My eyes snapped open. I was hyperventilating. Where am I? What happened? Where's Harmony? Where's Harmony? Where's Harmony?

That question ran through my head over and over as I looked around. I was in the cave. The Tree of Harmony sat in the center, but something was... off...

It was... backwards... the entire cave was backwards. It wasn't very obvious, but I've lived in that cave for years. I can tell that the purple crystals embedded in the walls are all backwards. All wrong.

Then I saw the mirror.

It was old, but it was a new addition. It leaned against the wall like somepony had just moved it there. The dust covered frame was white-turned-gray, curving around the rectangular mirror. The glass, though... the glass was completely clean. No dust. Then it clicked.

"No..." I breathed, shakily walking to the mirror. As I approached, my reflection did not appear. I could see the cave's reflection. I could see the real Tree. Then I saw him.

"Different..." Dapper said slowly, cautiously approaching the mirror. I felt anger begin to well up inside of me.

"Dapper... You..." I snarled, my magic flaring to life.

"Ah, yeah... I... I must apologize. I j-just... I w-wasn't thinking right a-and-"

"SILENCE!" I barked, his fear flooding my senses. I felt tears well up in my eyes, although they felt thicker when they fell. I disregarded them entirely. "Where is my-"

I cut myself off. Harmony entered the frame. I couldn't identify her expression.

"Harmony-"

"Quiet."

My heart jumped on my throat.

"I'm sorry, Different," Harmony sighed, "I know this isn't your fault."

"W-what are you talking about?" I laughed awkwardly, "What's going on? J-Just let me out a-and we c-can-"

"No. We can't. I know it's not your fault, but you aren't you. You're dangerous," Harmony continued slowly. My eyes narrowed.

"Did Dapper tell you that? He's crazy!" I snarled.

"You attacked him, Different. Princess Celestia told me what happened. We can't do anything about Nightmare Moon's magic. It's corrupted you. But we will find someway to help you," my eyes widened at Harmony's words, "We thought that if Dapper tried to talk to you first, he could talk you down, but that, of course, failed."

"...So... You're just going to... abandon me?" I questioned sadly, the thick tears falling in globs of thick blue goo. Harmony's face became a look of grief.

"No, Different... We aren't abandoning you... We're gonna find a way to help you," Harmony comforted me, walking forward. Dapper eyed me warily as Harmony approached, but I ignored him, "I would never abandon you. Just as you have never abandoned me."

Harmony lifted a hoof to the mirror, and a sliver of hope ran through me at the thought that it might go through. Unfortunately, it stopped on the glass.

"Please Harmony... Don't leave me here..." I whimpered, placing my hoof on the glass in front of hers. I felt a moderate amount of love, but it was... bitter...

"I wouldn't leave you... I'm sorry..." Harmony sighed, turning and walking away.

"Harmony? Please!" I cried. She stopped next to Dapper, who gave me a pitying look before turning and walking away with her. "No! Don't leave! Not with him! Please!"

My pleas were tuned out by the both of them. I felt a sudden spark of anger.

"He could never love you! Not like your big sister can!" I barked.

I immediately regretted it.

Harmony stopped. She didn't turn around. She only looked back, tears in her narrowed eyes.

"I'll be back... in a few days..." She sniffed before turning and leaving, noticeably leaning against Dapper. I fell quiet.

This... This was Dapper's fault... Dapper... Celestia... Luna... and Harmony... All their fault...

Author's Note

A/N: So! I had quite the case of writing block for quite a while, but hey! I'm back! Everything is going according to plan now...