Erised the Looking Glass

Raven had stepped out for a moment to get more shampoo, leaving Twilight alone in the luxury bath. She took the moment to let her muscles relax and soak in the hot water. After the day she had, she certainly enjoyed the opportunity.

Admittedly, I am going to miss being waited on hoof and tail, she mused, but overall the princess' life isn't quite as simple as I thought. No wonder Celestia is always too busy to…

She frowned and sighed just as Raven reentered

“Is something wrong, Twilight?” she asked.

“No, just thinking.”

“Well,” Raven said, pouring the shampoo over her mane, “I know that today is… special for you, but I want you to remember that I'm always here for you to turn to, okay? You don't need to be alone.”

“I remember,” Twilight said, not sure why Raven was being so curious. Or why she sounded quite so… doleful. What was so special about today anyway? She thought back to what the guard had said earlier.

And then a bucket of water was overturned onto her head.

Later that night, as Twilight climbed into bed, there was a knock at the door and an attendant entered.

“Princess Twilight, I just came to remind you that you have an early morning tomorrow. Breakfast will be cut short accordingly so you can make your meeting with the visiting dignitaries.”

After a full day of princess work, Twilight figured she might as well see just how far her authority went.

“Miss,” she said, “I want to visit my parents tomorrow morning.”

The attendant looked taken aback. She stuttered something and then quickly left. Twilight was more confused than ever. Apparently the princess didn't assert herself very often at all.

Still, Twilight really wanted to meet the princess' parents. Scientific curiosity demanded it! She really wanted to know what they were like in this world.

♦ ◊ ♦

“Please!” Princess Twilight cried.

“I'm sorry, Miss Twilight, but you have to go to dinner.” The librarian looked nervous.

“I just have to keep going a little longer,” she pleaded.

“I know you enjoy studying, dear, but this really isn't healthy for you.”

The princess was on the verge of tears. The librarian shuffled uncomfortably.

“Alright,” she finally relented, “You can take the books with you. But you must go to dinner now!”

This was enough for Princess Twilight. She lifted the books with her levitation and slid them into her saddlebags, feeling proud at how easy it now seemed.

She assumed that dinner was in the same cafeteria that she had eaten breakfast in. Fortunately she'd grown a bit more familiar with the layout of the main hallways over the past day and a half. Finding her way there would be no problem.

The problem was that she was intercepted by a guard on her way there.

“Twily, there you are.” The young guard smiled. “Princess Celestia wanted me to tell you that you'd be eating in the main dining room tonight. I gotta go now. Talk to you later, Twily.”

The guard leaned in and nuzzled her affectionately before continuing on. Princess Twilight glanced after him, confused.

“This whole world is populated by weirdos,” she muttered to herself, “I hope the dining hall is where I remember it.”

As she walked away, she could not shake the feeling that there was something familiar about that guard she encountered. Something about the way he talked… the way he looked at her…

Not only was the dining hall exactly where she thought it was, it looked exactly the same as she remembered. She had to sigh at how boring it was. She'd much prefer to be back in the cafeteria. As usual, the dining hall was filled with Canterlot's high class and elite. Princess Twilight thought she recognized a few faces here and there, but she had learned well by this point that not everything was exactly as it seemed with this world.

Her seat was located just beside the head of the table, where Princess Celestia would sit when she arrived. Princess Twilight sat down, regarded her meal with mild interest, and then magically pulled her book out of her saddlebags.

Celestia arrived late, making it to the dining hall after the first course had been served and removed. Princess Twilight was still reading, levitating the book to practice her levitation endurance.

“Hello Twilight,” Celestia said as she sat down. She briefly acknowledged the mare sitting on her other side as well.

Princess Twilight replied with a meek “hello”, not lifting her eyes from the book.

“What are you reading?” the older princess asked.

“Just reviewing. Can't be too prepared, after all.” She could feel the fur on the back of her neck standing up.

“You know, Twilight, you could relax just a little,” Celestia said gently, “I know your studying is very important, but you are more than ahead of your class.”

Princess Twilight didn't reply.

Celestia continued, “What have you been up to while I've been gone? With the castle all to yourself, there is a lot a filly can get herself into.”

“Mostly studying,” Princess Twilight, still not looking up, “I did a little walking around, though.”

“That sounds pleasant. Meet anypony interesting?”

The princess winced, but insisted, “No; I didn't meet anypony.”

“Well, that's too bad. At least you didn't get into any trouble though.”

“Yeah…” The princess closed her book and contemplated asking to be excused. But this Princess Celestia seemed too interested in her to simply let her walk away without explanation. And she was pretty eager to see what else they would serve. So far, all her meals had been much better than what she got at home.

The rest of the meal carried on in silence. Celestia didn't press her any further, but Princess Twilight could feel her gaze. It was not nearly as aggressive as Father Watcher's, but the disappointment was there.

After dinner, Princess Twilight headed straight to her room. There, she sat on her bed and thought about her possibilities. After a while, she curled up in her blankets and tried to drift off to sleep.

She had to reach a decision by tomorrow at noon, and the book she needed was on the desk.

Sleep would not come. But her tears would.

♦ ◊ ♦

Princess Celestia stood outside her young apprentice's door, listening to the sound of sound her student weeping inside.

That was it. Tomorrow she would have her answer. No matter what it took.

♦ ◊ ♦

Watcher heard the clock chime the tenth hour, but he didn't move. His gaze was locked on the jar of black goo as if he could convince himself that it was somehow responsible for what was going on.

He could not get Princess Twilight out of his mind, neither her behavior nor her ridiculous request to see her parents.

He had to figure out what was wrong. It had gone on long enough.

He would have his answer by the end of tomorrow.

First he pulled back out his flask and filled it another batch of the vile substance. Setting that aside, he leaned back and started poking at the shadows with his magics.

The shadows pushed back. One of them separated from the rest and scooted closer to him for instructions.

“Tomorrow you will follow Princess Twilight all day,” he said, “Note anything even slightly out of the ordinary. Once she has fallen asleep, report to me. If you come across something blatantly significant, report to me at the first possible opportunity. If you encounter a hostile force of some kind that is responsible for her behavior, do not confront it. I must know what is going on behind my back.”

The shadow acknowledged his directions and faded back in with the others.

Feeling ready for anything, Watcher returned the container to its rightful place and headed off to bed.