Return to the Mirror Universe

"T-Twilight?" Shining Armor stuttered, the look on his face turning into one of horror. He curled up on the floor and raised his hooves protectively above his head. "Please, wait! I tried to do it right this time, I really did!" he pleaded. Twilight stared at her pitiful brother, and felt her heart break. No... this stallion wasn't her BBBFF (big brother best friend forever), she reminded herself. The real Shining Armor was back in her world, keeping watch over the Crystal Empire. He would never cower in the face of adversity, and was always ready to put himself on the line to protect others. Still, she couldn't help but feel sorry for this warped mirror version of Shining. In some crazy, cosmological way, they were still related after all.

One of his earth pony body guards whispered something into mirror Shining's ear. He visibly sighed in relief. "Oh uh okay then. Next Twilight said to... bring them to the throne room!" he remembered excitedly. The guards moved in and began arresting her friends.

"Let me go you uncouth brutes!" Rarity whined as she struggled.

"Back off!" Rainbow warned menacingly, taking a fighting stance. Twilight saw her friends were eager to fight back, but she quickly decided now was not the time. First, they were in a lab, and a fight might easily cause any one of the experiments to explode or destroy the mirror, their only way home. Second, Twilight hoped that their counterparts would be in the throne room, and she could end things quickly and decisively.

"No wait! We'll go." Twilight said in a defeated voice. Derpy's mismatched eyes widened in understanding and she gave Twilight a small nod. The others seemed confused, but trusted Twilight's judgement. Reluctantly, Rainbow lowered her hooves and Rarity ceased her barrage of insults toward the guards.

"You will?" mirror Shining went from looking frightened to confused. His bodyguards frowned at him, their green eyes glinting. "Uh I mean, of course you will!"

Twilight and her friends were herded out of the lab, encircled by the guards as mirror Shining Armor and his two massive earth pony body guards led the way. The mind controlled guards marched at a steady pace, their heads staring blankly forward, paying Twilight and the others no mind, except for the occasional shove if one of them was too slow. They trotted down several small hallways with several small wooden doors that mostly seemed uninteresting, but the odd door had a sign like, "Fluttershy's Animal Experimentation Facility" or "Applejack Propaganda Printing Room" that made Twilight cringe. She was just thankful Fluttershy was looking the other way when they passed the former.

"Looks like they've already started making changes... and not the good kind." Derpy whispered. Twilight nodded worriedly.

Ahead of them, pseudo-Shining glanced backward at them nervously. Twilight quickened her pace, trying to catch up to him. The two earth ponies immediately blocked her, shaking their heads. "I just want to talk, I'm not going to hurt you." Twilight said in a reassuring tone.

Hesitantly, he waved a hoof and the guards stepped aside, watching her intently with their unblinking green eyes. "You-you're not going to hurt me? But... you're another version of her aren't you? Aren't you mad? When she's mad she-" he cringed a little bit.

"Well, being captured isn't a hoot, but that doesn't mean we're going to hurt somepony. Besides, you seem like you don't really want to be here. If you're so afraid, why are you doing this?" Twilight asked, genuinely sorry for him now.

"Where else would I go? I can't do anything for anypony. I'm useless, they all said so." He drooped his head sadly. "Besides Twilight isn't so bad, at least, she's better than Cadence was. She only uses her magic on me if I do something wrong."

Tears brimmed Twilight's eyes. This truly was the opposite of her brother. Rather than a proud and honorable stallion, determined to protect those he cares about, this Shining Armor was beaten and broken down by those he cared for most. He only knew fear and cowardice, nothing else. "You're not useless, Shining Armor. Nopony is." He didn't respond, instead turning away sadly. Twilight slowed her pace, moving back to her friends. Fluttershy laid a hoof on her back and smiled in approval.

There was a great creaking sound as two large doors in front of them swung open. They entered the grand hallway, leading up to the throne room. There was a collective gasp as they saw the statues lining the sides. On one side of the room were statues of Princess Celestia and Princess Luna, almost indistinguishable from their counterparts back home except for their ceremonial headdresses and eye markings. Beside them was a statue of Discord... in a suit with a monocle? Even in an alternate universe in statue form, Discord was still confusing. He was joined by a statue of a much gentler looking Chrysalis, with almost grandma like glasses, and hearts on her wings. On the other side of the room were statues of Sunset Shimmer (in pony form), King Sombra, Gilda in full battle armor, and an alicorn version of Trixie.

"It's so creepy... they look just like our friends!" Pinkie exclaimed, shivering.

Applejack facehoofed, "That's what they're supposed to look like Pinkie."

"That's so not cool..." Rainbow Dash said, unnerved by the statues.

"And just look at those windows, how tacky." Rarity added. Rainbow Dash gave her a slightly annoyed look, but Rarity was still looking up. Twilight saw that the stained glass windows of the four virtues had been replaced by windows with enhanced depictions of each of their cutie marks. The only different one was Pinkie Pie's mark, which had a popped balloon over two whole ones. Twilight's star mark was in the middle, depicted shining with a harsh purple light.

"We're here." mirror Shining said in a quavering voice. They had reached the end of the hall, and stopped in front of two ornate jeweled doors. His horn glowed and the doors swung open, leading into the throne room. Twilight trotted forward, unsure what to think of what she saw before her.

When Derpy had described their counterparts, Twilight was half expecting to see shadowy smoky monster ponies. However the ponies before them looked... almost exactly like they did. Mirror-Fluttershy held a bunny by a tight leash (mirror-Angel?) and moved her hoof up and down, directing some very scared looking animals to dance for her amusement. Applejack's counterpart wore a black hat instead of a brown one, with a black scarf to match. She sat on the steps leading up to six thrones, playing cards with a very annoyed mirror-Rainbow (who looked exactly like Rainbow Dash except that her rainbow mane had slightly darker shades). Pseudo-Rarity had on a sparkling black dress, and sat on her throne counting hundreds of bits with greedy excitement. On the throne next to her, mirror-Pinkie (Twilight decided to call her Pinkamena, because she looked like that creepy fan drawing a colt asked Pinkie to sign a few months ago) dejectedly read a book on dimensional physics. Her hair hung limp instead of poofy, like Pinkie's did when she was sad. Finally there was her own counterpart. Mirror-Twilight sat on the tallest of the six thrones, levitating several papers in front her. A glittering black crown adorned her head, but that was not the detail that stuck out most to Twilight. Pseudo-Twilight was a unicorn, not an alicorn. Twilight guessed that that might give her an advantage, as opposed to the other important detail she noticed. Around the necks of each of their counterparts were gold-black lockets, encrusted with gems matching the host's respective color. The Elements of Disharmony.

When they entered, the counterparts stopped what they were doing and stared, mouths agape. Mirror-Twi was the first to speak, "Ah good bring them forward! You actually did something right for once Shining Armor. Now get out of my sight." Pseudo-Shining galloped out of the room as fast as he could. Once he was gone, parallel Twilight continued, "He really is pathetic isn't he? Always was since we were foals... but no matter. I am Princess Twilight Sparkle, Princess of Disharmony."

"You're no princess! You're not even an alicorn!" Rainbow Dash shouted. Mirror-Dash (Twilight was tired of thinking Mirror-X again and again so she decided just M- would be enough to distinguish) snorted with laughter at that.

M-Twilight's face flickered with anger "Quiet! I rule all of Equestria, just as Celestia and Luna once did. I am just as much a princess as they!" She put her hoof to her chest and breathed deeply a few times. "But we don't need to introduce ourselves do we? You already know who we are as you are us. Really Derpy this was your plan? Bring in our goody goody counterparts from another universe, just like Sombra did? Oh yes I know all about that, how you turned the two princesses good, putting a damper on all my plans. But no more. I wanted to see you all once before I throw you in Canterlot dungeon. We'll see how long it'll take Fluttershy to make you unscramble that mirror Derpy. Once you do, we'll be the rulers of TWO Equestrias!"

"No. You won't. You're going right back to Canterlot Prison where you belong!" Twilight yelled defiantly.

M-Twilight laughed. "You speak bravely for someone who's surrounded by the entire palace guard." Twilight thought she heard Pinkamena mutter 'irony'. Pinkie Pie giggled a little bit. Great, almost as bad as when Pinkie cloned herself. "Spike! Take these interdimensional interlopers to the dungeons."

A side entrance to the throne room opened, and a small purple dragon with green spikes ran in. M-Spike looked over at Twilight and her friends, raising his eyebrows. "Well ain't that a surprise..." he said in a gravelly voice. He turned to M-Twilight and bowed, "Right away milady!"

"NOW TWILIGHT!" Derpy yelled. Twilight's horn glowed, and a ring of purple magic burst out. The dozens of guards surrounding them instantly dropped to the ground, unconscious.

"WHAT!?" M-Twilight screamed in shock.

"The thing about mind control spells... they're awfully fragile. Even Discord couldn't control us for long. These guys'll wake up with a small headache in a few hours, which is more than enough time for us to overthrow you." Twilight explained.

M-Twilight scoffed, "We'll see about that. Take them!" The counterparts adopted a fighting stance.

"For Equestria!" Derpy cried. There was a tense moment of silence. Then... battle began.

There was a rainbow flash as M-Rainbow and Rainbow Dash zoomed toward each other and clashed in midair. Applejack and her counterpart bucked themselves off the ground, tackling each other. They rolled to the side of the room, each fighting to pin the other pony down. Fluttershy quaked in fear as M-Fluttershy advanced menacingly toward her. Twilight just had time to place a protective magical circle around her friend before M-Twilight shot a ray of magic at her. Twilight rolled to the side, dodging. M-Twilight jumped off her throne, looking extremely angry.

Twilight shot a beam at her opponent, and it was met halfway. The beams pushed against each other, their casters channeling all their power. This was where Twilight expected her alicorn status to help her. She drew on her extra reserves of magic, temporarily converting her pegasi and earth pony magic into unicorn power. However to Twilight's surprise, the beam didn't move toward her counterpart, but rather started inching the other way, towards her. With a start, Twilight realized that there was only one explanation. M-Twilight was using dark magic. Sure enough, the beam inching toward her was black rather than purple. Twilight had studied many fields or magic, but left dark magic well alone. She'd only learned the tiniest amount from Princess Celestia, so that she could interact with dark objects when needed, like in evil Sombra's castle. The vile magic was fueled by anger and hatred and too much use would change the user's soul. Dark wizards had been known to become decrepit monsters over time after decades of using dark magic. However the fact remained that it was more powerful than regular magic, and Twilight couldn't win a direct contest.

She broke off the beam and ducked M-Twilight's attack. Twilight changed her strategy, shooting a beam at her opposite, and then moving to another spot. She pranced around, using well practiced magic dueling footwork to avoid her opposite's attempts to get her into another direct clash. Moving around also allowed Twilight to look around the room and see what her friends were doing. Rainbow Dash and M-Dash fought at super speed, using the extra space granted by the high ceiling to try and out maneuver each other in the air. They did loops, twists and turns, their hooves clashing at odd intervals. To her left Applejack and her opposite were in some sort of standoff staring each other down cowgirl style before suddenly bucking into the air and fighting again. Over at front of the room M-Fluttershy had given up on trying to attack Fluttershy directly, as the circle rebuffed all her efforts. However Twilight felt a stab of annoyance with herself, as she realized spell only repelled ponies. M-Fluttershy angrily pointed her hoof, telling her animals to attack. Fluttershy waved her hooves imploring them to be good and not to hurt anypony. The poor animals looked back and forth between the two pegasi vying for their allegiance, not knowing what to do.

Twilight stepped to the right, dodging another blast. Her counterpart tried something new, tossing her crown toward Twilight and shooting a spell at it in midair. It transfigured into a timberwolf, which hungrily snapped its jaws at Twilight. Thinking quickly, Twilight shot a purple line of magic at the wolf. The magic twisted in the air and transformed into a rope, tying the wolf's forepaws together, slowing it down as it snapped at its bonds. Twilight blew upward cooling her horn. In the brief second she looked up, she though she saw Pinkamena and Pinkie Pie standing upside down on the ceiling. She glanced up again and saw nothing. Must've been her imagination. Yeah. Behind her, Derpy dodged blasts of fire from Spike, droning on about how the magical physics of Twilight and her friends being here actually worked. Twilight thought it was fascinating, but Derpy's lecturing was slowly putting the baby dragon to sleep. Meanwhile over to her right, the two Raritys weren't fighting at all, instead having a heated argument about fashion.

"Come now dear that dress doesn't match your mane at all! I've tried black and it simply doesn't work, and well, you're me! If you'd just give it here I could make a nice scarf for you instead." Rarity offered.

"NO! This is my dress! Mine! I stole it fair and square!" M-Rarity snapped.

"Alright suit yourself." Rarity sighed. She telekineticly grabbed one of the curtains beside her and used a cutting spell to snip off some fabric. "Just a few more adjustments and... there! A snazzy scarf if I do say so myself!" Rarity exclaimed as she curled the red scarf around her neck.

"That's my scarf now!" M-Rarity grinned, snatching the scarf with her magic.

Rarity thought for a second, "Hmm alright, but I'd like a few bits in exchange please."

"Those are my bits! Nopony else's!"

"Don't you think my creativity is at least worth a few bits darling? I'm very generous, how about just two bits for the scarf?"

"Oh please, I don't have to pay for fashion tips from a rube like you!"

"I'll have you know that I, Rarity, am one of the most fashion forward mares in all of Equestria thank you very much!"

"And I Rarity, am the most fabulous jewel thief Equestria has ever seen, thank you very much!"

Twilight sighed... the interaction between generosity and greed was both amusing and annoying at the same time. She lunged forward, dodging another bolt of black magic. The bolt melted the floor, turning it into smoking goo. Another stunning spell sparked from her horn, but it was no use. All her spells simply collided with M-Twilight's black shield. The wolf finally snapped its bonds and pounced at her. Twilight used telekinesis to redirect the timberwolf, so it collided with M-Twilight's shield. With a yelp the wolf splintered apart, and the shield shattered, causing her opponent to step back surprised. M-Twilight's entire body was smoking as the dark magic came off of her in waves. She panted heavily in exhaustion, and Twilight knew she couldn't continue for much longer. The downside to dark magic, was that it exchanged longevity for power. Both mares knew this, and knew that one way or another this would end quickly.

M-Twilight stomped her hoof and yelled, "It's time to end this! GATHER!" The rest of the M-Mane 6 (except Spike who was fast asleep) ditched their engagements and gathered around her. Their lockets glowed with power and dark energy started gathering around them.

"Alright girls! It's time!" Twilight motioned a hoof. They ran to her side, already knowing what need to be done. They hugged each other tightly, believing in the power of their friendship. Together, they yelled it for the world to hear: "FRIENDSHIP IS MAGIC!!!!"

A purple light enveloped them, raising them into the air, and a giant rainbow shot towards the counterparts. At the same time, black magic crackled around the M-Mane 6, and huge beam of darkness rocketed toward Twilight and her friends. The rainbow and the darkness met in the middle. Twilight could only describe it as... beautiful. Beams of multi colored and dark magic shot out in all directions, creating a stunning light show.

"No... SOMETHING'S NOT RIGHT! BREAK IT OFF NOW!" Derpy screamed over the roar of magic. She was right. Twilight saw the lockets glow ever brighter, and slowly the dark beam started beating back the rainbow. Twilight strained harder, pouring in all the strength she could muster. She saw her friends were doing the same, sweating hard as they concentrated on their element of friendship. Still the dark beam inched closer and closer. "BREAK IT OFF OR YOU'LL BE TURNED TO STONE! TWILIGHT!"

Twilight dropped her concentration on friendship, and used her last bit of magic to cast a repel spell. The purple light faded and they dropped to the floor. The repel spell bounced them backward landing them on their rumps near the door. Twilight saw the dark beam crush the space they had just occupied, spraying bolts of dark magic everywhere. Derpy flew past the beam, landing next to them. "It'll take them a few moments to break out of the spell. We've got to get out of here!"

"I- I can't believe it. The magic of friendship... failed?" Twilight said in disbelief.

Rainbow laid a hoof on her shoulder. "Twilight, Derpy's right, there's no time. We should go now while we have a chance." Leave it to Rainbow to be the logical one. "We should run for the mirror. Maybe we can get more ponies through to help us."

"We scrambled the mirror to prevent them from getting to your world. We don't have time to undo the spell. This way." Derpy flew down the grand hallway, and threw open a small door to the right. They galloped after her, slamming it shut behind them.

Twilight heard a scream of outrage. "THEY ESCAPED?!! AFTER THEM!" A heavy thudding sound followed as their counterparts galloped after them. M-Twilight must not have been as exhausted as she thought.

Derpy turned into another passage, and Twilight followed, knocking out two guards in passing. They galloped corridor after corridor and Twilight knocked out guards along the way, with Rainbow Dash giving any she missed a good kick in the muzzle. She performed a sensory spell and found their pursuers weren't far behind. Finally they reached an ancient looking wooden door. "This leads into out into a small yard that connects to the forest. I used to like doing my reading here. Once we get into Everfree the wild magic should interfere with their ability to track us." She opened the door and Twilight got her first look outside since coming to this world. It should've been night by now, but Twilight couldn't see the moon. The sky was a stormy mess, with black clouds fighting over dominion of the few clear patches. This, this was the influence of Disharmony.

Twilight heard the distinct sound of a pony crying outside. She held up a hoof and peeked outside. M-Shining Armor was wiping his eyes with his hooves, sniffling. Twilight tried to duck back inside, but it was too late, he saw her. With surprising speed he galloped toward the door and lit up his horn. A pink shield barricaded the door. Shining Armor's signature shield spell. Rainbow banged at the shield, trying to muscle her way through. It was no use, Twilight knew. Shining Armor's shield spell couldn't be countered magically, or physically shattered. The only way to get rid of the shield, was either for Shining Armor to get tired, or drop the shield himself.

"Please, let us go! We're the only chance for both our worlds!" Twilight pleaded.

"Are you crazy?! Do you know what my sister would do to me if I did that?!" Shining Armor yelled over the storm.

Applejack stepped forward, "She ain't your sister, at least not from what ah seen. Rarity?"

"Definitely not." Rarity agreed.

"What the hay do you mean? Of course she's my sister!" Shining argued.

"No, she ain't. Rarity and I are sisters. We have sisters. This is kinda our thing. Sisters are kind. Sisters care. Sisters support you, help you, love you. They're always there for you. Like Twi's been for us." Applejack said flatly.

"She's right. My brother, your counterpart from out world is a brave warrior. But he isn't brave for no reason. He's brave because he wants to protect those who love him, who care about him. He fights to protect his friends, his family and his subjects. Is she any one of those things? Has she really been your sister?" Twilight asked. The hoofsteps behind them were getting closer.

"Why would you care? You aren't my sister either!" Shining countered uncertainly.

Twilight stepped up to the shield facing him. She looked down with sadness, "You're right, I'm not your sister. I'm the sister you should've had. But maybe, maybe we can be friends?"

Shining thought for a moment. Tears stung his eyes as he no doubt replayed the awful past. The shield flickered and dropped. He held a hoof out to Twilight. "Friends." he offered, smiling.

It was the smile of her brother, a smile Twilight hadn't seen in a long time. Twilight pushed aside his hoof and hugged him. "Guess what doofus, whether you like it or not we ARE technically related. You're my brother and always will be."

Shining smiled wider, but his expression turned serious when the thudding sound returned, only seconds away. He gently parted the hug, "You should go." Twilight hesitated. "Go NOW!"

"Come with us." Twilight pleaded.

"I'll be right behind you. Go." her brother said sternly. His tone was off...something wasn't right.

"Come on Twi." Applejack said softly. "All our friends are still counting on us."

Reluctantly, Twilight galloped out the open door into the courtyard and the rest of her friends followed. The forest was only a few yards away. She turned her head back and Shining Armor was still standing at the door. He waved a hoof and yelled over the thunder, "Tell your Shining Armor... I was brave today." He turned back to the door and put up his shield. There was a bang as their pursuers finally burst into the room they had just left.

"NO!" Twilight began to gallop back.

"Twi no silly. Wrong way!" Pinkie grabbed Twilight and turned her around. Twilight tried to resist but her grip was abnormally strong.

Over the storm she heard M-Twilight scream, "Let us through you dolt! They're getting away!"

Faintly she heard Shining Armor say flatly, "You really ARE a terrible sister Twilight." The forest was just a few feet away. Twilight turned her head one last time, and saw a dark beam of light emanating from the doorway. The last thing Twilight Sparkle saw before being engulfed by trees, was her brother being turned to stone.