Did it... ”

“Aye, Devon, it worked. Please, approach.” The Princess smiled slightly as the unicorn swallowed hard and stepped towards the mirror. “Remember, this door requireth a gift, Devon. I have to find one for thee as well.”

“Oh... well,” Devon laughed a bit. “I can help, right? I didn’t see much in that treasure vault that really appealed, but maybe in one of the old books I co-”

“Shh.” Luna laughed slightly. “I know that none of those trifles are truly thy ideal gift. Thy heart is not so different than my own.” She waited until Devon stood at her shoulder. The door offered Luna’s pristine reflection, but Devon’s was clouded, uncertain, wanting for completion and the gift that it demanded. “So what I have to offer thee is no little symbol, or fleeting moment, Devon.” Luna extended one of her forelegs to the side and wrapped down around Devon’s foreleg.

It was a gift that hurt a little bit to give. It strained her to offer this when it was so much her desire to not. Her hoof slid smoothly down until it pressed into Devon’s. Before the pair, they watched Devon’s reflection clear and the smoke melt away to show the two ponies, holding hooves.

“I offer to share my space with thee. Thou art welcome with me. Whenver thou should need it.”

It was the perfect gift.

Before them, the mirror surface shimmered slightly, like a tiny ripple through an otherwise still pond. The clouds parted and beyond their reflections, they spotted what lay beyond the door. Through the mirror, a new background emerged of a descending corridor. Hoof-in-hoof, Devon and Luna walked forward, their grip on each other tightening as they made the first step past the shimmering membrane of the mirror.

Behind them in the fading reflection, an orange mare suddenly appeared between them, her muzzle pressed against the opposite side of the magical barrier. Gina’s reflection stood between them, and looked quizzically at Devon.

He turned to the Princess. “What of her?”

“She’s but a thief and manipulator,” Luna wove a dismissive hoof at the reflected unicorn mare. “But... I know not what her intent is.”

“And,” Devon smiled up to her, resting a shoulder against her’s. “She really did save our pelts from the lava dragon.”

“Lava dragon?” The reflection spoke up in a bright cheery voice. It was much softer, but distinctly familiar to Gina’s. “She... she is finally slain?”

Devon chuckled, waving the gauntlet above him. Her eyes lit up seeing the jeweled adornment on his foreleg. “Not at all,” the charcoal unicorn assured her. “In fact, we got this beauty off its tail, and let it fly off.”

How she beamed upon hearing that. “She’s free!?” The orange reflection bounced and squealed, shaking a victorious hoof over her head. “This is, I’m just, wow! You freed the dragon!”

“T’was not us,” Luna explained, stepping aside, showing a sulking Gina digging at the floor behind her. “T’was you.”

The reflection hopped back in surprise, and shook her head. “It’s... !” As her blonde mane rested atop her face, she reverted back to her smiling face. “It’s, wow, sure been a while since I’ve last seen that.” She hopped back up to the mirror, tapping a hoof against the foggy transparent surface. “Aww, none of you guys got me a gift?”

Devon leered a curious glance up to Luna, only to find an equally perplexed look back to him. Do they tell her? Do they let the reflection know of the malicious act of her other half trying to undermine them and steal the Element of Magic? This was their opportunity to leave the thief behind for good, and complete the task Luna had brought him down to accomplish.

He still couldn’t put a hoof on why she was so untrusting of the orange-coated traveler earlier.

But her other half, so jovial and bouncing giddily beyond her control right before them... was she to be the recipient of the bad news that her other half messed up? Something didn’t seem fair, something was clearly amiss. He knew the Princess of the Night would be none pleased to hear his reasoning, he at least opted to float it past Luna to see if she-

“Aye,” Luna nodded to the reflection with a smile, then turned to Devon. “Findeth a gift worth giving unto her.”

Okay... or just let Luna come to the same conclusion on her own, no long drawn out bout of silly explanation necessary, no delving into long-winded diatribes of fairness, karma, and feelings.

“She hath spared us once from the dragon, our debt is now even.”

Pfft, and just let Luna come up with a more straightforward reason, too. Why was he even making an attempt at thinking, when the Princess was doing that just fine as well. Several millennia of rule only refined her logic, after all.

“Look!” Gina’s reflection jumped upward, pointing behind them.

Turning to the back of the room, Devon saw a very peculiar sight. Where Gina once stood in a quiet sulk, a shimmering line of white descended down her frame, draping her in a rocky gray coat.

“Bookmark!” Luna cried out, running towards her. “Hurry, she’s turning to stone!”

“Bookmark?” Gina’s reflection winced, casting a sharp glance onto the charcoal unicorn. “Bookmark!? That’s so strange; your name is Bookmark!?”

“Yes?” Devon inquired. “What’s happening to her?”

“Hah! Bookmark! Bookmark!” She spun around, but quickly regained her fortitude. “Well, I can’t say for sure..." the reflection choked in panic, then stopped. “Bookmark, you said?” She smacked her hooves together. “Of course! Her contract must have completed somehow! So she’s reverting back to... what she..." the orange mare in the mirror suddenly coughed, a wisp of gray twirling out her nostril. She looked down at her hoof, seeing a creeping sheet of stone encroaching up her arm. “Listen... Bookmark was it?”

“What’s the plan!?”

“Come in here, but listen real close,” the reflection frantically motioned him forward, and lowered her head. “I can’t say this too loud.”

He leaned in close, but she said nothing. Her eyes shifted back and forth, then caught a glimpse at Luna stopping suddenly in the center between the mirror and the stoning unicorn.

“Mister Bookmark!” the reflection suddenly guffawed in overt shock. “Why, that’s Princess Luna’s sister you’re talking about!”

Perplexed, Devon’s eyes shot wide, his head twirling to meet an equally surprised scowl on Luna.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about!” The reflection continued. “Unlike you, I find Celestia to be rather fit and wears her figure gorgeously!”

“Bookkeeper!” Luna shouted, stomping a hoof down. “My sister be the greatest mare in my life, and my anchor ‘pon stormy Canterlot politics, and thou chooseth now!?” She spread her wings, fanning them in promises to obliterate him into dust. “Now, to vent thine petulant frustrations!?” Seething. “Now, to insult my very blood, my truest family!?” Raging. “I could speaketh of thee, Bookmark! Thy... thy..." She kicked at the ground uncontrollably, snarling with a flick of her mane.

Devon backed up, his shoulders planting firmly upon the mirror’s surface. It was going so well! She was so happy just a minute ago! Everything was holding together, until this errant reflection started spewing lies at the stallion’s expense and humiliation.

He knew it wouldn’t work. “I didn’t say any of-”

“None of thy sauce!” Yep, wouldn’t work. “I could dare speak volumes, epics of thine foalish tendencies behind thy back!” The room shook in her exclamation, kicking a spiral of dust along the floor around the Princess. “Or how thy dare call thyself unicorn whence thy magic be lesser of a goat’s!”

Suddenly a hollow crack filled the room, a sheet of thing crackling rock shot out and buffeted against the Princess in a graveled swipe. Gina flopped to the floor, shambling and coughing, spinning her hooves wildly beneath her in an attempt to regain their stance.

“Ha, knew it!” Gina’s reflection beamed euphorically. “Bookmark, listen. Later on, you will need that pony’s help, whether you want it or not. She’s the key you need, and must make it alongside Luna. It’s hard to explain, but you must trust me. For instance, the gift she really needs to traverse forward..." She paused, motioning to Devon’s foreleg, “... is that enchanted item on you.”

“But,” Devon narrowed his eyes, twisting the gauntlet before him. “She gave this... to me.

“Oh!” The reflection reeled back, then cleared her throat. “What I mean is, oh, of course. It’s obviously a gift meant to... be shared.”

Made sense. The gift Luna and he exchanged was based around a single shared notion, and it got them to the face of the mirror without any repercussions. The same could just as easily be applied to the gauntlet with Gina. She did seem rather bummed to have to pass it off, too. The wisdom and quick thinking of Gina’s reflection was a most welcome breath of fresh air. Everything in the archives so far had seemed bent on scorching, dicing, and squooshing them in comically overblown methods. At last, something useful and convenient to help speed them along!

Devon turned to Gina, and extended a hoof to her, pulling her up from the floor. Her eyes spun, but finally settled with a heavy blink as she looked up to him.

“I know you didn’t want to give this up,” he mused, sliding the gauntlet off his foreleg. He hoofed it over to her, waving it until she gripped it in her magic. “I think it’s only fair that we share it, you and I.”

How long had it been since somepony offered any extension of nuanced friendship to her? She stepped back, and pondered on this offer of friendship, this offer she hadn’t been granted since she had given any sort of proverbial olive branch. The feelings within welled up and burst forth.

“Of course!” She cried out happily, hooking a foreleg around Devon. “Yes! Thank you!” An offering of friendship, regardless of the physical quality, was one she had always yearned for, and jumped at the chance for.

“Great,” Devon laughed, not understanding why she was so jovial to just be given back something her magic didn’t really need. Why was she jumping so giddily over the offer to share it? Eh, weird unicorns are weird. The reflection seemed to know that well enough.

Looking back to the mirror, they approached it slowly, ensuring the gift was playing out. Luna aligned herself beside them, each reflection now properly in sync with them. It was working. Finally, an end to the browsing and sifting through useless over-complicated trinkets and jewels, as the three of them finally stood nose to nose with the rippling mirror.

The meandering corridor on the other end of the foggy glass... wait.

Where did it-?

“Hyah-hah!” The orange reflection leapt out at Gina, gripping its forelegs around her neck.

Gina nickered and kicked back, but the wrapping tendrils from the mirror snared around her legs, wasting no time dragging her in. Luna hopped back, attempting to find something to grip on to herself as she wrapped a telekinetic miasma around her. Devon gripped around her as well, pulling at her shoulders.

Her rear hooves slipped into the mirror. “Hyaaagh!” She cried out, and clenched her teeth together in an attempt to wriggle free. Her horn suddenly lit up, a succession of pelting lights ricocheted in all directions in her panic forcing Devon to lunge his head aside. His hoofing slid and gave out from under him, sending him in the air.

A cobalt sheath of magic immediately wrapped around him, gripping him firmly. “Hnrrgh!” Luna groaned, attempting to pull back with a strained tug of her head.

Snagged in the middle, Devon looked forward, seeing a whole new countenance of Gina in the mirror. The reflection was warped, gnarled, and seemingly wrapping its lips into its own face with a malevolent smile. “Thank you so much!” She chided him. “It’s what I always wanted!”

Featherbrain.

He couldn’t believe he actually listened to the reflection, and let its uncharacteristic kindness sway him.  He should’ve known! He’d read about her in GB’s journals! She was never so friendly, never so outgoing and chipper, and never... wait... why was she suddenly so interested in his name before?

Seeing the pleading red eyes of the unicorn mare led him to the obvious realization. She was tough, moody, impulsive, and downright rude at times. But if malevolence was to choose a mask, it would be a veil of uplifting encouragement.

She wasn’t in the mood to look at me, or talk to me.

Devon sunk into the mirror further, feeling his own hooves sliding into the chilling reflective fluid.

All of the reflection’s attention focused on my beloved, and only seemed intent upon pulling her in.

A vacuum of absolute emptiness gripped around his hooves, a numbing sensation slowly crept up his forelegs into his shoulder.

Terrifying doesn’t even begin.

He let go with one foreleg, swinging it back behind him. Shaking it off, the drooping remnants of the shimmering mirror dropped to the floor, freeing his forehoof. His other, with less to hang on to, sunk in even further.

Thinking fast, I jumped into the struggle between Gina and her reflection...

Luna’s aura pulsed and pulled harder, struggling to keep a grip on them. As the edge of the telekinetic field touched the mirror, it dissipated and weakened, peeling away with a gradual slip.

... And swapped out the scarf around her neck with the only treasure in my saddlebag..

Devon reached back, fumbling through his belongings for a replacement. Of course. She didn’t want to share. She didn’t want anything from those decorative shelves.

With hardly any telekinetic grip remaining, Luna quickly jumped forward, clinging tightly to Devon’s collar.

... The trinket I borrowed earlier under tight scrutiny.

The kiss of metallic artistry greeted his hooftip, and he quickly snagged a hold of it. Lunging forward, he exerted all his strength with a final heaving tug backwards, using every drop of energy to keep the front half of Gina’s head over the surface.

The Element of Magic.

With his last bout of endurance, he planted the jeweled big crown thingy firmly onto Gina’s forehead. Her eyes opened wide in surprise, as did Luna’s, but upon receiving the stolen artifact, a white pulse surrounded the mirror. A final grasp of strong gravity hurled all three of them forwards. Before his eyes splashed into the churning reflective barrier, a final flicker of detail ebbed into view through the foggy glass.

The next corridor popped into view.

* * * * *

Devon freaked out. He paused to pick his jaw off the floor. “So that’s all you want!?” He brushed the dust from his haunches. “Just the element?!” Hanging in Gina’s orange telekinesis, the ornate crown sparkled of its own accord, beyond that of the light from the horns and crystals. “What are you doing with... doesn’t even belong to you... how did... ?”

“Look, I can’t really talk... ”

“I beseech the, speak!” Luna’s voice burst forth, cutting Gina off. “T’was thou who stole it from Twilight Sparkle and crashed the train into the palace!” Where Devon expected an enraged tirade and verbal explosion, he saw a genuine concern in Luna’s eyes. “I know now thy task, I know thy purpose. I should have known that they would be sending somepony.” Luna paced evenly towards Gina and the Element, narrowing her eyes critically.

Devon popped his head up. “Wait, I missed something.” He leaned towards the Princess with perked ears. “Who sent somepony? What is her task-”

Luna glared heavily upon the orange unicorn. “What is thy true name?!”

Gina faltered and hesitated. A small laugh broke the unsteady pause first. “The Assistant to your Royal Scribe, of course,” she snickered. “Orangina. Fiancee of Ghasen.”

Luna’s eyes widened, a hushed breath sneaking out, enough to give Gina an answer.

“Ah, you remember Ghasen, don’t you.” Gina pressed forward, her attitude shifting rapidly from nervous hesitation to a tinge of knowing aggression. “And since you figured out why I’m here..." she snickered. “You know what I’m gonna do with this?” With the question, Gina nodded at the Element of Magic, still hanging in her field of flicking orange. “Making sure.” Gina grinned.

“That everything.”

The grin twisted with small, involuntary laughs.

“Goes.”

Gina’s eyes danced between Devon and Luna, her voice from her.

“As it.”

But not of her.

Should.”

A cold silence crept down the corridor, looping and weaving between the Princess and the orange mare. Devon scratched his head, not sure if he had blacked out and missed several days of communication. In the advantage of the electrified tension between the two mares, he quickly pulled out the journal, seeking any mention of a Gina, or this... Ghasen. A ritual? An artifact? Some sort of monster confined within the deepest pits of the archive?

And again... why was Gina’s reflection suddenly so interested in him upon hearing his name? The way she bounded and lit up like that, so suddenly, he’d never seen the utterance of Bookmark turn a head in such a way.

“I’m sorry, I’m totally lost,” Devon’s awkward voice cracked through the quiet, shattering the stillness with a rippling echo. “Ghasen? It’s not in the journal anywhere.”

Gina groaned, and draped an impatient hoof over the book’s upper rim. “It’s not in the pages.” She pulled her hoof down, flopping the parchment flat on the floor. An orange aura snaked around it, shutting it firmly closed. “It’s on the cover.

Devon narrowed his brow, licking his upper lip. Ghasen. Ghasen... Just an ornate detailing of moonflowers, a hummingbird, and the architect’s initials.

A wallowing pit suddenly formed in his chest.

G.B.

Ghasen.

That’s so strange; your name is Bookmark!?

Ghasen Bookmark.