//------------------------------// // Ch. 2-7: A Midnight Mirror // Story: Seeking A Quiet Afternoon // by Tired Old Man //------------------------------// Luna's tower was oddly quiet as Celestia carefully ascended the steps leading upwards. She was certain the tower would be filled with the same buzzing sound in the castle, but was surprised to discover that wasn't the case. Had Lu taken on all the changelings in her tower and won? It wasn't an impossible notion...and if so, she would be thankful for not having to deal with any more changelings for now. As Celestia approached Luna's bedroom, she noticed that there were no guards present. ...come to think of it, she hadn't seen a single guard anywhere in or around the castle since she was attacked at the main doorway. Where were her Sun Guards and Luna's Moon Guards? She barged in through Luna's bedroom door, not even bothering to telekinetically open it like she had before. The sight before her was terrifying. Luna was unconscious, encased in a sickly green cocoon on the floor of the tower. She immediately rushed into the room, intent on slicing a hole in the cocoon with her horn to free her sister. However, a green bolt of magic struck her from behind and sent her towards Luna's balcony. The bolt was very powerful, and threatened to bring the Princess to unconsciousness as the green magic sent spasms of pain through her body. Chrysalis laughed as her body slipped out from the shadows near the bedroom door. "Hello again, Celestia." "Chrysalis," Celestia spat. "Why are you here?" "Why? Isn't it obvious? I wish to take over Canterlot once again!" She stood on her back hooves, wings buzzing to hold her up as she cheered for herself. Celestia rose to her hooves, finally able to shake off the remains of the bolt spell. "I won't let that happen, Chrysalis. I will protect my ponies!" "I very much doubt that. You couldn't even take me on last time I was here!" Chrysalis wore a very smug grin on her face, which only served to anger Celestia. "Besides," Chrysalis added, "I had thought Shining's love was powerful...but Luna's love for you was incredible." Celestia's eyes opened wide as she absentmindedly looked upward towards the sky. Luna's barrier was still active, and showed no signs of being broken outside of the incident earlier today. "How did you get past her barrier?" She asked. "I had...help," Chrysalis admitted, a tone of bitterness present as she spoke. "However, who helped me won't matter when I'm finished with you!" Chrysalis fired another bolt at Celestia, but this time the Princess was prepared as she took to the sky and dodged the shot. Before Chrysalis could fire again, she was tackled to the ground by Celestia. Celestia raised a hoof and brought it down on Chrysalis's face, only for it to miss by less than an inch as Chrysalis struck the hoof coming down with her own, deflecting the blow. As soon as she did so, she fired another bolt at Celestia from point-blank range. It didn't miss. Celestia was blasted off of Chrysalis and hit the ceiling from the force of the shot. She had recovered and was now flying in the air. "It seems I've underestimated your tenacity, Princess Celestia," Chrysalis spoke as she too took to the air, her wings buzzing as she lifted off the ground. "However, I won't let you stop my plans again, or anypony else for that matter!" "I've underestimated you too, Chrysalis. That almost doomed my kingdom last time. I won't make that same mistake again!" Both of them flew towards each other and collided hard, sending a shock wave that rippled throughout the castle. ------------------------------ Fluttershy and Rarity had made their way over to another hallway filled with bedrooms. They had opened the first door and spotted nopony inside when the shockwave hit. "Eep!" Fluttershy yelped as a loud boom echoed through the castle hallways. She hid feebly behind Rarity, who sighed at her actions. "Fluttershy, now isn't the time to be scared of everything you hear, dear." She slowly inched her way out from behind her. "I'm sorry, Rarity. It's just that changelings are so...so..." "...scary?" Rarity asked. "Yes..." "I know dear, I don't like those brutes either, but we need to find our friends. There's nothing we can't do when we're all together, so have faith. We'll find them." This seemed to lighten Fluttershy's burdens as she managed a weak smile. "Okay, Rarity." They reached the second door in the hallway and opened it, only to find nothing in it. However, they heard a small explosion go off...and the sound of a kazoo? Both mares yelled at the same time, though Fluttershy's was less a yell and more like somepony telling a secret to another far away from them. "Pinkie!" Both mares scrambled towards the sound, and heard laughter coming from a large area Rarity recognized as the dining room. The scene before them was almost worthy of Discord's approval. Pinkie was firing her cannon at clusters of other Pinkies, Applejacks, and Rarities while a blue streak was zipping around in the air taking on Fluttershy's, Twilights, and Rainbow Dashes in the air. Pinkie noticed them immediately, and as she fired off another burst of confetti at a group of Applejacks that got too close, she screamed out to them. "Hi real Rarity and Fluttershy! You're late to the biggest party EVER!" The real Rainbow Dash punched a Twilight in the face, and stopped to greet the two. She knew she could trust Pinkie's judgement on them despite the many look-alikes in the dining room. "Great timing, you two! Care to join in on the fun and lend a helping hoof?" Fluttershy was still scared, but tensed her body as she prepared her Stare for action. Rarity responded by pulling out a hoof full of gems before levitating them around her. Rarity spoke words that need not be spoken, but she did so anyway. "Gladly, girls." ------------------------------------ "Mender, what was that?!" The fillies almost screamed as a shockwave shook the castle. Mender took a deep breath before responding. "With any luck, something we don't have to deal with on our way out of here." Unfortunately, the main entrance was a no-go. He heard another swarm of changelings coming from the hallway opposite his from the throne room, and realized the sound was coming closer. There weren't many places to hide in there to get past them, so he had to double back and take the fillies toward the hallway that held his room. With any luck, that hallway might lead them to another exit that would at least get them outside. To keep the girls safe, he had sheathed Celle back in the leather holster. As much as he wanted to protect the fillies, he didn't want to be responsible for any errant cuts that came their way that would cause harm to come to them. Mender had made sure that they all kept quiet as they moved. The fillies were huddled together with their sides pressing against each other, following closely behind Mender as he led them through the dark hallways. Mender knew that deep down he was as scared as they were, but he had to keep calm for them. Celestia knows he would be helpless if he were to panic right now. They came across another branch path that seemed to lead to another parallel hallway, a thin wall separating the two. He heard a noise come from the other side, and stopped. He turned to the fillies. "Wait here, and don't touch anything." They quietly nodded, so Mender broke off to investigate. He sneaked up to the entrance and stuck his head around. A changeling looked right back at him. He quickly removed his head from the corner and heavily prayed he didn't actually see that. He peeked his head around again... ...only for him to stare at himself. He jumped from the wall in a small fit of panic, only to find that 'he' had done the same on the other side. Was this actually a mirror? Mender slowly approached, and this mirror reflected his actions precisely. He thoughtfully stroked his chin, then turned to check his flank in the mirror. Yep, there was his cutie mark, plain as day. This was surreal. He swore he saw a changeling look back at him earlier. Now this was just plain confusing. If this really was a mirror, he needed a way to find out. He decided to try something ridiculous. He stood up on his back hooves and proudly declared, "I'm king of the castle!" The mirror duplicated everything exactly right down to his mouth movements., though he wasn't sure he heard another voice. Damn, that didn't work. Meanwhile, the fillies had slowly approached as soon as he shouted, only for a most confusing scene to be in front of them as Mender appeared to be shouting at a mirror. "What's Mender doing?" Sweetie Belle asked. "I dunno...I think he lost his marbles," Apple Bloom responded. "Your mother is a liar and a cheat!" He shouted while pointing accusingly at 'himself.' Again his movements were copied. They were good...real good. "Mender? Is everything okay?" He turned his head, as did the mirror reflection. "Just checking something, fillies. I'm just about finished here." He turned back to the reflection and tried to look for another detail. Everything looked fine, he didn't seem to be missing anything...wait a minute. If this was a mirror...then where was Celle? He grinned widely. "Gotcha." In a flash, he brandished Celle still in its military knife form and swung at 'his' cracked horn, cleaving it off cleanly. The illusion broken, the changeling was on the floor writhing in pain. Mender smiled as he felt proud of himself. That pride faded as soon as he heard buzzing wings come from past the 'mirror' hallway. His eyes shot wide open as he screamed to the fillies a single word. "RUN!" They tore past the parallel hallway entrance just in time before a swarm of about twelve or so changelings came pouring out of it. They were gaining quickly. The fillies weren't able to cover as much ground as Mender could, and he knew it. Thankfully, a corner was coming up and they all rounded it and saw a large doorway ahead that led to a wide open ballroom space. "Fillies, in there, NOW!" he screamed. He got no response outside of heavy breathing as they kept his adjusted pace. Good, they didn't need to talk, they needed to not waste energy and time responding to him. They all made it through the entrance before Mender stopped and brandished Celle in gladius form once again. However, something worse scared him as the buzzing stopped...and turned into a stampede of hooves. What rounded the corner were copies of Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo. A swarm of Cutie Mark Crusaders. Mender froze in place at the sight. His ears rung as he failed to hear the real Crusaders' screams to get him to move. This was one of his worst nightmares turned reality. He shook his head, desperately thinking of some easy out to tell him this was all just a bad dream. He considered pinching his forehoof with his teeth, as silly as it seemed. However, he managed to snap back to reality when he saw the evil grins on the fake Crusaders' faces. As much as those fillies have put him through Tartarus and back again, they wouldn't dare hold such menacing looks about them. Not to him. "Fillies, I need you to find an exit and leave. I'll take care of these changelings." "Mender, no! You told us you'd get us out of here!" Scootaloo objected. "No, I told you I'd get you out of the castle. There should be a door leading outside here." He looked around for such a door, and found it, gesturing to it with his free hoof. "Leave through there." "But-" "NOW, Crusaders! That's an order!" Mender yelled...then a silly idea hit him in order to ensure their cooperation. "...or are you three not Cutie Mark Crusader Soldiers?" Any trace of fear left their eyes as they all shouted, "Yes sir, Mender!" before running off to the door. Mender sighed before readying himself for the swarm of fake Crusaders. Some of them had transformed into Menders now, but he didn't care. The fillies would get out of here. He would ensure that happened. --------------------------------- Twilight had met up with Applejack just a few minutes ago. Applejack was less wary of Twilight than the other way around when they found each other, the most obvious reason being that she was the Element of Honesty and knew that was her real friend right from the start. Both of them were on the other side of the parallel hallway when they heard a stampede through the wall...and Mender's voice. The mares didn't hesitate one bit. They tore down the hallway as fast as they could manage, Twilight taking to the air while Applejack galloped on the ground. As soon as they saw the point where the parallel hallways connected, they saw a changeling writhing on the ground in agony, its horn sliced clean off. Both wondered how that happened considering they heard Mender just a few moments ago. Did he find one of the guard's swords and use it against the changelings? They would rather find out for themselves first before thinking too hard upon it. They ran through the parallel hallway entrance and back down the direction where they heard the stampede. Both of them hoped they wouldn't be far behind, and they wouldn't be wrong once they rounded the next corner. The distance between them and the chaos they saw was long, but they could still make out a few details. A crowd of Menders and Crusaders were openly fighting in the middle of a ballroom. Screams of pain were ever constant as one of the Crusaders or Menders fell, turning into a changeling with a missing horn or a wing. However, there were at least nine active bodies fighting in that room, and amid the battle it was still very difficult to spot the real Mender. Twilight wondered for a moment why they saw the Crusaders fighting until she realized he must have brought them along with him. Weren't they with Fluttershy last she checked? Why did Mender have them now?! A cold feeling gripped her heart as she realized Applejack was thinking the same thing when she looked over to her. Her eyes were filled with fear, mostly for Apple Bloom's well being, but for the other Crusaders as well. If they were still in that room, both of them had to act fast. Both of them burst into the ballroom without a moment more of hesitation. Twilight cast a powerful telekinetic spell that grabbed everypony in the room still fighting, and froze them all in place, leaving them unable to talk for now. She then categorically arranged the ponies left. Three menders, and two of each Crusader remained as she aligned them all in a single-file line, all facing towards her and Applejack. "So...how do you want to do this, Twi?" Applejack asked. Twilight thought for a moment how she wanted to go about this. "Ask them a question first. Start with the Menders. I'll release the hold on them long enough so they can answer your question." "And if they lie?" "Do what you do best, AJ." AJ smirked, and the Menders all gulped in unison. She walked up to the first Mender as Twilight released her grasp on him. "Have you met my brother, Big Macintosh?" she asked. "Yes," Mender responded. AJ turned around, and bucked the first Mender hard in the groin. No scream was heard, but they immediately transformed back into a changeling and fell to the ground, completely disabled by the kick. She moved to the second Mender next. "What did you get mad at Fluttershy for back at the train station in Ponyville?" "I refuse to answer!" Mender stated obviously, and somewhat angrily. Applejack smirked. That IS something Mender would say, but it was still a lie to her. The second Mender received the first's exact same painful kick, and another changeling was revealed. Twilight released her hold on the third Mender, who was sweating gallons. They were very much unnerved by what had happened to the first two changelings. Applejack gave him a long look, and realized he had taken much more of a beating than the other Menders so far. There were even bite marks on his legs, probably from the Crusaders next to him. Applejack smirked. This was the real Mender...but she still wanted to ask him a question. "Where's my sister and the other Crusaders?" "I sent them outside through a door back there to give them time to escape! The ones next to me are all fakes!" Honesty at last. She knew without a doubt this was the real Mender now. "Take down the other changelings, Twi. This is the real Mender," she stated simply. Twilight obliged by raising the six 'crusaders' up in the air high, then slamming all of them down on the ground hard enough to break their disguise and knock them all out. Mender wiped his head with a forehoof. "Oh, thank Celesti-" At that moment, Applejack bucked Mender in the crotch hard enough to split one of her apple trees in half. If Mender could scream, it would have reached every room in the castle, out through the exterior gardens, and a small distance out into the town outside the gates. The force of the kick alone should have sent him clean through the roof and into Luna's barrier, and yet he still stood there. "-aaaaugh......." was all that Mender could squeak out from his mouth before he collapsed onto the ground. "Applejack!" Twilight yelled. "What was that for?! You said that was the real Mender!" "It is," she said with a smug smile on her face. "That was for lettin' the Crusaders outta his sight." Twilight simply facehoofed in response.