//------------------------------// // Mirrors, The First Face // Story: Ain't done with these F****** // by The Shade //------------------------------// I merrily made my way up to the front door, the ancient magic of dragons kept the castle floating and the expert architecture of Diamond Dogs made sure there weren't a nick out of place, the gems to avoid aging still adored the staircase and sent out a happy, purple light as they felt their rightful master walk to the throne again, I opened the door when something caught my attention. I opened the door. That's not good news, since it meant that someone entered my house while I was away, I slowly stalked down the narrow hallway and went into the first door on the left, my soldiers still stood there, like the day I left them, they looked vaguely humanoid but there were some key difference's, like the marks or the numbers I had tattoo'd into their skin, the sewed on legs, among other things. They were asleep, all my minions had a sapience and were allowed to leave if they so pleased, few did so, and those that did were never heard from again, I figured Celestia had them killed on sight because they're, according to her, 'abominations against nature' then she didn't believe me when I told her that they were actually intelligent, sapient and sentimental beings, and that it was rude to insult others just because they look different. I woke them up with a hug, it felt so good to be back, I saw my soldiers like family, and mourned each time they got hurt, swore revenge whenever they were killed and I did my best to patch them up when they came back from a battle, i've lost a total of twenty family members, as of now just six remained including me, Four of Clubs, Queen of Spades, Knight of Spades, Ace of Hearts, or as I like to call him, The Executioner, and King of Diamonds, we were all just one family now, and I had forbidden them all from fighting unless it was outmost necessary, it felt mean, but I don't know how I could handle another death of my friends or family, I would probably instantly reach The Black Rose, which is what caused the death of my two sister's to begin with. I myself are the Queen of Hearts, obviously. They woke up with a shock, and almost instantly started hugging me back as I cried on them, i'm not a mindless beast as most ponies make me out to be, I may be mentally unstable, but I wouldn't call myself insane, immoral perhaps, but not insane. They patted my back and broke the hug, they were conscious about the time that's passed, but they didn't have to endure it, it's like when you take a long sleep and instantly knows it's been almost a entire day. "Alice, what's wrong? Was it Luna again? I always knew she'dd end up making you cry, and none the less after they turned you into a statue, I can't imagine how lonely you must've been," he put his giant hand on my shoulders, I feel like I should mention that he's 8'7 tall and i'm just 5'6. "It's okay, Ace, it wasn't that bad, I even met Jack in the Mindscape during my imprisonment, apparently he suffered a similar fate to me, feel bad for him, knowing that he didn't have family to come back to." I weren't that close to my family back on... Earth I think the world was called, anyways, I weren't very close to them, mostly spent my time alone, that's how I suffered through the imprisonment. "Whilst this reunion is very touching, i'm sad we have a intruder-" their eyebrows shot up in surprise."-I would like to find him, or her, unharmed if you could, if she's already injured contact me instantly and bring him or her to the medical ward, it's in the far left teapot, in case you've forgotten" I let it sink in for a while "I'll be in my chambers if you need me, you know the drill." Namely, if someone knocks at the door, tell them we don't want what they're selling, and if someone tries to break in whoever that captures the intruder's allowed to do whatever they want to them, the reason i'm actually not ordering them to torture whoever broke is due to the fact that this place looks like it's been abandoned for thirteen hundred years, it could be some adventurer searching for treasure or loot, or fame I guess. I slammed the door with a heart shaped ax as a handle open and entered the room, searching about I found what I was looking for, a green and golden chest. Opening it I noticed several things missing, The Thorns of Misery, my precious Ring of Summoning, that bitch who took it better kept it safe, or I might never see Jack again, I also noticed how my Dagger of Curses were missing, my mind draw a blank instantly as I slowly shut the chest, hearing the clicking sound of several locks engaging at once. "Dear gods, that bastard's got no idea what he's getting himself into." you see, my Dagger of Curses does not only curse whoever it cuts, it also curses the user, which means that someone could have taken it, and fallen ill in here, just days after I got imprisoned, which meant that they spent over a thousand years here, writhing in pain. "Death would be a mercy" I muttered as I sat down on my bed, it eliciting a slight groan under my weight. "Shut up, i'm not fat." I told the bed, the groaning instantly ceased and a slight giggle replaced it. Sighing, I fell back on the bed, letting my damages repair themselves whilst I waited for my family to find the intruder, normally Diamond always find them first, but the other's have outdone him more than once. I thought back, to the first time I actually met him. (1360 years ago.) I finished wiping my blade on his scales, several smaller dragons watched in horror as their leader fell, the red of blood clashing with his cyan, and with a thud the great wyvern hit the ground. I smiled as I walked up to the dragons and diamond dogs, with a happy tone, I opened my mouth and bellowed "You are now all under my control, I am your new alpha, anyone who wishes to challenge me, step forward." They all went tight lipped at that and nervously shuffled away from me, all except one big Diamond Dog, he wore very heavy armoring, a giant mace was slung around his back, he stood taller then most teenage dragons, and had darker fur than the other Diamond Dogs. So, this was the Beta, then? My question was answered as he unsheathed the giant warhammer and pointed it at me, seemingly straining a little for holding at one hand. "As my right due to position of Beta in this pack, I challenge you, Alice, The Lady of Madness, to a duel for the rightful position of Alpha." He didn't sound annoying to listen to either, which were always a plus. Should I..? Why not... "I accept, Beta." He then charged. (Present) I woke up when someone knocked at the door, groggily I sat up and rubbed my eyes, the mascara still didn't get all gooey, even after a thousand years. The knocking continued. "Do you see a sock on that door or something, Ace? Just open it already." He slowly opened the door and had to crouch past it, lest he hit his head on the frame. "We've found the intruder, she's in the medical ward, it seems like she's only been here for a few years, I would recommend to check up on her, we can do much with our medical equipment, but we can't cure curses." I nodded and he silently left the room, stalking off to god knows where. Limbering up I noticed that a familiar weight had settled in my hat, it was The Pepper Grinder, as of now it would probably be slightly worn with time, but within this house all items find their way back to me, and this was no exception. I frowned as I recalled them burning my Hobby Horse. (100 Years Ago, Third Person.) Celestia made her way to the burial chamber, following and trusting her memory to lead her there, she passed guards and servants alike that bowed to her respectively. Walking outside the room she had designed for her sister's made her heart ache, and thinking back of how it happened made the air around her boil with heat. With a small snarl she teleported to the burial chamber, not feeling like walking anymore, and with a frown she lifted the lid of a grave, labelled 'Artifacts of the Lost' inside of it was a few swords, a shield, some small gems and a silvery pony head attached to a pole. Pain shot through her leg as she remembered her last encounter with Alice, how The Lady of Madness had almost killed her and Luna, she called this item The Hobby Horse, and any pleas for Celestia not to take it was left unheard. She pulled it out with a frown and looked at it, the unicorn head looked like it were mad at her for locking it's master in stone. "It's time to finally grant you peace, Luna, i'm sorry it took so long." Indeed, the nine hundred years without Luna had been almost complete anarchy, she was afraid that Discord would break out again, but it seemed like fate smiled upon her those years alone. She teleported into the garden, in front of a certain statue, it stood tall and proud with a stoic expression on it's face, for most passing by it would look more like an absurd statue rather then the Lady of Madness. Laying the Hobby Horse on the ground in front of the statue that acted like Alice's prison, she smiled a little as she thought about how it would make her feel, to see her precious weapon burn. Deciding to risk it, she opened a small, mental channel to Alice. "Urgh, i'm so bored, and I miss Jack, I bet Celestia thinks that he's out there somewhere, if I could I would laugh, after all Miss Sunbutt probably killed him or he suffered the same fate as me." The voice that projected inside of her mind almost caused Celestia to flinch, but she stood her ground. "Alice, Lady of Madness, Deception and Torture, over the years you've killed more beings then I can possibly count, most were done with this weapon" She gestured to the unicorn head. "- and thus, it shall burn before your very eyes." She lift the weapon from the ground, scaling it up to eye level, and smiled as Alice begged her not to. Then, it burned. Alice's wails of horror and agony caused Celestia to flinch and drop the weapon, suddenly remembering a thing Alice told her before she went insane. "The Hobby Horse, it's a momento from home, y'know? It's the kinda thing you keep no matter what." The damage was, however, done as the silver melted and the wood turned to ashes, this being the one and only time she's even heard of Alice being anything but calm and collected, and the promises of death and eternal suffering, although she'll never admit it, horrified her. Cutting of the mental link she instantly teleported into her room, bent one knee in front of a statue labelled "Faust the First." "Forgive me Faust, for I have sinned..." (Present.) I made my way to the medical ward and slowly pushed the door open, noticing Diamond and Clubs ironically playing cards. Silently stalking over to the injured pony, the first thing I noticed was how... Indiana Jones she looked, she even had the whip, a compass adored her flank and she slept with a frown over her face, on the table next to the pegasus I saw a small bag filled of stuff, most of it were actually mine. Thief... or adventurer? the pony started groaning, probably in pain from the curse. Making my way to her side I searched her body for a wound, none, okay, this'll be easy. Putting a hand on her head I dispelled the curse, and the only time i've ever seen a expression that even matched hers were when I found out that Starswirl didn't die. That expression changed into confusion as she woke up, she probably felt a dull ache over her entire body, since according to Ace, and if he's right (which he usually is.) this poor girl's been stuck here for years. Her eye's turned into a look of horror as she saw me, I responded by a concerned furrowing of my eyes. "Are you okay?" I put a hand to her head, I understand why she was freaking out, never seen a creature quite like me. She calmed down as I sent healing energy through her body, a relaxed sigh escaped her lips and she looked at me. "Y-yeah... Just gotta learn not to touch things... labelled 'Cursed'" She attempted to laugh but coughed due to her dry throat. "Clubs, go and get our guest some water, hell bring a whole pitcher." She gave a small salute and scattered out of the room. I smiled down on the pegasus, she truly looked adorable. "Tell me, miss, what's your name?" I asked her, I think I recognized her from somewhere... Can't remember where though.. "I'm Daring, Daring Do, what's your name?" She's probably still cautious about me, not that I can blame her, I think it would be best if I removed the sword from my hip, but I couldn't do that here. "I'm Alice, and Miss Do, I must say, you remind of someone I met a while back..." That's true, she reminded me a lot of Wind Runner, also an adventurer, maybe it's her ancestor? "Perhaps you've seen me on the cover of my book series?" I shrugged, perhaps. Clubs came back with a large pitcher of water and a glass, I set them down next to Daring on the table. "So, Daring, what's your story? And more importantly, what are you doing in my house..?" *** Dear god that was taxing to write, I planned to show a lot of backstory in this chapter, but I didn't get out nearly as much as I wanted to, and i'm sorry for the late update, but it was my brother's birthday yesterday.