Looking Beyond the Mirror

Chapters

Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3

Chapter 1

A loud explosion rocked the castle and its inhabitants. From one of the high windows in the throne room, several ponies and a draconequus watched as guards ran towards the noise below.

“It is time,” Celestia stated backing away from the window, her rainbow mane fluttering in an invisible wind as always.

“Yes we only have moments if we are to save Equestria,” Luna said. She had grown over the years and was now only a horn short of her sister’s impressive height.

Cadence kept her eyes on her husband who was below directing his soldiers to specific areas. For a brief moment their eyes met and she whispered a few words knowing he could read her lips. The moment was broken by another explosion and shouts all around. Shining Armor winked at his princess and ran off to assist where he was able.

“We must hurry,” Cadence put in, turning from the window as well.

Twilight Sparkle nodded her head, a determined glint in her eyes. She had changed the most since becoming a princess twenty years ago. Twilight and Cadence were actually equal in height now, her dark blue mane with purple and pink streaks had grown reaching just above her knees. Her wings had also lengthened a few inches their original size. Most noticeable but only for those sensitive to such things was her magic. Just as it seemed Twilight had reached her peak and was able to control it; a new crisis would arise and another aspect of her magic was discovered. With this new threat Twilight had not had the time to really grasp what her magic was trying to tell her.

All four princesses were dressed in armor similar to their guards in pure gold and silver. Discord was floating in the air above Twilight munching on popcorn and exclaiming over the size of the explosions and flying debris.

“Have there been any reports from the girls? Where they able to get a better resting pattern while using the Elements of Harmony?” Twilight asked, turning to the others.

“Yes, they are going to do a four pony shield with one of them rotating out every twelve hours. Today Pinkie Pie, Rarity, Fluttershy, and Applejack are holding it up. We’ve been able to smuggle a few more injured into the protective dome. Sadly with more ponies the food supply is being stretched again. Some of the land is farmable but they have to conserve water as well,” Luna responded, her gaze distant.

“A worrying thought. We have to take this thing down as soon as possible.”

“Discord, you know what to do.” Celestia looked sadly in his direction.

Twilight looked up at him confused as she had not known he was taking on a different task. Popcorn was tossed over his shoulder as he saluted Celestia.

“Will do. Hold down the fort until I get back.” Discord then wrapped himself around Twilight and snapped his fingers.

XxX

Appearing in the crystal catacombs deep underneath the castle, Twilight turned her head and glared at Discord.

“What in the hay was that for?! Take us back we have to fight that thing!”

“We are. I just wanted one last kiss before you go.” Puckering up Discord leaned in for a smooch but kissed her hoof instead.

“Last night and earlier this morning wasn’t enough for you? Besides where am I going? We’ve been married five years I can tell when you’re stalling and don’t think I didn’t catch the difference between we are and you go. What’s going on dear?” Twilight removed her hoof and gazed at him sternly.

With a sigh Discord moved away from Twilight and snapped his fingers making a stuffed couch of green and orange appear. Sitting on one end, he patted the seat next to him and if it wasn’t for the solemn expression on his face Twilight would have refused. Once comfortable Discord turned to her, she was now a little more worried with his serious face being kept.

“The other princesses and I feel it’s best to leave you out of this fight. No, no let me finish first. When this thing came so far you are the only one able to actually hurt it.”

“Which is why I should be out there fighting...” She started but a lion paw covered her mouth.

“And yet you are still learning control. Sparkle this thing ...it’s stronger than the Adult Cerberus of Tartarus. It killed an Usa Major a feat we thought nigh impossible. We’re going to use our combined power to stop time everywhere; it’ll trap this thing with us until you’ve gotten the training needed to destroy it.” Discord sighed and placed his arm around Twilight’s shoulder.

“Where would I train? Everywhere has been tainted by this thing. We should put all our efforts together into defeating it. I can’t just leave Equestria like this. I can’t leave you.” Tears glistened in violet eyes.

“Celestia and Cadence have already spelled the mirror that took you to an alternate dimension. It’s going to take you to an alternate Equestria instead. There you can learn from the other Celestia and try to find something that may not be here. This time though you will have to wait three years before coming back through the mirror.” Waving a hand behind him Twilight looked over his shoulder to see the same mirror that had transported her to that human realm so many years ago.

Turning back to Discord she couldn’t help the tears falling down her cheeks. Leaning into the eagle claw that cupped her cheek she closed her eyes.

“Please don’t ask me to do this. Was it because I was almost captured? I’ll do my best to stay safe. I promise Discord don’t send me away from you all.”

Pained stabbed at his heart as he saw his wife cry silently before him. Not wanting what was hopefully nowhere near their last moments end sadly he snapped up a bit of Chaos and turned them upside down. Brushing away the last of the tears, he wiggled his talons around her sides and the base of her wings causing her to start laughing. Catching on Twilight retaliated as well and soon both were rolling in the air giggling.

“Now darling I have faith that you’ll save us all and you know I hate saying that word,” Discord stated after they caught their breath.

Taking a deep breath and letting it out explosively Twilight gave him a small smile.

“If you didn’t want me around anymore all you had to do was say so. Tossing me into an inter-dimensional mirror is a little over the top. ” A quick burst of pink magic and they were back on the ground the plush couch gone. She quickly used magic to get her armor off and picked up the saddle pack that was leaning against the mirror, tightening it on her back. She walked over to the mirror and looked into it. Twilight was surprised that her reflection was not staring back at her instead it was a shimmery opaque that rippled when she pressed a hoof to it.

“Wait!”

Turning, Twilight felt the familiar weight of her husband wrapping around her and his lips pressing into hers. Her eyes closed and she thought of nothing but the feel of his lips, memorizing the subtle shift of his body against hers. Breaking apart they touched foreheads for a brief moment.

“I just wanted to say I love you. Okay off you go.” And Discord pushed Twilight into the mirror a hearty laugh the last thing she hears.

Author's Note

Thank you for reading. <(^_^<)~

Chapter 2

He is so going to get it when I get home. Twilight thought as she hurtled out of the mirror on the other side. Head over hoof she rolled bumping into a table and crashing into the opposite wall.

“Ow.”

Guards came running into the room, spears pointed at the intruder. Twilight wanted to speak but was currently trying to figure out up and down and stop the room from spinning.

“Halt intruder. You are in the forbidden corridor of Queen Luna and Queen Celestia. Come along quietly and no pony will be hurt.”
Twilight got up slowly with a relieved sigh, hooves and horn still here.

“I mean no harm. I have urgent business with Celestia and Luna,” she said hoping to appear non-threatening.

“That’s Queen Celestia and Queen Luna to you. Follow us and if you attempt anything we will retaliate,” spoke the guard in front.

“Of course, lead the way.” Twilight started walking forward with two guards in front and two behind her. Glancing around, she observed the mixture of this Canterlot with hers. There were no stained glass windows depicting heroes defeating evil, just plain clear glass. The carpet they walked along was a mixture of gold with blue trim instead of the red carpet with gold border at home. The pillars were a smooth off white with gray swirls compared to the pure white marble they had. Subtle differences but different all the same.

I have to be careful here. Without knowing their customs or rules I could land in jail. Twilight thought of that marring her perfect record and shuddered. Discord wouldn’t let me live it down either.

Reaching the throne room, the group waited by the door as a large discussion was currently in session. As everyone else was watching the meeting Twilight looked over the two leaders of Equestria. Queen Celestia was actually younger looking than her Princess Celestia and more world weary as well. Her eyes were older than she looked, foretelling of battles and hardship fought for one so young. Celestia was watching the messenger before her with wary eyes, as though just waiting for something to happen.
Queen Luna on the other hand still had that innocence of youth about her. She had an indulgent smile on her face, her eyes not holding the constant haunted look as Princess Luna from her world. Twilight was hoping this meant the sister’s didn’t fight over who ruled Equestria and caused Celestia to banish Luna to the moon.

“Your majesties,” Squeaked a large orange and green stripped teddy bear. “King Discord is requesting medical attention as he has fallen ill. In accordance to treaty rule DX5449 when aid is requested by either party it must be honored. To deny my King is to break the treaty and would be considered an act of war.”

Twilight had to close her eyes as she didn’t want to offend anypony when she rolled them.

“Yes Medium Fries we understand as we have the year before that and the year before that. I will consult with our medical teams and have someone out to the borders of Discordia by tomorrow morning,” Queen Celestia said.

“His Highness has requested aid urgently and whoever is chosen will need to come with me,” It squeaked again.

Withholding a giggle at its high pitched voice Queen Luna responded this time. “Ah a serious matter then. You must wait though as we still need to speak with the doctors we have on staff.”

The large bear, whom Twilight now knew to be Medium Fries, saluted the Queens and walked over to the wall to stand and wait.
“If there is nothing further to discuss…” Queen Celestia spoke; already her mind was on how to convince a member of the hospital staff to accept the mission.

“Your majesties, this intruder was found in one of the forbidden rooms. We are unsure why she was in there though, as nothing was stolen and only a few artifacts were scattered on the ground,” spoke the head guard.

“I see and what do you have to say for yourself?” Both Queens looked down from their throne to watch the newcomer approach them cautiously.

“You’re an Alicorn?!” Luna exclaimed and then blushed in embarrassment. Hearing the gasps around her, Twilight flushed as well having been so used to others already knowing of her status. She became a little self-conscious of her wings and horn when it was obvious everyone was staring at her.

“Ah yes your highnesses. My name is Twilight Sparkle and I have come from another dimension for assistance. We are being invaded by an unknown evil that does not respond to harmonic magic and tends to eat or absorb chaotic magic. My power was able to harm it some but due to the nature of it I have not mastered it fully and require more training.” Twilight admitted this with no small amount of guilt in her voice. Had she been stronger, had studied more, then maybe…

“Well the fact that you are an Alicorn and Luna and I have not heard of another being born or created for quite some time gives your statement some credibility,” Celestia said.

“Let us give her a chance sister. This may prove beneficial should this evil arise in our world as well,” Luna suggested. “Though the castle itself was just newly renovated, the library alone had to be cleared considering the damages of trying to work around it.”

Twilight blinked. Books had been damaged? Her eye twitched but she held it in.

“I had almost forgotten. Several of our magically strongest unicorns are currently in our old castle mending any broken tomes and watching over the books until repairs were finished. I will send a messenger right away but with the quantity it will take some time,” Celestia commented.

“Yes I understand. I could probably be of help to you as well. I am somewhat knowledgeable in Draconequi illnesses, perhaps I could go see to King Discord as we wait for the books to arrive,” Twilight offered.

The grateful look Queen Celestia turned her way was somewhat disconcerting. Again Twilight was reminded of the differences between her world and theirs as most ponies were already accepting or at least tolerant of her Discords chaos.

“I would honestly be in your debt should you do this for us. The few medical ponies we have sent all came back mentally scarred and no longer wanting to be in the field of healing. I had feared we would have to break the treaty this time,” Queen Luna stated her eyes bright as well.

“Being a princess myself I know that it’s a heavy burden to choose your subjects themselves or their safety even if either decision would hurt both. I will need a few supplies before heading out,” Twilight said, already creating her mental checklist.

“Whatever you need shall be brought to you. Court for the day is dismissed; thank you all for coming and helping make Equestria a wonderful place to live.” Queen Luna adjourned the meeting and Twilight waited as all the ponies left, some even stopping to bow to her. Medium Fries stayed were it was.

“Um Princess Twilight Sparkle, please forgive us for the harsh way we treated you. My men and I are deeply sorry,” the head guard said.

“Oh no there is nothing to forgive as you were only doing your royal duty to protect the prin-er I mean Queens. I must commend you on your response time as well, most efficient.”

The guards blushed under the praise and all four bowed to her before two left to guard outside the door, the other two staying.
Celestia and Luna left their thrones and walked towards Twilight who could not stop the widening of her eyes as she was at level height to Celestia. Having always looked up to the mare literally and figuratively to be on equal standing was shocking. To actually have to tilt her head down to look at Luna was mind boggling.

“You definitely have the royal air, Twilight,” Celestia said a small smile on her lips.

“When you return we must talk about your dimension I am curious to compare our worlds,” Luna toned in as well, excitement in her eyes.

“That would be wonderful. I also have many questions and can’t wait to take a look at your library.” Twilight can already feel the thrill of studying and research tingle across her spine.

“What items will you need in order to care for King Discord by the way?”

Luna’s question jostled Twilight out of her haze and she thought on it for a moment.

“I’ll need a tiny glass of water, three different types of tea, uncooked noodles, and a rubber chicken,” Twilight listed off. “Oh and a bottle of ketchup or tomato paste.”

“Ketchup?” Celestia asked incredulously.

“I don’t think we have a rubber chicken.” Luna commented slowly as she gestured to one of the guards to get the items Twilight has requested.

“I can attempt to conjure one but maybe Discord will have one instead.” With a nod of her head she was already putting herself in nurse mode.

Both Queens glanced at each other then back to Twilight who seemed oblivious to their stares.

If he’s faking it then this will be a piece of cake. I’ll just bore him to the point of not wanting to be sick again. If he actually is sick that tomato paste will definitely come in handy. Plan of action complete she was ready to go.

“Here are the items you requested your majesty. We were even able to procure a rubber chicken.” The messenger dropped a small sack at her hooves. A quick flick of magic and the sack was placed inside her pack.

Note to self, check out what items I was given in my saddle packs. That done Twilight was ready to go.

“Hope and Friendship guide your way Princess Twilight Sparkle.”

The familiar greeting unconsciously filled her with confidence that not everything would be completely different in this dimension. With a bow to the Queens she walked over to Medium Fries.

“Okay..um... Medium Fries. Take me to King Discord.”

Turning the yellow and green teddy bear looked at her making Twilight back up just a step since it seemed to have no eyes. Quicker than she thought an overstuffed bear to be it grabbed her up and swallowed her whole.

Author's Note

Not too much action but Discord will definitely be in the next chapter.

I admit it. I really wanted to get this chapter out today and so a few errors and grammar mistakes might have missed my rush edit. :twilightblush:

If you see any please let me know and I will correct them right away.

Chapter 3

Once again Twilight barely had time to brace herself before she was tumbling out of a dark hole and into a pile of pillows.

“Aw I knew I put those pillows in the wrong place,” spoke a voice above her.

With a growl Twilight was so tempted to give him one of her ‘Discords being a jerk’ spells but this was not her Discord back home. This was a King and since she didn’t know the exact wording of the treaty it would probably be bad if she attacked a monarch.

“Yea I bet,” Twilight growled out instead and looked around. She was in a small room surrounded by four doors. Each wall and door was painted a different color. Looking up there was no sky but a painting of Discord sitting on a throne. The painting leaned forward as it also examined her.

“Oh what is this? I knew Celestia and Luna were sisters but I didn’t think they were THAT close. Which one do you call Mommy?” Discord burst into laughter.

Twilights cheeks burned in anger.

“They are not my parents so don’t go getting ideas. I offered my services to the Queens for their help with another matter back in my home world. Now…” with a twitch of magic her mane was pulled back into an elegant bun with a few tendrils loose on each side. She then applied the health bubble as well.

“I am here to assess your medical illness and prescribe the right diagnosis.” Her tone brooked no argument.

“You will have to find me first. Pick a door any door and may it corrupt you along the way.” His voice echoed around the room.

“I don’t have time for your games Discord.” A thought struck her. “Is this what you have been doing to the doctors and nurses that are sent to take care of you!?”

“Now what would be the fun in just telling you? How about we make a deal? If you can find me before the end of the day, I will submit myself to your treatment and answer any questions you have.”

“And should I lose?”

“You stay and play with me in my wonderful house of fun … forever.”

“I get to keep my magic and my wings, and you agree to never do this to anypony again along with being properly treated for any illnesses.”

“You’ll actually play?” the disbelief in his voice was evident.

“I don’t see why not. I’m saving more ponies from being mentally scarred in the future. So do we have a deal?” she asked looking up at him.

“Yes, hahaha. I will even give you a clue for being such a good sport. Should it be a room of three, is no guarantee there I will be. Check back again to a room of five and from there you are in for a dive. The figure eight is no new stranger but rise up again and you’ll find me later.”

His voice slowly faded from the room as his image stilled in the portrait.

“Alright Sparkle no time to waste. Your family and friends are counting on you so getting stuck here is not an option.” Twilight decided to keep her mane up though as a precaution.

She opened the first a dark blue wall with a light pink door to see a field of poison joke.

The next was a dull yellow door and bright red wall which opened up to nothing but darkness.

The third, a burnt orange door with a white wall had a snapping rockodile. She slammed that one closed.

At the last door, which was a dark green on a faded brown wall there was a trail of red carpet with small tables scattered about covered in all different types of food. Cupcakes and daisy sandwiches, hay fries and apple fritters. The aroma had Twilight’s mouthwatering and she took one step towards that door. The scent circled her, enticing her with the deliciousness before her. It had been so long since she’d gotten to indulge, one quick bite or two wouldn’t hurt.

No Twilight, this is the door he wants you to take. Snap out of it!! Shaking her head Twilight stepped back and with a reluctance bordering on ‘I don’t wanna’ she slammed that door closed too.

“Food,” she whispered at the door in longing. With a turn she looked at the two remaining doors that were left open as options.

“Yea even if he was standing right there I am not running through poison joke again,” Twilight muttered and with a run leapt into the black abyss.

Meanwhile Discord had seen Twilight step toward the door with all the food and had turned away laughing. He knew the pony would go after the food. They all did. Once she had eaten her fill she would sleep until the end of the game and he couldn’t wait. He rubbed his hands in anticipation.

“Oh the wonderful games we’ll play from now on. I should go get her room ready.” With an excited squee Discord snapped his fingers and disappeared from the room missing Twilights escape from the food door and entrance into another.

xXx

“Me falling seems to be a theme today,” Twilight grumbled to herself. Her wings were spread out to slow her descent but in her eyes it was still falling. A few minutes later there was a sound below her.

Boing, boing, boing

What is that? she thought.

A pinprick of light began forming below her and the sound was getting closer. Soon she was floating down into a room with tiny specks that were bouncing all over the place. Looking up she saw the roof seal up and more of those tiny things started jumping off of that. Then Twilight felt something wiggling against her wings.

“Yeep!” she ruffled her feathers and flapped her wings. One of those things came flying out. Then a tickle under her forelegs and another wiggle all around her back, Twilight struggled again this time also trying to stop from laughing. She clapped her hooves and was able to catch one those things she took a closer look at it.

“A jumping bean?” the little bean wiggled and swayed and finally escaped her grasp to join its brethren.

The beans multiplied and began bouncing on Twilight even more. She tried to hold it in but the tickling was getting worse.

“Bwahahaha. Gotta... hahaha... get out of... hahaha... here.” She sent a blast of magic at the walls but that did nothing. Stepping on them just gave a tickle under her hooves and stomping on them made her bounce.

“Hmm,” Twilight stomped on them again and was lifted a little higher into the air. Laughing as she bounced Twilight was pleased to see a door slowly fade into view. She stopped bouncing to walk over to it and the door disappeared. Resuming her bouncing the door started appearing again until it was fully formed. Not chancing it disappearing she bounced over to it and it opened out for her.

Ahead was a long platform in the middle of a spinning room.

“Grr I hate this part. I guess both Discords have some things in common.” A flap of her wings and she was in the dizzying room. Luckily for her it was a quick pass through and not a test even if she felt a little nauseous. Once that door had closed behind her she was standing at the top of a really long slide. Going down the slide she ended up in a room with multiple versions of herself?

“Duh,” Twilight knocked a hoof on her head. “A mirror maze. Not like I hadn’t been through this a few times.”

Twilight eventually landed in a faux garden surrounded by statues of Discord in different poses. She couldn’t help but let out a chuckle at the irony.

After what seemed like hours she ended up in a corridor of unending doors. Each door either had a number letter or random shape and there was no order of numbers or even a pattern to the shapes and letters. At least to anyone who didn’t have a chaotic god as a husband.

“If there’s one thing a disharmonious god can’t stand, it’s an unfinished gag,” Twilight said to herself. She trotted down the hallway but it was only to one tune and one tune alone.

“Shave and a haircut…” she sang as her hooves tapped it pausing by a few doors then going forward.

Meanwhile Discord had just finished creating and decorating his new priso-er guests rooms. A bright hot pink bed with matching rugs over a swampy floor. An electric green bathroom with strobe lights. He even created a kitchen for her own use, granted it was upside down but what was the fun in cooking the normal way. Just as he was about to add a few wall hangings, of himself of course, a strange sound reached his hears.

Tap tap ta-tap tap

“Huh,” his ear twitched but he ignored it and went back to snapping his fingers. Then the noise got louder.

Tap tap ta-tap tap

“Hm Hm,” he hummed and furrowed his brow. There was something in that song. Yes it was calling out to him but what could it want?

Tap Tap Ta-Tap Tap

It was getting louder and a voice was singing with it.

“Shave and a haircut…” but it didn’t finish the song. How dare that voice not finish the song?!

TAP TAP TA-TAP TAP

He couldn’t take it anymore. It had to come out it had to be completed!

“TWO BITS!!!!” Discord burst out of the room with a barber’s quartet and a blast of confetti.

Not taking any chances Twilight tackled him to the ground.

“Found you. I win.”

“Wha? Bu? How? You?” Red yellow eyes stared in confusion at the purple alicorn on top of him. Her hair was a tangled mess and there were grass stains all over her but she had a triumphant smirk on her face.

“Now make a magical oath. Promise to no longer mentally harm or seriously injure others with your chaos,” Twilight said.

“Lookie here now..”

“I. Said. Do it.” She growled getting in his face.

Discord felt his face warm up and denied to himself he was blushing and he definitely did not think the fierce glare from the purple alicorn was cute because it wasn’t. Obviously he was just embarrassed from losing and anything would look cute if you hadn’t seen anypony for days, months, years at a time. Not that he thought she looked cute. Discord really wanted this pony off him now.

“I, Discord, King of Chaos and Disharmony do hereby swear to not mentally harm or seriously injure others with my chaos,” He said disdainfully and snapped his paw.

In a flash of light he was floating in the air again away from that aggravating pony that he didn’t think was cute.

Twilight shook her head as the bright flash had blinded her for a moment. Looking around she found Discord in the air and smiled up at him.

“Now that’s out of the way do you have a place I could freshen up?”

“Why would I let you stay here when you ruined all my plans and made me make that awful oath?”

Stepping deeper into the room Discord had burst out of; she saw that he had indeed created a room for her anticipating her loss.

“Because were friends now. I’ll be right back to give you a checkup.” Twilight then disappeared into the bathroom locking and magically enforcing the door. That left a dumbfounded Draconequus still floating in the air thinking about her words.

“Friends? Is this feeling…. Friendship?” With a huff Discord disappeared not liking this change to his abnormal routine. If the pony wanted to play doctor she could go find somepony else.

xXx-end chp 3

Author's Note

Thank you for reading. <(^_^<)~