Through a Mirror, Darkly

The warden stood in his uniform, nervously he adjusted the collar. Before him stood the doors that quite possibly lead into what he could only describe as tartarus. Nearby a pair of guards stood in the full armour of the royal guards, flanking the door and providing an additional air of menace to the overbearing construct.

The warden gulped and looked at his watch, maybe they had forgotten, he could just leave and nopony would ever be the wiser.

"Their imperial majesties, Princess Celestia of the Sun and Princess Luna of the Moon, Protectors and true rulers of all Equestria will see you know." One of the guards spoke, before the great doors split, opening silently as the guards pulled them apart.

Moving between the intricately carved gold and silver working that made up the entrance to the most dangerous room in Equestria the warden couldn't help but feel himself breaking into a cold sweat. Moving into the throne room proper he made his way down the centre of the carpet before stopping a good distance from the dais and kneeling before the twin thrones of the regal sisters.

"Rise and look upon us, faithful servant." The clipped precise tone bade him.

Raising himself back onto four hooves the warden kept his gaze firmly focused on the carpet in front of him, waiting for one of the two sisters to address him.

"Speak, why are you here and not containing the lawless elements of our kingdom?" an equally clipped voice as the first demanded.

Keeping his eyes firmly locked on the floor the warden began his report, detailing the breakout of three prisoners by a fourth pony. A pony that had been a thorn in his side for many months now, Opalescence. As he concluded his report he felt the eyes of both monarchs on him.

"We see, and who were the ponies that so casually escaped your grasp?"

The wardens blood was as ice, there was no way he was ever leaving through those throne room doors alive, "Fluttershy, a minor criminal who was convicted eight years ago, Pinkemena Dianne Pie who holds the record for criminal convictions for a single pony, convicted nine years ago, and," he gulped, desperately hoping that he would see mercy, "Twilight Sparkle." The last name needed no additional information to clarify who it was, the name Sparkle was infamous throughout Equestria.

The warden saw only a brief flash before he opened his eyes. Looking down all he saw was white, looking up his eyes widened in amazement. Even as he asphyxiated, the life slowly leaving his system with every heartbeat, his eyes couldn't leave the spectacle before him. Equestria, in all it's glory hung in the heavens like a great jewel.

Back in the throne room the royal sisters regarded the spot where the warden had been a moment ago with cool indifference.

"Incompetent fool." Said one as she got up and strolled to the window looking out onto the Everfree outside, "What do you think of all this, dear sister?"

The other walked over to share the view with her, "The games these ponies play are entertaining, but wearisome." she looked at her sister, "As much as I enjoy their constant efforts to please us they do get on my nerves."

"I agree, we indulge them once a year with the Grand Galloping Gala as it is, yet still they complain about the state of things."

"So what do we do this time sister?"

"We? They are far beneath our position, let those who care about such games take their turn at the board. After all, watching these mortal fools pit themselves against one another is always entertaining."

"We may need to set the ball rolling on this one though." With a flare of magic another pony appears, she hurriedly prostrates herself before the royal pair, even as she gets over her surprise at being so abruptly summoned. "Take a message to the inquisitors office, rogue elements are in Equestria."

"Yes your majesty." With another flare the pony is gone once more, leaving no trace of her having been there at all.

"You gave the message to that one? An interesting ploy dear sister."

"If they can't handle this much they were less than nothing to begin with."