Return to the Mirror Universe

Two guards parted in front of the door to Canterlot Castle's throne room as Twilight telekinetically pushed it open. In the middle of the room were the statues of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna. Her mentor had the same serene wise look that she always had when in the court room. She was standing upright and staring straight ahead, almost as if she was looking directly at Twilight. Princess Luna was in a lying down position, as if she had been sleeping. It made sense, since she normally slept during the day and watched over the night. Princess Cadence stood beside the statues with her back to the door. The guard she was chatting with pointed a hoof and she turned around.

"I'm so glad you're alright!" she exclaimed, wrapping Twilight and each of her friends in a hug. The Princess of Love looked worse for wear, her normally flawless mane frizzing out with worry. "I came as soon as I got the message that this happened."

Twilight nodded, "The same thing happened to a lot of my friends in Ponyville. Trixie, Discord, Gilda and even Sunset Shimmer in the human world turned into statues."

"Ah don't suppose you know why this happened?" Applejack asked.

"Sadly no, we've tried everything we can think of, but we didn't find out why this happened or how to reverse it." Cadence said, slumping her shoulders sadly.

"It seems odd doesn't it? Gilda, Trixie, Discord they don't really have any relation to each other except that they're our friends. Why were they specifically petrified and nopony else?" Rainbow Dash wondered.

"I think I can explain that."

Twilight looked over to the left side of the throne room. Beside Princess Celestia's throne was a small auxiliary entrance, through which a grey pegasus stepped. She was followed by two armed guards who regarded her angrily.

"I said you had the right to remain silent!" one of the guards said.

"Ah but in common law practice a 'right' is optional for the bearer to use, but required for a prosecutor to respect." the pegasus countered.

"We found her wandering a restricted area of the castle. What should we do with her your majesties?" the other guard asked gruffly.

Twilight took a closer look at the pegasus. The mare had a grey coat, thick glasses and the demeanor of a professor. But her two most distinct features were her cutie mark, and her eyes. Her cutie mark was a pattern of small bubbles and behind her glasses, her eyes faced in two completely different directions. Those were eyes Twilight had seen only one pony in all of Equestria have.

"Derpy...?" Twilight asked cautiously.

"That would indeed be my name Princess Twilight." the pegasus said, bowing slightly.

"You look like Derpy... but Derpy doesn't have glasses... and you certainly don't talk like her." Twilight observed suspiciously. The thought crossed her mind that it could be a rouge changeling, or another shapeshifter. But she remembered seeing this pseudo-Derpy somewhere else.

"I am Derpy, but not the Derpy you know I'm afraid. I'm from the mirror universe where you stopped evil Princess Celestia." Derpy said in her monotonous professor voice.

"Figures mirror Derpy would be an egghead..." Rainbow Dash muttered. She received an elbow from Applejack.

Twilight suddenly remembered where she had seen this other Derpy. "You were on the stained glass windows of Sombra's castle! You were a... a virtue... the virtue of wisdom right?"

"Yes Princess that's right. I have come here from my world seeking your help." Derpy implored calmly. "I can tell you why your Princesses here have been turned to stone, but perhaps it's best if we talk privately?" Derpy gave the guards a nervous glance. Cadence nodded and waved the soldiers away. After they left, Derpy continued, "Our world is in crisis once again. A band of notorious criminals called "the mane six" have somehow stolen the power of Disharmony, the same power King Sombra selflessly absorbed out of our princesses, and used it to defeat all who opposed them. Sir Discord, Princess Celestia and Luna, Duchess Chrysalis, King Sombra, as well as my fellow virtues: Sunset Shimmer, Gilda and Princess Trixie, are now imprisoned in stone."

Everyone's mouth except Derpy's hung wide open. Starlight asked the first question, "Wait, 'the mane six'? You mean that nickname ponies gave Twilight and her friends? Does that mean...?"

"Yes the same. Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, Applejack, Pinkamena Pie and Rarity are the most feared criminals in all of Equestria in our world. They've mainly operated in the criminal underworld up till now, committing a list of crimes too heinous and numerous to account. I'm sorry to say Princess Twilight, but they're nothing like you."

"But why are our Princesses and friends statues then?" Cadence asked thoughtfully.

Derpy opened her mouth to answer, but Twilight answered first. "When we first went through the mirror to stop the evil Princesses, we found out that somehow, our realities are connected. Whatever happens there, will be equalized here. And vice versa. Mostly this connection is invisible, for example if our Derpy accidentally messed up something, mirror Derpy here would succeed at the same thing in her world. Sometimes though, when one counterpart comes into contact with extreme magic like petrification, the connection takes drastic measures to ensure things stay equal, like for example petrifying our friends with no cause..." Twilight continued along her line of thought, "In fact, the connection got so bad that it threatened to destroy both our worlds. And that brings me to another important question Derpy. After we defeated the Princesses, we severed the connection between our worlds by destroying the mirror that Star Swirl the Bearded built. So... how are you here?"

"With respect Princess, I believe you forgot one very important part in your explanation. Love." mirror Derpy grinned. "As most of you probably deduced during your first adventure, King Sombra and your world's Princess Celestia fell deeply in love when your princess and Star Swirl the Bearded first ventured into our world."

Twilight's cheeks grew hot. She had left out that detail very much on purpose. "Um... well I hardly thought it appropriate to..." Most of her friends weren't really that surprised, as they had found out about Celestia's secret at the same time as her. However she caught Starlight looking off to the side, pretending not to listen and Cadence trying to hide a broad smile.

"Anyway, in answer to your question Princess, I'll pick up where you left off. After you and your friends went back home, we virtues took it upon ourselves to save King Sombra from the evil he absorbed. We executed a plan to contain the evil within a primordial "Tree of Harmony" that strangely grew downward rather than upward. After raising the tree, we transferred the dark magic out of King Sombra and into it. The magic turned the tree evil and corrupt, but at least our king was free. However he remained unhappy still, unhappy that he would never be able to see the one he loved ever again. Luckily for us, Star Swirl had long ago prepared for such a contingency, knowing that the connection between our worlds might have disastrous results. He created a second auxiliary mirror, that would lessen the connection between our worlds by only letting one pony through and back once a month. It would allow our king and your princess to be together, but keep Harmony intact. At the command of our king, I used it to escape the attack of your counterparts. Despite Star Swirl's good intentions, it seemed that the connection between our worlds was enough to petrify your friends."

"A tree of evil? A tree of Disharmony! Hey, hey Twi, you think they got cool necklace thingies like us?" Pinkie Pie asked.

"You might be right Pinkie. To think... Elements of DISharmony... I never fathomed..." Twilight wondered aloud.

"That is a very likely theory. Our king told me that you had "Elements of Harmony" that could rein in any villain who threatened your world. Possibly the Elements of Disharmony do the same thing in reverse. It explains why two alicorns, a queen and Sir Discord weren't enough to stop them. Perhaps we could use your elements to negate theirs?"

Twilight shifted uneasily, "We don't have the elements of Harmony anymore... but we DO carry the spirits of the elements within us. Of course we'll help you free your world and ALL our friends!"

Derpy bowed, "I am grateful Princess."

"Um I have a question... uh if that's okay with you that is..." Fluttershy whispered. Everypony turned to look at her, surprised. She meekly hid her face in her hooves. "Uh, um how do we get there if the mirror only works for one pony?" She buried her face deeper.

"A very astute question Fluttershy." Derpy said kindly. She chuckled, "You think this is unnerving for you? Our Fluttershy would've twisted my tail into a knot by now!" She continued, "The answer may not be one you'll like. We'll have to strengthen the connection of the mirror. The most we can do without creating a catastrophe is seven ponies. Even that's stretching things. That means two of us have to stay back."

"Derpy should go, she's the only one who can guide any of us through the mirror world." Applejack said. Everypony nodded their head in agreement.

Derpy nodded her head in acknowledgement, "I didn't want to presume, but I thank you for allowing me to fight for my world."

"I'd like to go, if no pony minds." Twilight said, anxiously looking around the room. The situation was getting tense. Nopony wanted to be the one left behind, as they would feel less valuable than the others. Luckily Cadence stepped in.

"I think it's best if you go with Twilight and the rest of the former element bearers here. They stand the best chance to defeat these so called, 'Elements of Disharmony' due to their intrinsic connection to the Tree of Harmony."

Twilight looked nervously in Starlight's direction. "I'd like to go." Starlight began. Twilight held her breath. "But I see your point. We should make the choice that has the best chance of helping our friends." Twilight smiled with pride. Starlight really had come a long way in her friendship lessons.

"I'll stay here in Canterlot and take over for Princess Celestia and Princess Luna for now. It'll be hard, but I'll manage." Cadence smiled wearily.

"And I'll gather up the statues in the castle and keep trying from our side to reverse the magic. Zecora might have a potion or two that could do the trick..." Starlight said.

"Very well, then lets not delay any longer." Derpy said getting up. Everypony followed Derpy our of the throne room through the small side door she came in from. She navigated them down many long arched hallways, filled with everything from offices to laboratories. Finally, Derpy stopped at a large door, marked with a shining yellow sun. Princess Celestia's cutie mark. With a gasp, Twilight realized they were going into Princess Celestia's private quarters. Cadence unlocked the door with a flash of her horn, and the group shuffled inside.

Twilight was surprised to see how small and simple the room was. Princess Celestia, ruler of all Equestria, had a room no better than most rooms at an inn. Near the far wall was a large bed, with sun yellow blankets and pillows. A half read book sat on a wooden beside table. To Twilight's left was a practical work desk with a few sets of quills and ink accompanied by some partly written legal documents. A small shelf above the desk had framed photos of Twilight together with her ponyville friends, Princess Luna, and Cadence. The curtains were drawn wide open, letting in the bright afternoon sun. She couldn't help but chuckle as she realized her mentor had probably requested such a simple room, much to the chagrin of her staff.

Derpy flew up to the shelf and gently tapped the Cadence picture. The picture rippled and changed into one of Princess Celestia and mirror Sombra hugging as they smiled at the camera. Twilight heard a rumbling as a section of floor moved away, revealing a passage underground.

"Clever." Cadence remarked. "She hid the passage to her love, behind a picture of me, the Princess of Love..."

Everypony made their way down into the passage, Fluttershy petting a few "adorable" little spiders on the way. After a few minutes walk through the ancient rocky hallways, they found what they were looking for. Twilight recognized the design of the thin purple framed mirror as the same as the one they had used before.

"Alright." Derpy said. "We need as much magic as possible to make this work. Unicorns, prepare to shoot an enlarging spell at the mirror on my mark!" Twilight stepped forward horn at the ready, and saw Rarity, Cadence and Starlight do the same. "Ready... NOW!" Twilight channeled all her power toward the mirror, joining her beam of magical energy with the three others. The mirror began to glow and a large portal crackled out of it. "Stop!" Twilight cut her magic and saw the beams of energy disappear as her friends did the same.

"READY EVERYPONY?" Derpy yelled over the crackling of the portal. They all nodded their assent. Starlight and Cadence backed away, waving their goodbyes. "On three! ONE... TWO... THREE!" Twilight jumped into the roaring vortex of energy. She thought she heard Cadence yell something, but she couldn't hear it over the noise of the portal.

Going through a portal was not pleasant business. Twilight felt herself being stretched and twisted like a filly's plaything by the magic that connected the worlds. She closed her eyes desperately waiting for it to end. Fortunately, while the ride wasn't fun, it was quick. Twilight felt herself land on a smooth tiled surface. She opened her eyes, and found that, instead of an underground passage, she was looking at a white wall. Around her she could hear the groans of her companions as they got up, recovering from the portal experience. Twilight pushed herself to her hooves and looked around at the room they'd landed in. The room was entirely white painted lit up with lamps along the walls. Beakers and technology littered the floor marking the room as a laboratory. In fact, Twilight noticed, the room was an exact replica of the lab in Canterlot Castle. She looked at the mirror they had just come out of and noticed that it was connected to several tubes and wires running across the room.

"Where did we- " Rainbow started. A huge wailing sound cut her off, forcing everypony to cover their ears. Twilight realized they must've activated some kind of security ward.

"NO!" Derpy yelled. "They must've found a way to change the arrival location! We were supposed to arrive out of Sir Discord's statue outside city limits! We'll have to make a run for it!" The door to the lab burst open, and a few dozen guards burst in, spears at the ready.

"Hooves up! You're outnumbered!" one of them yelled. Twilight noticed that their eyes had a greenish tinge to them. Mind control.

She lit her horn ready to fight, but paused when she heard a familiar voice outside. "Oh, oh you've got them surrounded? Are you sure? Um, uh there's really absolutely no danger if we go in right?" Twilight discerened the voice of a stallion... a stallion she knew. "Um n-no of course I'm not questioning her. I'm captain of the guard just like she ordered see? And um, as captain I order that uh you- you go in first okay?" the stallion commanded shakily. The guards stopped pointing their spears, and suddenly snapped to attention. Two burly brown earth ponies entered the room and stood to the side, also at attention.

A trembling white unicorn stallion timidly trotted into the room. He had a dark blue mane and tail, contrasted with several stripes of lighter blues. His cutie mark was a small blue shield, with tiny stars above it, and a large purple star in the middle. "Is- is it safe?" He whimpered.

"Shining Armor....?"