Whose Hat is it Anyways?

1: “Do I actually want to go home?  My brothers probably won't want me around; it's not like they listen to me anymore.  I like it here.  I could stick around for awhile, if my King allows it. Then again, I tend to doubt that He will; I rarely get to stay in anyone place for long.  My life never gets boring, but anymore I sure wish it did. Hm?  Who goes there!?”

2: “I do.”

1: “Oh... you. Hah, I know who you really are”

2: “I'm Mr. Physician, actually, and I don't have a time machine.”

1: “It doesn't matter how hard you try to get rid of me-wait what? You're not him? But you look exactly like his-”

2: “Pony form?”

1: “Y-yeah....  Are you a changeling?”

2: “Nope, and, if I were, do you think I would tell you?  Oh, it looks like the Princess is back.”

3: “Somepony else is here?  Hatless, who is he?”

1: “It's the Do-er... no?  Honestly, I have no idea who he is.”

2:  “Doesn't matter who I am right now.  Princess, I think you should explain to him the issue with his escape route.  You should tell him why you can't help him.”

1: “Princess, what does he mean?”

3: “Hatless, there isn't a magic barrier.”

1: “Eh? But, that doesn't make sense.  I came out from there.  I got here by crawling out from that portal in there.  The last thing I remember before that was working on some machinery.  I just ended up here, and I came from that portal.  I immediately dove back in to return home, but I only came right back out the other side.  I dared not mess around after that.”

3: “...Hatless, that's the Mirror Pool, not a portal”

1: “What is the Mirror Pool?”

2: “Princess, I can tell by your dilated eyes and gaping mouth that you're surprised..”

1: “Hey, that's something I would say! Stop copying me.  You told me to leave, but now that I am trying to do so, you make things difficult.  Won't you make up your mind and will someone please explain to me what the Mirror Pool is?”

2: “Go ahead, Princess.  Tell him.”

3: “The Mirror Pool is an enchanted pond which can clone anypony who goes in.  As far as I have seen, the clone possesses the personality and abilities of its original, but its memories tend to be foggy.”

1: “Then... does that mean, I'm a clone?”

2: “Essentially, yes.  You said it yourself, you don't recall getting here.  On the other hand, I do.  I was inventing some machinery shortly before getting here, but, when I went home one day, I heard someone say, 'from one to another, another to one, a mark of one's destiny singled out alone fulfilled.'  Right after that, I landed in Equestria.”

3: “Are you kidding? I-I said that!  But it doesn't make sense... that changed the Elements of Harmony.  How could it have affected you?”

2: “I can't say.  I usually just end up places.”

1: “Every time you say something that I would, you aggravate me all the more.”

2: “I can't help that, Hatless. I am you, and you are me.  Anyways, it worked out that you met the princess yourself and brought her here.  I need both of you here.”

3: “Ah!”

1: “Princess? What is it?”

2: “She found out why I need her here with you.  Princess, please do this.  I did not understand what the Mirror Pool was or what it would do. Unfortunately, because of that, I mistakenly created Hatless.  He has made himself a personality, but he is not complete.  He can't be.  And Hatless, I may have misspoken back at our original encounter.  It's not that Ponyville isn't safe with you around. It's that Ponyville isn't safe for you.”

1: “What is that supposed to mean?”

2: “If you desire, I can explain at length what this involves, but it will be much easier if you simply do what I say.”

1: “Explain.”

2: “All right then.  Well Princess, take your time to consider now.  If he decides to pull something, you may have to make a sudden action.  Now then, Hatless, you cannot continue to live.  You were my mistake and unfortunately, you have to suffer for my mistake.   As for why you can't live, it's fairly simple. In death, you'll find peace, but in life, you will find yourself living under my shadow.  My brothers are my brothers, and as cold as it is to say this, they are not yours.  You can't go to them; I will not allow it.  If you weren't me, I would allow you to live here, but since you are and I know my tendencies, I can't do that. These people are not ready for us and may never be.  Because of that, Hatless, you will make many enemies and will eventually hurt the few friends you might make. In the end, you can't stay here, and you can't go home.  I'll be merciful and give you two options.  The first is you can return to the Mirror Pool and stop existing.  The second is you can live in banishment far far from here.”

1: “...”

2: “You have to make your decision here, but I don't mind waiting.”

1: “Princess, am I right to assume he needs you to place me into the Mirror Pool?”

3: “Y-yes.”

1: “Will you do that, if I decide I don't want either 'choice.'?”

3: “As a protector of this land, I cannot allow clones to walk around; your presence will most likely cause a lot of trouble.  The last time a clone came around; Ponyville came close to destruction.  That was only with Pinkie clones.  With what both of you have told me about your own species, I cannot in good conscience trust a clone who, at any whim, could create more clones. As I see it, you endanger Equestria. If you try anything, Hatless, I will be force to send you into the Mirror Pool.”

2: “There is your answer, Hatless.  Make your choice.”

1: “I choose the Mirror Pool.”

3: “...”

2: “Princess, it is easier to end it sooner rather than later.  Don't lengthen his suffering.”

3: “Hatless, I wish this could go another way.  I'm sorry.”

1: “Princess. No, Twilight, thank you for all you have done for me.  It was a good life. Good-bye.”

3: “Good-bye.  There, it is done.  Sir, may I have your name? I know Hatless was the title he had given himself, but you... have... my crown!?”

2: “Twilight, my dear.  I'll let you in on a secret.”

3: “Give that back!  Huh?  Why won't my magic work on it?  Grrr... hand that over now!”

2: “How about two secrets? First of all, Hatless did lie.  I know what he told you, but it was wrong.  I am not a what or a who.”

3: “Give it to me!!!  Hhhh... I-I went str-straight through... h-him?  What are you?”

2: “Hahahahahaha! You have no idea how funny that statement is.  The answer: Nothing.  Additionally, before you ask, who I am.  I already told you.  I'm No One.  As for that other secret, Twilight, you got the wrong one.”

3: “Nrrgrrr... what d-does that mean?”

2: “You very well know.  I am surprised I convinced both of you that I was the real Hatless.  Heheh, this is fun!  Now I know why my brother loves deception.  Watching your faces; it's classic!”

3: “I will stop you.”

2: “I hate to break this to you, but moments ago you sent away the only person who could have stopped me.  You can try, but you can't touch me and your magic doesn't work on me.  You can't hurt something and someone that simply does not exist.  Oh, but I can hurt you.”

3: “Huh-Gah!  Crystals...!?  My hooves are stuck!  I'll just-! My magic isn't working on the crystals either.  AH! STOP IT!!!  I can't shake loose.  St-stop, please!”

2: “Hatless was right; I'm much worse than King Sombre.”

3: “P-please stop!  If you're Hatless, then you have a heart!”

2: “I have the personality and the abilities of Hatless, as you know.  I do not share his standards or beliefs.  That heart you said I have?  You just tossed it into the Mirror Pool.  So... ciao, sayonara, adios.  As Hatless would say, Godspeed.  Hah!”

3: “I can't get loose.  Ugh, Hatless, I-I made a mistake... I'm sorry.  I'm so sor-”

2: “No witnesses left. Good.  Now, let's get rid of this royal piece of rock.  Simple levitation spell... toss into mirror pool.  Sploosh!  Oooh, watch her sink.  Oh, oh wow... oh wow it's deep!  All the better.  Now, let's dispose of this crown.”

The End

“Loops! Logo! I think I found something.  Hm.... what would a crown be doing in a place like this?”