Chrystal Mirror

For the first time in a long time the great ice gates of the crystal empire opened. They cracked just enough for a small blue pony to walk out before immediately closing again. Wrapped in a tight jacket and sporting a nice part of goggles, the pony exhaled. His breath froze in mid-air as he realized how terrible this hike really would be. Slowly he began to trudge through the snow, tracks fading almost as they were placed.

The wind swirled around him. This land of snow was both beautiful and dangerous, but never did his gaze leave his hand. For in his hand was his salvation. A small compass that pointed south. If he were to stray even a little from his path it could be a lonely and frozen death.

"Hi, there!" The blue pony felt another suddenly hug him. He stopped and looked. Yes, there was indeed another pony there. The pony had the same black tail, and the same long black handle bar mustache. It was odd this pony look just like he did, except it was white and was wearing no clothing. It even had the same cutie mark of a magnifying glass held over a map. Perhaps, he was dead he thought. But, he did not feel dead. Of course maybe this was how being dead felt.

His thoughts were suddenly interrupted. "So what are you doing outside the walls. No pony ever goes outside the walls."

He had it. This was a figment of his imagination telling him to turn back.

"Hello, are you listening?" His white double spoke. "Why are you out here?"

He continued, but the blasted illusion would not go away.

As he walked it chanted, "Why are you out here" over and over until finally he had enough.

"Quiet. You know how important this mission is."

It smiled at him and repeated, "Important mission. How important is it really??"

"King Sombra send me personally. For him I shall succeed or not at all." He began to walk even quicker.

"Yes, yes, yes, but I need details. They were very specific on that"

I must be going insane, thought the blue one. Perhaps I have hypothermia. "Your in my head, you already know the details." He rolled his eyes. He could not even believe he was dignifying that with a response.

"I'm not in your head silly".

"Of course you are. No other pony would be out here, much less without a coat."

"Well, um, I do, am not really bothered by the cold" He smiled a great big smile waiting to see if that would pass as an answer. The Blue one is not amused.

He does not even try with that. "Okay, so what are you doing out here?"

"Well, um, I can't say" The white one stumbled to come up with something. suddenly, a blot of lightning struck his brain. "But, I'll go away if you tell me everything about your mission."

"Sorry, but I can only discus it was Sombra, not some random snow pony." came the reply.

The white pony stopped to think. Of course the blue pony continued south leaving his clone behind.

He continued across the snow, stopping only once for lunch. He had a nice lettuce sandwich and if he hurried he could eat the entire thing before it froze. It was about at this time, during a small mouthful that a black pony appear before him. Not any black pony, but THE black pony, in steel armor and a distinctive red cap.

"Lord Sombra!?" He gapped, for a moment before remembering his sandwich. The stuffed the rest of it into his mouth and swallowed whole. "Why are you not back guarding the Empire?"

Sombra spoke. It was definitely his voice, but it did not seem to match his lips. "I really needed to make sure you understood the mission. Please recite it to me."

The blue pony smiled, a small pleasurable smile. He understood this madness. Confidently, proudly he shouted, "My name is Blue Prints. It is a pleasure to meet you changling."

"I am Sombra, not a changling." Sombra smiled an uncharacteristically wide grin.

Blue Print was no fool. "I know you're a changling."

'Sombra' takes out a small book and hands it to Blue. The book is titled "Basic Rules For A Changling Spy" He flips to a page. The first line on the page read, "A changling spy should not carry this guild onto the field as it's discovery may reveille them as a changling."

'Sombra' then explains, he could not possibly be a changling, because if he was a changling he would not be carrying that book.

"Well, I just so happened to be looking to get a meeting with Queen Chrysalis. And a changling partner, who of course would be privy to all my mission details, would a great asset on this trip."

In a blaze of green fire Sombra's form burned down and was replaced by a small black bug. "I just so happened to be a changling!" He pronounced, "Name's sting."

"You don't say." Blue and sting shook hands.

The sit down and come to an agreement. Blue was out on a mission seeking allies. Sting would take him to Chrysalis and he would tell Sting all about the Chrystal Empire.

The two set off.

"One thing bothers me. Why did you changing into a white version of me?"

"I never saw a crystal pony before."

They continued south.

"Hey Blue are you an architect?"

"No, but for some reason everyone thinks so."