Mirror, Mirror

Two years had passed since the Princess of the Sun banished her little sister to the moon. Celestia struggled to keep her little kingdom from falling to ruin. Outsiders wanted in, insiders couldn't get out. She had to expand. The thought of living alone in a castle that was meant to be ruled by a pair, suddenly made it feel... empty. With decisive action, she closed the doors to the castle in the Everfree Forest, and looked for better ground on which to build her new home.

Why she chose the side of a mountain... who knows? Even with the help of Starswirl the Bearded, and several other noteworthy mages, construction took another 2 years. Once complete, Celestia sat atop her new throne and sighed. Starswirl, friendly as he was, asked her what the matter was.

"I know not, Starswirl. Just, I had thought this new haven would be built with my sister at my side. Had I noticed sooner the hatred consuming her, mayhap I could have..." Celestia turned to her side, and imagined her sister in a similar throne.

"There is naught you could have done. This world is on a path, and nothing may deter it so easily. And while you inherited her duty to rise and set the moon, so too, have you inherited the responsibility of her three elements. What I cannot fathom is why you would not want them nearby?"

Celestia turned to her old friend and smiled. "Yes, my sister is gone, as well as several threats from the past. None of which likely to return at any time. Unfortunately... Naught matters in that regard, for now is the time of peace. I need no defense from that which does not exist."

Starswirl looked out through the stained glass window at the horizon line. "Celestia, I know you meant not what you did. But little choice you had, and I'm sure you feel sorry." He turned back to her and slowed his words. "But, do not forget: you cannot change the past, only act in the present, to affect the future."

"Wise words, but as usual, your lecture is riddled with crypticism. I am to act now, to obtain a future I cannot comprehend? Then if it goes how I do not desire, there's no way of undoing that which has been done. As a wizard of time spells, you know that better than anypony."

Starswirl chuckled a bit before replying, "Ah yes, cryptic indeed. Remind me, was it you or your sister who wielded the magic element?"

"I did."

"That's right. You did. Then is it any wonder how you came up with the correct answer to my 'cryptic' lecture?" Starswirl turned toward the door. "Forgive me, princess. There are matters I need to attend to. I'll return in the morning, and can have a nice cut of dessert." He left the room, closing the doors behind him.

"Sometimes I think he knows more than he lets on, other times, it feels like he's not all there." She sighed once more and looked out a the horizon. "I just wish there was some way, to see what could have been, had I not done what I did."

"Perhaps there is a way, child," a voice called out. "If you seek it."

"Who goes there?" Celestia called out. No reply sounded through the empty room. "I did hear you."

"Then listen closely, young one," it replied. Celestia got behind her throne and glanced around the room. "You desire to see a world where all is as you believe it should be. A reality that does not truly exist."

"But one that could have. To see my sister once more, I will gladly do anything."

"Anything, you say?" A bright flash of light filled the room as a large white alicorn stood in the middle. Her red flowing mane and tail emitted a warm glow. "Come, child."

Celestia squinted at the figure, and stepped out. Even as considerably sized as Celestia was, this new alicorn towered over her. "Who ... are you?"

"I am The Divine Creator, The Ultimate, The Mother. I am All, I am One. As I have many names, I may take many forms. My abilities are grand and miniscule, and none are without price."

"Is this some illusion?" she asked warily.

"Think what you will. Answer me this: do you desire to see the world you described?"

"More than a- wait... If you have an ultimate ability, why not bring my sister back from the moon?"

"That is her punishment for trying to force others to respect her. Is that not how you justified it? Her banishment is her punishent but yours as well. I cannot undo that. I can, however, grant you this." Her horn lit a rainbow of colors and created a reflective surface, bordered in gems. "Beyond this mirror is a world, much like this one, but one where your sister is at your side." Celestia stepped toward it, and reached a hoof out to breach its surface. "Know this: my power is not without drawback. The mirror will only be passable every 30 moons. 3 nights from the day it opens, it will close for another 30 moons. This mirror will first open 3 nights before the next new moon. And correct me if I am wrong, there will be one tonight..."

"There ... will be. Why are you doing this?"

"Consider this a gift to you. As it now belongs to you, you may do with it what you want. Destroy it, live beyond it, give it away, it matters not to me." Her horn lit once more as another light grew in brightness around Her. "I bid you farewell, child."

"Wait! I still have so many questions..." Too late, had she requested more time. Alone she sat, before her new mirror. "A world lies beyond this mirror. And it will open tonight."

Starswirl burst through the door, sending scraps of wood in all directions. "What happened in here? I saw a bright ligt, then the door locked. Are you well?"

"I am. Come look at this." He walked to her side and looked at the mirror. "It's a gift to me."

"You conjured a mirror. Congratulations." He looked at her with worry. "I am not amused by your want to look in a mirror. Farewell." He teleported out and fixed the door in the process.

"Wait, that's not... Oh whatever."

That night, Celestia stepped through the mirror and crawled out on the other side. She looked up to see a large wooden structure. Behind her was a wooden construct resembling a horse. Several creatures were going into the structure wearing absurd amounts of fabric. Terrified, she backed through the portal and emerged her pony form.

After several quick breaths, she moved the mirror behind her throne. So that if by some accident, something tried to get through, it would hit the back of her throne and fail.

Wait a minute... I ... did I see ... She moved the mirror slowly and stepped through one more time.

On the other side, she looked over herself and tried to right herself, as she saw them do. "My sister could be in there."

"Hm, I wonder who that could be. Perhaps an attendee?" She looked and saw a gray being with a long white beard wearing fabric with bells attached. "Might be as though I can help you."

"You are... Starswirl... Yes?"

"I am. Intriguing that you know me, yet we've never met before. I am indeed Starswirl. I am a new instructor at this establishment. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance." He offered his hand in introduction.

Celestia looked at it, then at her own. Slowly, she reached out and grasped his. "Forgive me, but I may need help traversing. These legs are not what I am used to."

Over the course of the next couple days, Starswirl lent his aid in discerning the existence of Celestia's sister. All went without interruption as a majority of the students were out for the day. The few that remained did not care too much to see an instructor supporting a student around. The Study was visited, along with the main office. Scrolls were looked through, and images scoured. Finally, she found it: an image of Celestia and Luna in a scroll dated last week. With this new information, Celestia let slip a single tear and a smile. That very night, Celestia disappeared from that world, and took with her that scroll.

From that day, onward, that scroll has remained one of Princess Celestia's most prized possessions.