When a broken girl comes to a new school, she isn't expecting much. Until people start dying under extremely mysterious circumstances. Can the Trickster solve this mystery?
In loving memory of Robert Morrison, aka MythrilMoth.
After her family is torn apart by tragedy, a young teenage girl winds up in the Velvet Room. Intrigued by her subconscious desire to reach out to others even as she withdraws into her shell, Igor steps in to aid this young woman. Seeing a chance for redemption of past failure in helping her.
His timing could not be better. As people have begun to mysteriously die. Always in odd locations with mirror shards imbedded in their bodies somewhere.
What is the cause of this? Murder? Strange accidents?
After accidentally entering a world of mirrors and saving someone, the young woman forms a team with them and their peers called the Furies to delve into this mystery. Along the way punishing those who would exploit those beneath them. But who is the ultimate culprit in these deaths?
And can the Furies stop them before it's too late?
She slowly opened her eyes, looking around herself. She appeared to be aboard a train in a fog so thick nothing could be seen of the outside area, aside from the platform the train sat beside. The car she was in looked very posh and fancy, with the walls, ceiling, carpet and furniture, her soft chair included, being colored blue. To her right was a well-stocked bar, and to her left was a bookshelf and wardrobe. Hanging from the ceiling above the center of the car was a crystal chandelier. And right below it was a nice mahogany desk. She was seated on one side of it, and she wasn’t alone.
Seated across from her was a man in a black pinstriped suit with long yet elegant looking limbs and fingers. His head was balding and silver of hair, though his jagged eyebrows maintained a black color. Protruding from his face was a very long, pointed nose, and his eyes were closed, fingers twined beneath it with his elbows resting on the desk in a contemplative pose. Beneath his fingers, she could see a glimmer of a grin on his face that showed his teeth.
To his right next to a lectern with a thick book resting on it stood a young man she pegged as looking about her age. He was dressed in a blue and white suit, his hair was long and silver, and his eyes were a piercing yellow. He stood straight, feet together with his arms held behind his back, bringing to mind the image of a butler. A rather handsome butler at that.
Her gaze was drawn back to the seated man as he opened his eyes, which were bloodshot as though from lack of sleep. And at last, he spoke, his voice serene and carrying the weight of years behind it. “Welcome to the Velvet Room.”
(Cue Aria of the Soul)
“My, such an interesting individual. Many different types have passed through this Velvet Room, but none with eyes quite like yours.” He looked at her intently, with a hint of what might have been concern. “Young lady, are you well?”
Was she well? Such a simple question on paper, yet with an answer that could hardly be put into words as she glanced between him and the cute butler, wondering if asking about his nose would offend him. He seemed to notice the movement of her eyes and took it as an indication that she was cognizant.
“Well, you seem able to comprehend the world around you. That is good,” the long-nosed man said. “Still. This is most unusual.”
“Unusual?” she asked in a slow, methodical tone that seemed almost exhausted and weary of everything, fitting quite well with the way she listlessly sat slumped in her chair, happy for its soft, comfortable back.
He nodded. “Yes. You see, this place exists between dream and reality, mind and matter. It is a place that only those who are bound by a contract may enter. That we have met here means that our destinies are intertwined.”
“Intertwined how, Mr…”
“Ah! Forgive me. Where are my manners?” he asked. “My name is Igor. I am delighted to make your acquaintance. I am the caretaker of this Velvet Room. Might I know your name in return?”
She blinked slowly, a hand lifting from its spot on her armrest as though it were made of lead and gently gripping her head. “My… My name…” It was like there was a fog on her mind. It seemed on the tip of her tongue, just beyond reach.
“Take your time, young lady,” Igor said gently, his smile never fading, but coming off as comforting now. “You are perfectly safe in this place.”
She closed her eyes and delved deep, reaching for her name. And slowly, ever so slowly, the fog cleared, and it came back to her. “My name is… Twilight Sparkle.”
Igor nodded as he let out a small hum. “And now, perhaps we can learn more about the mysterious circumstances that brought you here.” A deck of cards appeared on the desk between them. “Will you allow me to read your fortune, Miss Sparkle?”
She blinked at the appearance of the deck. Had it always been there? Dream logic was weird. “I don’t really believe in fortune telling and horoscopes. But I guess I can humor you.”
Igor chuckled as he gently waved his hand, three cards shooting off the top into a row before her. “Splendid! Each reading is done with the same cards, but the results are always different. This first card represents your past.” The first card flipped, revealing a cloaked reaper atop a pale horse. “Death. It represents both physical death and transformation. Your life has taken a drastic turn and set you on the path to metamorphosis. You are no longer who you were before.”
Twilight looked away from him as she shut her eyes tightly, trying desperately not to cry as the memories started bubbling up. Damn subconscious! Why did it have to bring that up?!
“Ah. A recent incident,” Igor noted. “Still a fresh wound. I am truly sorry for your loss. Whatever it was.”
Twilight dried whatever tears formed and slowly composed herself, taking a number of deep breaths while doing so. Opening her eyes, she nodded for him to continue.
Igor nodded in turn. “The next card represents your present.” The center card flipped, revealing an old man with a lantern and staff standing alone. “The Hermit. Your loss has led you to isolate yourself, cutting yourself off from others. Even when surrounded by people, you are alone. However, your being here is perhaps a sign that on some level, your soul begs for the solitude to end.”
Another bullseye. She hadn’t talked to people in almost a year. Not since that day. Really Twilight was just going through the motions of everyday life, not truly engaging.
“Having lived through such tragedy, what might your future bring?” Igor wondered as the third card flipped. “Ah! Well, this is truly a surprising twist!”
Twilight looked at the card in confusion. It depicted a boy clutching a bright red flag riding a horse before a row of sunflowers, the sun shining and watching from above.
“The Sun,” Igor explained. “It represents clarity, personal growth, playfulness, and self-acceptance.” He regarded Twilight with a soft smile. “It would seem that despite your life’s tragic turn, your future is one where you may learn something of yourself and find true happiness.”
True happiness… Self-acceptance… Playfulness… For the first time, life seemed to flare within her, and her impassive, uncaring gaze changed. Her posture straightened, her grip on the armrests of her seat tightened, and her eyes narrowed, blazing with fire and fury as her mouth set into a scowl to accompany her glare. “What kind of Buddhist bullshit is that?!” she demanded; her voice full of rage that until now had been buried beneath her malaise.
Despite her outburst and mood swing, Igor and the butler were unperturbed. “Oh?” Igor asked her. His tone indicating a desire for her to elaborate.
Twilight shuddered in anger for several more moments before it all seemed to melt away, and she once more slumped exhausted into her chair, as though wondering to herself what point that anger had served. What advantage or boon it bought her. She sighed. “I just… I just don’t see happiness in my future. My life was good. I was content. I was happy. And then it all came crashing down when my entire world was yanked out from under me.”
Igor closed his eyes, another contemplative hum leaving him. “That is unfortunate indeed. It may be hard to believe, given your circumstances. But I truly believe that it is far too soon for you to give up.” He opened his eyes and looked at her intently. “Just now, when you momentarily stirred to life, you reminded me of someone I met long ago. He too was uprooted by unfair circumstances, thrust into a position where he thought himself powerless.”
Twilight looked at Igor, and thought he looked… almost regretful. Though her magenta eyes were back to looking near lifeless, there was curiosity in them. “Did you help him with it?” To her surprise, Igor shook his head sorrowfully.
“No. I did not aid him on his journey,” Igor said. “Or rather… I was unable to. All I could do was send someone to act as my proxy. But even so, I bore witness to his journey from beginning to end. It was difficult, and at times even seemed hopeless.” Igor finally smiled again. “But in the end, that young man overcame every obstacle placed before him and found his sunrise. And he did not do it alone. He had to open his heart to others. Let them resonate with him. And with them by his side, he found success.”
Igor closed his eyes again and sighed. “Though everything worked out, it has always bothered me that I could not aid him properly. But perhaps I have now been offered a chance for redemption, as it were.”
“What do you mean?” Twilight asked, some trepidation entering her voice.
“That you are here means that your life is about to take another drastic turn,” Igor explained. “Enter into a contract, and you will begin a journey that could change the course of the world and lead you to enlightenment.” He flicked his wrist and the next card shot from the top of the deck, landing between Twilight and the previous three cards. “You are in the perfect position,” the card flipped and revealed a man with a bindle stick and a dog, “to undertake your very own Fool’s Journey.”
She looked between Igor and the card. It was like he knew that card was next in the stack somehow. “What are the terms?” she asked nervously.
“Only that you take full responsibility for all of your actions,” Igor replied as the cards vanished. “Do this, and I can offer my aid. And my promise to stand by you until your journey reaches its conclusion.” He extended his hand to her, still gently smiling. “What is your choice, Miss Sparkle?”
Twilight stared at his offered hand, her mind running a mile a minute as she thought about everything they’d spoken of. This was just a dream. A very crazy, very vivid dream. But nonetheless, a dream. She would wake up, and her life would still be the same. Nothing would be different or change.
And what if it can?
What if this is real?
She started a bit. That voice. It sounded like hers yet wasn’t quite hers.
Accept the deal.
He can be trusted.
She gulped at the voice’s words. But… She decided to take that leap of faith. Slowly, she raised her arm, grasping Igor’s hand and shaking it. “I… I agree to the terms of the contract.”
Suddenly, the train lurched forward, startling Twilight, and began to pull away from the platform, beginning its journey through the fog as she released Igor’s hand. “We’re moving?”
“Ah. It seems we are at last on our way,” Igor commented before glancing to the butler. “Ah! I have neglected to introduce my assistant.”
The butler stepped forward and put his right hand to his chest, bowing respectfully to Twilight. “My name is Victor, Miss Sparkle. I too am a resident of this place, and a servant of its guests.” Reaching into his breast pocket, Victor produced a blue and white key, placing it on the desk before Twilight. “This key will allow you to return to the Velvet Room when the door reveals itself to you.”
Twilight nodded and slowly took the key, placing it in her jacket pocket. “Thank you, Victor.”
Victor nodded and gently caressed her cheek, a gesture of comfort that felt so familiar to her. “You are welcome, Miss Sparkle.” He then stepped back to his place by the lectern, the train’s whistle blowing.
“I will elaborate on our services at a later date,” Igor said. “For now, our time is ending. Until next we meet, Miss Sparkle.” As he said those words, the room faded away into darkness.
(end song)
Twilight’s eyes shot open. She was back in the car with Cadance. They had traveled a fair distance while she slept. They were now entering Canterlot City proper. She sighed a bit as she looked out the window, watching the scenery flash by. Her thoughts turned sour and the optimism in the dream bleed away.
“Oh! You’re awake.” Twilight glanced over at the driver’s seat, where Cadance was giving her a small smile as they sat at a red light. “We’re coming into Canterlot City now. How did you sleep?”
Twilight looked back out the window. “Alright I guess,” she answered as they started moving again. “Had a really weird dream though.”
“Do you want to talk about it?” Cadance asked. “We’ve still got a while before we get to our new house.”
Twilight thought about it, and then shook her head. “No. I’m not really interested in talking about anything at all.”
“Alright,” Cadance said with a tone of sadness as she fell silent to focus on her driving, leaving Twilight to her own thoughts.
“Guess it really was all just a dream,” Twilight thought to herself, beginning to reach into her jacket pocket for her phone. “Oh well. I guess it really was too good to be tr-“ Her thoughts were cut off as she felt something brush against her finger when she grabbed her phone. Something small and made of metal. It couldn’t be.
She grabbed the object and pulled it from her pocket. There, sitting in her palm, was that same blue and white key Victor had handed her in the dream. But then… That would mean… Twilight gripped the key tightly, her until now glazed over eyes starting to light up as a spark flickered within her, becoming a small flame. A flame of hope. It had been real. Igor. Victor. The Velvet Room. They were real. And that meant Igor would help her. She had agreed to take responsibility for all of her actions and decisions. “I have agency in this world. I can build something new.” Putting the key back in her pocket with that thought in her mind, she relaxed again in her seat. And for the first time in nearly a year, her mouth curled into a ghost of a smile.
Twilight looked up at the house as Cadance pulled into the driveway. It was a two-story house with white walls, a blue roof, and matching shudders with a well-made lawn. Just like her brother. As Cadance pulled into the garage next to her brother’s blue car and the garage door began closing behind them, she saw at the back wall something covered by a tarp. She took a deep breath and looked away from it as she got out of the car. She lacked the courage to look under the tarp.
She followed Cadance into the house, where a young girl rushed to her and hugged her tightly around her midsection, nearly knocking her off her feet. The girl had hair that was light cerise and grayish violet with light arctic blue highlights, and she looked up at her with light opal-colored eyes. Her niece, Flurry Heart. She was wearing a simple white dress with black pants.
As Flurry smiled at her, Twilight gave a small smile of her own and gently patted her head, giving her a warm hello before her gaze turned up to the kitchen, where she smelled coffee brewing. Shining Armor must have been hard at work still. He was sitting at the table with a number of files in front of him, his moderate cerulean and sapphire blue hair with dark phthalo blue streaks was messy. His slacks and button-down shirt wrinkled, and his cerulean eyes looked both tired and frustrated.
It was in sharp contrast to Cadance. Whose dark pink suit dress was well kept and tastefully hugged her generous figure. Her violet and rose hair streaked with gold was tied in a bun and her light purple eyes were accented by arctic blue eyeshadow. Cadance went over to her husband and hugged him, gently kissing his cheek to pull him from his work.
Looking up, he saw his sister and smiled. Getting up from the table he went over to her and hugged her close, exchanging greetings. “Your stuff is upstairs in your new room. Second to last door on the right. We know you like your privacy, so we made sure you have your own bathroom.”
“Any luck, Shiny?” Twilight asked as she pulled away from him.
Shining Armor shook his head. “No. Seems like I’m being stonewalled at every turn. But I’m not giving up. I will find whoever did it.”
“Don’t work too hard, okay?” Twilight asked, pointing out his disheveled appearance.
“I’ll try not to,” he agreed.
“I’ll get lunch ready,” Cadance said. “Why don’t you hang out with Flurry until then, Twilight? We still have a while before our appointment with Canterlot Academy’s principal.”
Twilight agreed and went with Flurry, who took her hand and led her aunt upstairs to her room. Which turned out to be right across from Twilight’s own. It was about what she expected from a seven-year old’s room. Plenty of plush dolls and toys. Although instead of the usually expected pink and frills, the walls were painted like a snowy landscape and the ceiling like stars. Flurry excitedly turned off the light to show that the stars had been done with glow in the dark paint. It honestly brought tundra to mind for Twilight.
“Auntie Twilight?” Flurry suddenly asked. “Are Mom and Dad gonna be okay?”
Twilight smiled and patted her head. “I’m sure they will, Flurry. They’re just… going through a lot right now.” She fought to maintain that smile as she remembered the news from Cadance that the stress of the incident had caused her to miscarry.
“Dad doesn’t spend time with me anymore,” Flurry said sadly. “And Mom looks sad when she looks at me.”
Twilight wanted to say something. Oh how she wanted to say something. But she lacked the understanding to connect with her. So instead she just hugged her, letting Flurry take solace in her presence. They just stayed like that until Cadance called them down to eat.
Twilight released Flurry and took her hand as they walked down together, washing up at the sink before joining Shining Armor and Cadance at the, thankfully cleared, table. Cadance’s cooking was one of those rare things that Twilight could take solace in now. For today Cadance had prepared something simple to account for their appointment. But with the love she poured into it, even something as simple as sandwiches and tea was delicious.
After lunch, Cadance checked her watch. “We’ll need to head out soon to make our appointment, Twilight. Why don’t you head upstairs and get ready while I clean up down here?”
She nodded and headed upstairs to see her new room at last. It was a moderately sized room with a balcony and a space between the bed and dresser that held a low Japanese style table. At the wall by her bed was a desk with plenty of space for materials, with her desktop already set up for her. Perfect for studying. Mounted on the wall above the dresser was a 32-inch wide flatscreen TV. And next to the dresser was a vanity mirror. She looked at her reflection, taking in her conservative dark purple skirt, light blue button-up shirt with a magenta bow tie that still hugged her well-endowed chest, over which she wore a midnight purple jacket, dark purple leg warmers with magenta highlights at the top over black one-inch heeled boots. Her dark sapphire blue hair streaked with purple and bright raspberry was tied in a high ponytail and her magenta eyes were behind a pair of black-framed glasses.
She opened the suitcase containing her clothes and selected a light purple suit dress, laying it on the bed along with a plain white bra and matching panties before collecting her toiletries and setting them next to the dress. She wanted to make a good first impression on Canterlot Academy’s principal when they met to get her enrollment finalized. Taking off her glasses and pulling the band from her hair, she set both items on the desk before stripping off her clothes and dropping them in the hamper by the door. Taking her toiletries and a magenta bathrobe, she went into her bathroom, a simple setup with shower, sink, medicine cabinet, a second vanity mirror, and toilet, and took a quick shower.
Once she was freshened up and dressed, she met Cadance in the garage, and they departed for the school.
End Song
Twilight more actively took in the city sights as they drove through it toward the school. Idly listening to whatever song was playing on the radio. As they sat at a red light, Cadance sighed a bit. “Good thing we left when we did with traffic like this. City’s gonna take some getting used to huh?”
“Looks that way,” Twilight agreed. Though she would be taking public transportation via the subway to get to school.
“You know. Shiny and I wouldn’t be opposed to you taking your bike to school. We can even pay for the fuel,” Cadance pointed out, putting a hand on Twilight’s shoulder. “It’s been almost a year since you took her out.”
Twilight shook her head. “No. I’m okay with the subway. I can handle crowds. And I’ll be getting a pass to ride for free to and from school.”
“Well… If you’re sure.” Cadance let it drop after that, with the two of them managing to navigate the traffic and get to the academy on time.
Twilight couldn’t help but be in awe at the Canterlot Academy campus. It was a towering white structure that seemed to marry Greek and Egyptian styles in its architecture. Wide at the base but tapering up into a point that seemed to reached toward the heavens. Like the sun would be directly above its spire at high noon.
The interior was just as impressive. Though it looked like a typical high school, with locker lined walls, classrooms and offices, the building itself had a surreal, almost ethereal feel to its atmosphere. Perhaps it was the marble tiled floor? She supposed it made sense. Canterlot Academy was a school said to guarantee entry for its graduates into the best universities.
She and Cadance followed a map to the principal’s office, which was labeled with the name of its occupant. Abacus Cinch. A name that made Twilight feel an instinctive chill go up her spine as Cadance knocked before opening the door.
In stark contrast to the rest of the school, this office was dark and subdued. The windows behind the desk had their curtains drawn, and the room’s entire vibe made Twilight feel like she was meeting a Mafia Don rather than a school principal. Seated behind the desk was a woman with purple hair, sharp features, and a long nose that couldn’t possibly have been natural. She wore a purple blazer and skirt, red glasses, and purple lipstick.
Seated across the desk from her but now rising to her feet was a statuesque woman in a white business dress that hugged the largest bustline she’d ever seen. Her hair was multicolored like an aurora, and she wore red lipstick that complimented her pink eyes. When both women looked toward their new arrivals, the darker woman scowled, while the one in white smiled warmly, seeming almost as though she radiated the very rays of the sun.
“Ah. You must be the new student we were just talking about,” the woman in white said in a very melodious voice. “I’m Celestia Dawnflower. Founder and primary financier of Canterlot Academy. I like to check in on my school personally from time to time.” Her smile widened just a bit. “Despite its prestige, my school prides itself on individual expression. Which is how it’s the only major school in the country with no uniform. Wear whatever you want so long as it’s within the dress code. And we have no shortage of clubs to choose from either. Don’t think of Canterlot Academy as merely a place to study, but also as a place to have new experiences with your peers.”
“That does sound nice,” Twilight admitted, smiling back at the radiant woman. Her presence oddly relaxing even as mysterious as she was. Like an insulating blanket against the oppressive cold of the office. “I’m Twilight Sparkle.”
“And I’m Cadance. Her sister-in-law.”
“A pleasure to meet you both,” Celestia said before her watch beeped. “Oh! Where does the time go? I must be on my way. I have another appointment.” She looked at Cinch. “Until next time, Abacus.”
“Always a pleasure, Ms. Dawnflower,” Cinch said with a smile to Celestia. Her voice high, grating, and screaming sycophant.
Celestia started toward the door, pausing to shake Twilight’s hand. “I meant what I said before. My school is above all else a place to enjoy your youth. After all. You won’t have it forever.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Twilight said with a smile. Seriously, Celestia was so easy to relax around.
After taking a moment to shake Cadance’s hand as well, Celestia departed, leaving them alone with Cinch. Twilight couldn’t put her finger on it, but even after the handshake ended, she felt an odd tingling in her palm.
“Have a seat.” She was broken from her thoughts by the suddenly harsher voice of Cinch. And with Celestia gone, the atmosphere of the office returned full force, sending goosebumps up Twilight’s spine like she’d just been dunked in ice water. She had to resist the urge to scowl.
Organization XIII – Kingdom Hearts II
As Twilight and Cadance sat down, Cinch looked the former over with a critical eye. Scrutiny that almost made Twilight squirm in discomfort. But not quite.
“Well at least you appear to be putting in the work to make a good impression,” Cinch finally said, steepling her fingers. “I was rather concerned when I learned about your… history. If not for that foreknowledge I would hardly believe that you were a delinquent only a year ago.” Her eyes narrowed. “Regardless, that fact alone would make me disinclined to let you taint the walls of my school.”
Her school? Big talk with the actual owner having left already. Twilight could tell that Cinch was rather full of herself. Feeling a bit of her old fire return after meeting Igor, she actually did scowl. “Careful not to choke on your ego when you’re not kissing your boss’s ass.” That only made Cinch scowl in return as Cadance looked at her in shocked surprise. Twilight felt a bit more courageous after standing up to Cinch.
“Regardless of how you carry yourself now, I will be keeping an eye on you,” Cinch told her. “I run a tight ship here at Canterlot Academy. Rest assured that this institution’s prestige and success comes in spite of Ms. Dawnflower’s policies. Not because of them. Fail to abide by my rules and I won’t hesitate to expel you. Is that clear, young lady?”
“Crystal,” was Twilight’s only response, having already decided that she hated this woman after only knowing her two minutes.
Cinch then pushed a paper across the desk. On top of it was a plastic card. “Your class schedule and subway pass. Cause any trouble for my school, and you will be expelled. You are dismissed.”
Even Cadance seemed eager to leave, and she was hard pressed to hate anyone.
End Song
Once they were back in the car and heading home, Cadance sighed. “That principal sure is a piece of work huh? Seriously. What a bitch!” However she then looked at Twilight. “But what was that snark? You haven’t gone for the throat like that since…” She fell silent, like she didn’t want to finish her sentence.
“Since last year,” Twilight finished for her, sighing, and stuffing her hands into her blazer pockets. “Let’s just go home.”
Afternoon
When they arrived home, they were greeted by the sight of a girl Twilight’s age waving at them. She had deep purple hair that was in immaculate curls and was wearing a very nice-looking white dress that hugged a very nice figure. At Cadance’s insistence, Twilight got out of the car to meet her while Cadance parked the car.
Suburban Town of Trista – Trails of Cold Steel
“Hello, darling!” the girl greeted, warmth filling her icy blue eyes. “My name is Rarity Stark. I live across the street from you.” She pointed to the house right across the way from Twilight’s own. “I noticed you just moved in and decided I had to come welcome you to the neighborhood.” Twilight shook her hand and introduced herself in turn. And was surprised when Rarity pulled a small box from her purse and held it out to Twilight. “A little welcome gift from my own collection.”
Accepting the box, Twilight opened it and found a lovely necklace of interwoven gold and silver with a heart shaped ruby. She was stunned by the generosity. “I-I-I couldn’t. This is clearly a really expensive piece. You don’t have to go so far just to welcome me.”
“Nonsense, darling. It’s perfectly fine,” Rarity insisted, still with that radiant smile. Well that settled it. Twilight accepted the necklace with a small smile of her own and a word of thanks. “Are you attending Canterlot Academy? I’m a senior there myself.” At Twilight’s confirmation that she was, Rarity squealed in excitement. “Oh how wonderful! Maybe we’ll have a class together!”
Twilight couldn’t help giggling a bit at Rarity’s energy. “I’m actually hoping we do. Oh! I’m Twilight Sparkle by the way.”
“Such a lovely name!” Rarity complimented before taking her hand. “Come, darling. Let me show you around the neighborhood!”
And thus Twilight found herself being dragged along behind Rarity on an impromptu tour of the area. A tour whose first destination was a park. It was very well kept and absolutely beautiful. With the trees currently in shades of orange in their leaves, with foot paths set in such a way that one could find plenty of shade under the trees during the summer, and plenty of benches for sitting to rest or people watch.
They weren’t the only ones in the park, but there were only a few people enjoying the park. Mostly teenagers enjoying the last day before school started. Catching Twilight’s eye was a girl their age with long hair that was rainbow colored. Literally. She was hanging from the branches of one of the trees doing pull ups. Her outfit consisted of tight black shorts beneath a skirt, sturdy running shoes with black socks, and a tight muscle shirt under a jacket.
Sitting at the base of the tree smiling brightly and watching the rainbow haired girl was a girl who was best described as… pink. Pink hair that looked like cotton candy. Pink dress. Pink boots. As they approached she noticed the only part not pink was her eyes. Which were baby blue. She saw them and grinned widely, waving happily. “Hi, Rarity!”
Twilight was pulled over to the two by Rarity, the rainbow haired one dropping down, mirth in her cerise eyes. Put on the spot, Twilight smiled back, helped by the pink one’s energy. “Um… Hi. I’m Twilight Sparkle. I just moved to the city.”
“I’m Pinkamena Diane Pie, but my friends call me Pinkie Pie,” the pink one introduced, pulling the rainbow one close. “And this is Rainbow Dash, my girlfriend!”
“Sup!” Rainbow greeted. “My friends call me Dash. Call me Dashie without being my girl and regret it.” At seeing Twilight take a step back with wide eyes she laughed. “I’m just kidding, Sparkle. But Pinkie really is the only one allowed to call me Dashie.”
“I’ll keep that in mind,” Twilight said as she looked between the two. She then asked what all there was to do in the neighborhood besides the park.
“Oh, oh! Me! Me!” Pinkie said excitedly as she jumped up and down. “We’ve got a whole shopping district with local businesses. Come on! I’ll show you my favorite place!” She then pulled the three along out of the park, leading them up to the mentioned shopping district. It was small, but each shop was unique and stood out in its own way.
The Comfort of One’s Home – Trails of Cold Steel
The one that Pinkie was leading them to looked like an honest to God gingerbread house in design. The sign above the door proudly declaring it to be Sugarcube Corner. The interior was bustling with activity. Leading them to a free table, Pinkie went to get them drinks. And Twilight finally had a moment to breathe.
“So how come you’re all dressed up?” She looked up at Dash’s question, explaining her meeting with Cinch.
“Damn! You said that to her face?!” Dash asked at the end of the story. “You’re automatically the coolest."
“Oh come on…” Twilight said, a bit embarrassed without the adrenaline of the moment.
“And you met Ms. Dawnflower too?” Rarity asked. “She’s a wonderful woman really. Radiant, beautiful, and such a lovely fashion sense!”
“She’s kinda like everyone’s mom,” Dash added. “Makes Cinch easier to deal with if you ask me.”
“Yeah Ms. Dawnflower’s the best!” Pinkie agreed as she arrived with four coffees, setting them out. “I work here part time, so don’t worry about money.”
“Thank you,” Twilight said with a smile, finding them infectious around Pinkie. She took her coffee and sipped it. It was delicious. She quickly fell into a gentle rhythm of sipping her coffee and chatting with these girls. It was overall a pleasant first day in the city. And as the sun dipped closer to the horizon, she at last bade them goodnight and headed home.
Evening
Evening Moments – Trails of Cold Steel
Over a dinner of spaghetti, Cadance gave Twilight a knowing look. “You were out for a while. Meet new friends?”
“Well, they’re definitely interesting people,” Twilight admitted. Still smiling as she thought of the time she’d spent with the trio. It gave her hope for the year going forward.
“Glad to see you’re adjusting already Twiley,” Shining Armor said with a smile of his own. “Really I’m glad to see you coming out of your shell again.”
“I decided to stop shutting people out,” Twilight admitted. “I can’t stay depressed forever can I?”
“No you can’t,” Cadance agreed with a smile, patting her shoulder. “You calling it an early night? Early start tomorrow after all.”
Twilight confirmed that she was, and after some time spent with her family in the living room after dinner retired to her room. She sighed and stripped her clothes off, yawning as she pulled on a purple nightgown and went into her bathroom to relieve herself before bed. Once her business was finished, she turned to head back, only to in her tired state trip on the bathmat. Which sent her tumbling toward the mirror. She closed her eyes bracing for pain and bleeding. But it never came.
???
Twilight instead found herself tumbling into the open shower, hitting the wall with a cry of pain. Well she was glad to not be bleeding with mirror shards in the wounds, but how did she end up here? Mandela Effect? Stepping out, she sighed and stepped into her room. She then noticed that the atmosphere felt… off somehow. Looking outside, she saw a light coming through that couldn’t have been the sun.
The Mysterious Old Schoolhouse – Trails of Cold Steel
Stepping out onto her balcony, she gasped at what she saw. The city looked normal, save of course for the giant white tower reaching up toward the heavens, its peak glowing with an ethereal light. What the hell was going on?!
She paused and took a deep breath. “Focus, Twilight,” she muttered to herself. Surely she could just go back the way she came, right? Going back into the bathroom, she put her hand to the mirror and… nothing. It was solid. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. Oh shit. More deep breaths. She couldn’t afford to lose her cool.
Okay. She was apparently trapped in some weird alternate dimension. No way back. Nobody knowing she was trapped. And on top of it all, she was wearing nothing but a nightgown. She took another deep breath. No choice. She had to bite the bullet and look around. It shouldn’t be too bad, right? She was in a gated community. Those were well known for being safe.
Moving through the empty house, she stepped outside, looking around for any signs of life. The light radiating from the tower bathed the world in perpetual daylight, but for some reason that did not make her feel safe. In fact she found herself preferring having a shadowed area to get away from it in. Her thoughts turned to the park, and before she knew it she was walking. Her feet tracing the same route that Rarity had taken her along.
It wasn’t long before she arrived at the park, stepping onto the grass with a sigh of relief. That sidewalk was not fun to walk on in bare feet for an extended period. Walking toward the tree line, she saw shade and sped up her pace a bit, getting out of the light and leaning against the tree to take a breather.
So far she had seen hide nor hair of other people. Which was very worrying. If she was alone in this world then she faced the very real possibility of starving to death or, more likely given her state of dress, dying of exposure.
She looked at the woods and decided she would need to explore further. She needed to find someone who could help her. She felt her instincts imploring her to turn back. But what choice did she have in this situation? In silence she walked, keeping her eyes peeled for signs of life.
Seriousness – Trails of Cold Steel
Until she heard a scream from further ahead of her. Eyes widening, she moved more quickly, keeping to cover behind the trees as much as possible. Reaching a clearing, she lightly gasped at what she saw. A blond woman who looked to be in her early to mid-30s was being accosted by a group of weird creatures that looked like living shadows. They were wearing masks and in the process of dragging the woman off further into the woods.
Twilight retreated behind the tree she was using for cover, her heart racing in terror. She wanted to help, but what the hell could she even do?! She was a half-naked teenager and quite frankly was thinking she was in a horror movie more and more by the second. Deciding that she had to get away, she started going back the way she came.
“Well what do we have here?” She froze at the sound of the voice, slowly looking back to see one of the creatures had lagged behind, and even with a mask on it she could tell he was eying her like a piece of meat. “Must be my lucky day,” he said with a chuckle as he started advancing on Twilight, who backpedaled away from him.
“Stay back!” she ordered before turning and starting to run. But he was quicker and tackled her, pressing her against a tree as his hands roamed her body. She shuddered as she felt his fingertips trailing over her bare skin, leaving goosebumps in their wake as she struggled against him.
“You won’t be needing this,” she heard him say before he grabbed a fistful of her gown and, to her horror, ripped it away, destroying the garment and leaving her naked. Gasping as he grabbed her breasts. “I’m gonna have such fun with you,” he said as she felt something poking her inner thigh.
“No!” Her struggles increased. “Stop!” In sheer desperation, she leaned her head forward and threw it backward into the creature’s mask, disorienting it enough for her to escape its grasp and start running.
“Fucking cunt!” she heard the creature scream out. “Hey! We got another one!” There were more coming now! She had to get away!
Her desperation only grew as she heard more of the creatures joining the hunt. It became a cat and mouse game. One that was she found herself quickly losing. It was in a different clearing that she was caught up to by one of them.
“You’re a feisty one aren’t you?” he asked. “I know how to handle feisty,” he said as he stalked toward her. Before he could grab her however, a bird caw sounded, and he was set upon by… a cartoonish raven? The raven was going for the eyes, and when the creature was distracted by pain the bird looked at Twilight while hovering near her.
“This way!” it spoke in a voice that sounded oddly familiar. “Don’t just stand there! Move!”
Broken from her stupor at a talking raven, she followed it closely. It seemed to know where to go, and as she followed it, she realized that the creatures were falling behind. Until at last they emerged back into the main area of the park. Where the raven landed on the arm of a nearby bench. “We’ll be safe here for now. The light from Paradiso keeps the Shadows away.”
“Shadows?” Twilight asked as she sat down to rest, her chest heaving with every deep breath.
“Those masked creatures,” the bird replied. “They’re called Shadows. They haunt all the dark places in this world. Everywhere the light of Paradiso touches is safe from them. Paradiso is that tower.”
Shadows. Paradiso. It was all too much to take in on top of just her entire situation. She was trapped here talking to a bird and thanks to being naked was still viscerally aware of how close she came to being raped!
Confession/Secret- Persona 5
So she broke down. She pulled her knees up to her chest and started sobbing uncontrollably.
That seemed to alarm the bird. “Hey! Hey! It’s gonna be okay!” she said, flitting over and gently stroking her head with her wing.
She looked at the bird with tears streaming down her cheeks. “I am lost. I am naked. I was almost raped. I… I just want to go home and sleep this off. But I don’t. Know. How!”
“I promise it’ll be okay,” the bird said, still trying to comfort her. “I’m Nebula. What’s your name?”
She sucked in a breath and introduced herself. Pulling off her glasses and trying to dry her tears as she asked how it would be alright.
“If you can show me where you came through, I can get you home,” Nebula said. “But please. Never come back to this world. It’s dangerous. As you’ve already seen…” she trailed off.
Getting to her feet, Twilight finally calmed herself enough to think as she put her glasses back on. “Alright. I’ll show you where I came through, and you get me home. I just want to forget about this place.”
Nebula nodded and flitted onto Twilight’s shoulder, being careful with her talons. “Alright then. Show me.”
Twilight made her way back to her house, keeping to the areas touched by the tower’s light this time. But she only truly relaxed once they were back where she started. In her bathroom.
“This mirror here?” Nebula asked. Getting confirmation, she flitted up to the top of it and rapped her beak against the glass, making it ripple. “Alright. You can get through now. Go home, rest, forget about all this. And don’t come back. For your own good.”
Twilight put a hand up to the mirror and was relieved when she could put her hand through the glass. Eagerly stepping through.
Twilight stumbled forward again, looking around at her bathroom and going out to her room and onto the balcony just to double check. No glowing tower. Good. She went back inside and walked toward her bed.
It had been an odd day for sure. New school, a new neighbor, the everything with Igor and the Velvet Room, and now this weird world through her mirror. She looked at the key to the Velvet Room on her nightstand next to the holder that she deposited her glasses into. So tired… She didn’t even bother with a new nightgown. She pulled back the sheets but was asleep before she had even finished falling onto the bed.
