//------------------------------// // Rarijack Prompt: Mirrors // Story: Assorted Short Stories // by Titanium Dragon //------------------------------// "Howdy, Rarity!" "Coming!" chirped the mare in question, emerging from one of the back rooms of the boutique with a smile on her face as she approached the farmer. The pair exchanged nuzzles, leaning into each other for a moment before Applejack spoke. "Twilight and I saw somethin' you might get a kick out of when we were in Canterlot yesterday." "Oh?" Rarity leaned back, her eyes bright. "What is it?" "I left it outside, it was kind of tough to get in through yer door by myself. It’s kind of fragile." Rarity stepped out the front door of her shop and looked around for a moment before spying the canvas-covered pane sitting in the cart, her smile broadening. "Is that what I think it is?" "Sure is," Applejack said as she stepped out after her marefriend. "Twi and I found it in the market, and figured it was just up your alley. Another magic mirror for your collection." "Ooh, what does it do? Oh, wait, don't tell me, I want to see for myself." Applejack smiled tolerantly, sliding out of the way as her marefriend seized the covered mirror carefully with her telekinesis, floating it out of the cart and in through the front door of the store before setting it down on the floor, its back resting against one of the tables at an angle. “Ya ready?” Applejack asked, grinning as she reached up to grasp the edge of the canvas, already knowing the answer. “Applejack!” Rarity tsked, shaking her head. “You know I like to have my little moments.” “I know. And I love you for them.” Rarity stepped before the mirror, closing her eyes and concentrating as her horn flared to life. The brown cloth slowly slid away, wrapped in Rarity’s magic, but the unicorn studiously avoided looking into the mirror’s silvery surface, instead turning her head to watch as she carefully folded the canvas into a neat little bundle, setting it down on her dresser. Nodding to herself, she closed her eyes once more before turning her attention back to the mirror, the smile on her face vanishing in an instant as her eyes slid open. Rarity’s shriek jerked Applejack into action, the farmer leaping forward to hug her marefriend as the wild-eyed pony stumbled away from the mirror. "That's terrible!" Rarity wailed, whacking Applejack's chest with her hooves. "Constarn it Rarity, it just makes you look like a princess! It ain't anything bad!" Applejack could feel the other mare quivering against her, and looking down at her face, could see fear in her eyes, tears running down her cheeks as she sniffled. "What do you mean?" Rarity asked, her voice quavering. "That isn't what it showed at all!" "Did that vendor trick us and give us the wrong mirror?" Applejack growled, her eyes narrowing, while Rarity relaxed slightly against her chest. "You think he tricked you?" "I don't know, let me have a look at it." Applejack slowly released her marefriend, flashing a smile as Rarity watched in trepidation. Shaking her head slightly, Applejack turned to face the mirror, confusion showing on her face as she tilted her head, the crowned pony in the mirror doing the same. "What are you talking about Rarity? That’s is exactly what the mirror in the market did." Applejack smiled back over her shoulder at Rarity, nodding her head in encouragement as the unicorn stepped forward, but Rarity’s tears began anew as her eyes moved from Applejack to the mirror. Rarity peered into it for several long moments, her knees wobbling before she collapsed to the floor, ducking her head and looking away. Applejack turned her head to look back at the mirror, trying to see what her lover saw, and her eyes grew wide. In the mirror, the regal alicorn's eyes did the same, her mane flowing in an ethereal breeze beside her neck, her tail doing the same behind her. In the mirror, the farmer stood tall and regal, no longer a little pony, but instead a princess, full grown as Celestia. But it wasn't her own reflection that made her eyes grow large, but what stood beside her: a weathered tombstone, with three diamonds glinting in the sun above the name of the pony laid to rest beneath.