“She’s right!” cried Twilight, in full-on panic mode.

“Oh god, oh god, oh god!” screeched Rainbow, flying up through the oak tree chandelier.

“We’re all gonna die!” shouted Pinkie, in an oddly cheerful voice.

“Guys! Calm down,” commanded Fluttershy. Her love for her friends was overriding the panic that was visible in her eyes.

Rainbow slowly landed on the floor with a thump! Twilight slowly used Cadence’s breathing exercises to ease her worries. Pinkie was still smiley and bouncy, but she was trembling, as if she couldn’t keep up the act forever.

“That’s better,” said Fluttershy softly. “Now, we need to find Rarity. Let’s search the castle.”

“Ummm, that won’t be necessary,” remarked Rainbow Dash, a fearful appearance on her face.

“And why is that, Rainbow?” asked Twilight, giving her a stern look.

“Because I’ve already found her,” Rainbow said, gesturing towards the wall.

It was a simple crystalline wall, but what they found hanging there made them gasp. There, with it’s beautiful gem encrusted edges, lay the mirror they had found in other room. But that wasn’t what was freaky. Inside the mirror, tinged blue and hooves banging seemingly on the inside, was none other than Rarity herself.

“RARITY!” screamed Twilight, already racing towards the mirror.

The others followed behind, their faces showing what only could be described as pure terror.

“Rarity, how’d you end up in there?” cried Applejack, putting her hoof on the mirror.

Rarity seemed to be speaking, but if she truly was, she made no sound.

“Rarity, we can’t hear you! You’re going to have to find someway to write to us!” yelled Twilight, whose screws were seeming to come loose.

Rarity scrambled throughout the frame of the mirror. The room was similar to the castle, but the layout was completely different. She opened a large cabinet and rumbled through the contents until she was able to find a small stick of lipstick.

She rushed over and started writing on the mirror. The stick was a sharp shade of red and though smudgy, the letters could be made out. There was only one problem though.

“Rarity, the words are backwards!” called Applejack.

She shrugged helplessly, unable to erase all the information she had written.

“Can any of you read backwards letters?” asked Twilight desperately.

Pinkie stepped forwards, a twinkle in her eye. “My time has come,” she said in a mystical voice.

She approached the mirror and scanned the text. As she read, she said the words aloud:

“I have no idea where I am. This place is no reflection of the castle, so I’m lost as to where to go. I know one thing though. It’s because of the card, because of the game, that I’m here."

“Rarity, is there any way for you to escape?” asked Twilight.

Rarity hastily raided the cabinet and pulled out a cloth. She rubbed the old lipstick message off and continued to write a new piece. As she wrote in a curvy scrawl, Pinkie read:

“There are doors, but most of the lead to long open hallways with more doors. However, no matter what, you musn’t stop pla-”

Rarity suddenly dropped the lipstick and gave a silent scream, her eyes widening in terror. She scurried out of the room before she could finish whatever she was writing.

Rainbow knocked on the glass. “Rarity,” she called, “Come back!”

“She’s gone, Rainbow. Something happened in there. I don’t know what, but what I do know is, the best way to help Rarity is to keep playing. Who knows, maybe we’ll be able to release her after a few turns,” said Twilight.

“Is it safe to keep playing?” asked Pinkie, her cheerfulness falling and her hair starting to lose its poof.

“I don’t know,” admitted Twilight, “But-”

“But,” Rainbow interjected, “We’ve got to move forwards! For Rarity’ sake.”

Putting their fears aside, they cheered and cried, “For Rarity!”

Author's Note

Chapter 3 Part I done and done! Hope you guys like it, this story is about to be much less light-hearted then you thought it was gonna be ;)

Peace, Love, and Smiles,
Sunshine