//------------------------------//
// Mirror, Mirror 
// Story: Plebeian 
// by Sleep Sonata 
//------------------------------//

	Another morning, another solitary walk to the library. If I didn’t know any better, I’d have thought I was the only pony who went here. That feeling wouldn’t last, not after today.
I decided to skip breakfast. This project was just too important. When I came to the library, I was the only pony there. I guess Chi Chi was still at breakfast, which would give me time to set up the spell. Once he saw what I was about to do, I’d be set in academia for the rest of my life.
I wasn’t bothered by the solitude of my walk this morning. Even the echo of my hoof steps descending the steps didn’t phase me. It’s not like it would last much longer anyway.
Once downstairs, I wasted no time in opening the book. I’d bookmarked the page the night before, though I’d neglected to actually read it thoroughly. I remembered the runes from yesterday, though apparently there was an incantation necessary for it to work. It seemed a little suspicious; incantations are usually used in cruses and dark magic. I didn’t care. What consequences could there be to wanting a friend?
I grabbed a piece of chalk from a nearby board, and began to sketch the runes on the wall. They wrapped around a six point star, in as close to a circle as I could manage. I didn’t recognize the symbols, but they were probably just a copy of the incantation. I didn’t pay them any attention.
Once I’d finished with the set up, I began to study the chant. I figured it would help to read it aloud.


Hex reflect, glyphs connect,
Find in you my mirror image.
Matters of matter, be as you are,
Matters of mind, reflect ‘bout my heart.

It didn’t make much sense, but those were indeed the magic words. Once I’d finished, The runes and star began to glow in a bright white light. It was magic, though it wasn’t coming from me. Could this be real?
As I stood staring at the glowing markings, I began to wonder if this was all I could do. Had I done something wrong? Was there more to this spell? It didn’t continue on the other page, so I’d done everything. I tried the touch the wall, to get some sort of reaction.
Once I did touch it, I couldn’t get my hoof off of the wall. I tugged and pulled, but it wouldn’t budge, I tried to push off with my other hoof, but that one got stuck as well. I began to panic. What if this was a curse? What was going to happen to me? I looked around to think of something, anything, that would me get out and stop the spell.
It was then I noticed the markings converge on the spot I touched. My heart began to race. I didn’t know what would happen to me, but I thought it couldn’t have been anything good. I wanted to scream, cry out for help. But something was holding it back, something from me. Maybe part of me was keeping faith, and wanted a companion that badly.
As the runes converged, they began to meld into a single, elliptical spot, still glowing bright white. I kept struggling to break free, and as I did so, I realized my hooves were actually grabbing something. I didn’t understand it, but if felt like I was holding onto something, or somepony.
I pulled away from the wall, and as I did, another set of hooves came out from the glowing disc. I almost let go, but then I noticed that they were the same color as mine. Could this be my duplicate?
I pulled farther, and slowly, the duplicate revealed herself fully. It was uncanny; an exact copy of myself, right down to my cutie mark. Once she was clear of the wall, the disc collapsed into a singularity, and was just gone, leaving no trace of the runes. You never would have guessed I’d drawn anything at all.
The duplicate and I starred at each other for a few seconds. She seemed just as surprised as I was to be here. We both looked each other down, examined each others manes, and both came, at the same time, to the same realization. “You’re me!”
“No, you’re me!” She seemed indignant at my response. To be fair, I felt the same way. I was the one who performed the spell, after all.
“No, no, no. You see, I did this ritual to copy myself and...” Just that instant, I realized exactly the situation I was in. “...and it worked! It worked!” All of the feelings of sorrow I had felt before that moment were swept away by a flood of gleeful emotions. Nothing could have brought me down from that.
My double seemed lost in thought. It looked as if her world had been turned upside down. “But I remember setting up the spell. I was the one who tried to summon you.” She seemed genuinely confused, as was I. I know for a fact that I drew the runes and pulled her from the light. “I guess you have my memories, being an exact copy of me and all.”
“So then, I’m just the product of a spell?”
I could see immediately where this was going. I needed to make her feel like a real pony, not just a thing. My mind worked for a solution. “No, you’re Stardust. A smart, industrious pony who has a passion for magic.”
“I guess you’re right. I’m a talented, capable unicorn, who always strives to be the best I can be!” She was starting to get used being here, which was what I was hoping for. “So what are you...I...we up to?”
“Well, right now I’m...”
She cut me off before I could say any more.
“Looking for materialization spells, but you got really lonely when you realized that you couldn’t interact with anypony. So you found a conjuring spell that would creating a perfect copy of yourself, and you’d never have to worry about feeling isolated ever again.” 
I was nodding to every single thing she said, but then I we began diverge in thought.
“And now that the duplication was successful, you were going to show it off to Doctor Chi Chi, and he’d be so impressed that you were able to find and perform such old magic that he would have to give you a permanent position at the university!”
I could not believe that those had come out of my mouth. “Are you out of your flapping mind!? Chi Chi can’t find out about this! He was the one who told explicitly not to go into the restricted room. If he knows I was in there, I could get dis-enrolled!”
The whole time I was panicking about Chi Chi, my other self simply stared with a smug smile on her face, eventually, her condescending expression got to me. “Why are you smiling?!”
She actually began to chuckle. This wasn’t deciding who I wanted write recommendation letters for me. I was deathly afraid for my future. “Oh, come on. He was the one who told you to find something, and this is by far the greatest spell either of us, or anypony else at this school, has ever performed. He’ll have to reward us.”
This was really frightening. I had to convince her that this was a terrible idea, but she seemed too proud to even consider the possibility. I couldn’t even form a sentence, I could only express myself in half words and sounds. I knew how hard-headed I could be sometimes, but this was downright reckless. 
I heard myself laughing, though I failed to see any humor in this situation. “Lighten up. I’ll prove it to you. We’ll go and see Chi Chi right now.” 
I must’ve grown wings for a few seconds, because it took me no time at all to rush to the main door and lock it. The expressions of pride were wiped from the the duplicate’s face. She seemed shocked at my behavior, but that expression soon morphed into frustration. “Are you that much of a coward? Don’t you want to be the best?”
I was frantic. I had to find a way to make her understand. “This won’t work, don’t you get it? Chi Chi will kick me out if he finds out I read one of those books. Don’t you see.”
She didn’t even think about it. All I got was an intense, intimidating glare. “I see exactly what’s going on. I see that that spell book was right, and now, instead of another dedicated pony to split the work load with me, I’m stuck with some timid, yellow, weak-kneed coward who is fine with having her nose in a book for the rest of her life.” This wasn’t the Stardust I knew. I was beginning to get frightened.
“What are you saying?” I was barely able to squeak out a sentence.
She didn’t even bother to answer. Before I could ask anymore, she teleported out in a flash. Celestia only knows where she went.
This was now officially a crisis. There was a crazy version of myself on the loose. If she was really as ambitious as she claimed to be, there was no telling what she’d set her sights on next. I had to get out there and find her.
Before I could get to the door though, I remembered something she’d said, about the book being right. What could she have meant by that. Maybe it would help me find out what she wanted.
I flipped the book open to the duplication page, and began reading through it, every single word. To my horror, I’d found what she was talking about. It was a small footnote, so faded you would notice it at a glance. Now that I knew it was there, I could make out what it said.

It is strictly forbidden for anypony, even alacorns, to perform the above conjuring. Produced dopplegangers have exhibited extreme emotional imbalances, which become more severe with the passing of time. To reiterate, NOPONY SHOULD PERFORM THIS SPELL.

There were not enough words in Equestria to describe how stupid I felt. I was so desperate for a companion, I never even considered that there could be consequences. My anxiety only worsened when I heard rapping at the door. 
“Stardust, if you’re there, would you mind unlocking the door?”
I couldn’t think of a plan. What if he already found my duplicate? How would I explain it? What if she did something? Eventually, I steeled myself, and put on my best poker face. I’ll deal with the situation as it comes.
I unlocked the door for Chi Chi, though it took me several attempts to grab it correctly. I had to get a hold of myself, or he’d know I was hiding something. When I finally got the door open for him, he looked as approachable as ever, but I still wanted to leave as soon as I could.
“How’re you holding up down here. I know it must get lonely at times, having only yourself to keep you company.” 
I let out as innocent a chuckle as I could. “You don’t know how right you are.” At least I hadn’t had to lie yet. I wondered how long I could keep that streak.
“I thought I heard you talking to yourself. I hope you’re not that desperate.” Just then, his tone changed, and so did the atmosphere in the room. “We don’t want last year to happen again.”
I may have been raised in nowhereville Trottsdam, but I kept up with Canterlot news. Still, I had no idea what he could have been referring to. There hadn’t any major scandals. Was it something that happened to him, I wonder. “What happened last year?”
Chi Chi took a deep sigh, and in an instant, he was back to his normal self. “It’s nothing to worry about. It won’t happen to you. Anyway, I was just checking up on you. Keep working hard.”
I needed a reason to leave and look for my duplicate. “I think I made go grab some lunch. I’m famished.”
“Good plan. I’d join you, but I’ve been snacking all day.” Thank Celestia for small miracles.
“That’s alright. I’ll get back here as soon as I can.” He gave me a nod, and was out the door. I meanwhile, was cramming the summoning book into my saddle bag. I’d need it on case the other me knew something else I didn’t know. As I bolted up the steps, passing a startled Chi Chi. He called out to me, but I just kept running. I had to find my duplicate, before her ‘emotional imbalance’ could do something really terrible.