What the Mirror Saw

by Seirhune

The Importance of Not Being an Idiot

“Principal Celestia?”

She looked up from her desk to see Flash Sentry nervously standing in her doorway with a sheaf of papers in his hand. With a cocked eyebrow and a small smile she waved him to the chair in front of her.

“What can I do for you, Flash Sentry?”

“Well….umm…I…I’m worried about Vice Principal Luna, ma’am.” Flash shifted a bit in his seat and looked down at the contents of his hands, which Celestia could now see were photographs. She nodded for him to continue, which he did, with an audible swallow.

“You see, we didn’t want to mention it earlier what with the excitement from the Fall Formal and I certainly didn’t want to say it to her face, but we’re worried that something is wrong with her because she couldn’t catch the frame job Sunset Shimmer tried to pull on Twilight.”

“From what I understand Shimmer doctored some photographs, Flash. I have heard she had acquired a good grasp of our technology, so I am not surprised she was able to alter photographs well enough to throw off my sister.” Celestia tried to take a peek at the likely photographs in Flash’s hands. Luna had given her a rough overview of the event and apologized, but she hadn’t gotten a chance to see the photos in question. She held out a hand in silent request and, somewhat red-faced, Flash handed them over and Celestia looked through them.

The silence grew long and oppressive. Flash wondered if escape was an option. He knew messengers bearing bad news sometimes didn’t have the best of ends. He closed his eyes as she flipped through the photos and corresponding evidence of tampering.

The silence ended with a sharp thud. He opened his eyes and saw the pictures piled neatly on the desk and a blank-faced principal nodding to him. He thought she maybe her forehead was a little red, but before he could add the small numbers together Principal Celestia spoke.

“Thank you for bringing this to my attention, Flash. I understand your concerns and will do what I can.”

Flash nodded thankfully and took that as a cue to beat feet back to class.

Celestia rose from her desk and quietly shut her door. She quietly got her jacket and quietly wadded it up and shoved her face into it. She quietly screamed…

“Glued on! GLUED! For pity’s sake!”

-------------------------------------------------------------------

Needless to say, Vice Principal Luna was quietly reassigned to a less challenging job at the Selenic Academy across town.

Comments

[ColdGoldLazarus]

Now, this one made sense. And oh, boy, did it make a lot of sense! Poor Luna...

Overall, this collection was a mixed bag; while being cryptic is not a bad thing, the first three 'chapters' went overboard and became downright indecipherable. I'd suggest giving them a second glance and either a rewrite or a little addition to clarify things a bit. As far as technical writing goes, though, you did just fine. Write more; I see good things in your future!

[Seirhune]

3796922
I admit to being specifically cryptic in the first 3. Sorry I was too cryptic! If you want an explanation for the first 3 I can give them, if you are interested.

For me, this was mostly an exercise in brevity, as my personal writing style usually will wander into inflated verbosity if I don't watch it. I think I was worried if I was less cryptic and more explanatory I'd ramble on forever.

I also admit that I may have sat on this for a week before having the moxie to actually submit it.

P.S. Also thanks for giving it a shot!

[ColdGoldLazarus]

3797009 That would be nice.

Ah, that makes sense. I myself tend to veer between too brief and too verbose, so I know how hard it can be to find a good middle ground.

Ah, huh. Well, I for one am glad you finally did!

No problem.

[Seirhune]

3797060
Spoiler Territory:

1) The first story is my take on Normal Norman, I suppose. The one human who isn't turned into a pony analogue at what becomes Canterlot High. The "Last Camelot High Stallion" was my hint that this was someone who remembered what the human school was before everything got weird, since Camelot would be what the name Canterlot riffs off of and "Stallion" because there's a great damn statue of a horse in front of the school.

2) Sunset Shimmer is actually a covert agent under Luna's employ. PS is code for Princess Selene (Luna), PH would have stood for Princess Helios (Celestia). Agent 2S being Agent SS or Sunset Shimmer. I thought perhaps she was on a recon mission and got tapped for some work in manufacturing a test for Princess Twilight at Celestia's behest, perhaps.

3) Instead of the Crystal Mirror sending someone to an alternate world, it manufactures a 'dreamspace' of sorts that allows a sort of mental test which is watched by those outside the Mirror. That's the reason Twilight sees everyone as human versions of ponies she knows, since her mind is manufacturing part of the space in which she is being tested/observed. But poor Spike, he followed her in! And he's a dog instead of a boy or young man. Thus the letter in Celestia's diary bemoaning the fact that her student sees her charge as a pet or lesser being. She's still kind to him, but it's still a failing. Thus Celestia's comment on sending Spike away from Twilight, so he can grow into someone who can command respect instead of being viewed as (and accepting!) a collar of inferiority. Ranger Command was my choice over something like the Royal Guards, because it would be sure to provide for the required distance.

See! Me spoiling it was almost as long as the stories themselves.

[StageQuill]

3797130 That is so awesome!

I assure you, I will not even throw fresh tomatoes at you.

What about cotton candy? That's much better than tomatoes!

Pinkie.

[Seirhune]

3797252
If sweet things must be thrown, I shall put down my preference for donuts.

[StageQuill]

3797270

I'll just pop down to Sugarcube Corner!

Pinkie, you only throw food at bad authors.

Even donuts????

Let's just throw flowers, darling. Good authors get flowers.

I WANT TO THROW DONUTS! Ooh! What about flower-shaped donuts? Or donuts have flour!

[Seirhune]

3797283
Just no powdered sugar please. I always inhale at the most inadvisable moment.

[StageQuill]

3797517

What about FROSTING?

[vullture]

3797130
well those were actually interesting topics. Now if only they were more clear, like had some setup or something explaining the codes or whos talking about what. Then it could definitely work while still being cryptic.

[Seirhune]

3798636
Slash Sentry: Flash Sentry's evil twin! He certainly should have a goatee.

There is something there....if only I could find it. Even if I find it, it will be silly. Wait...Slash Sentry is the lovechild of Flash and Sunset Shimmer! Bad shipping awaaaaaay!

Re Actual Criticism: Yeah it was cryptic. It wasn't supposed to be completely inscrutable (sorry), but it was. Curses (at myself)!

[Seirhune]

3812266
Mmmyep.

[BenRG]

What can I say except...
To the MOOOOOONNN!!!

[Starlight Nova]

What about the second one? What genre is that?

[Seirhune]

5565649
I don't really know how to answer that question. Spy stuff?