My Little Mages: The Mirror of Shadow Bolt

Chapters

Through the Looking Glass
More To Reflection
Closer Than They Are
Epilogue: Start of Omission
Prologue: Familial Truth

Through the Looking Glass

Sunset was in the library writing in the tome she used to communicate with Twilight, “Dear Princess Twilight,” she wrote tonight's the night of the big movie premiere of Daring Do and The Rings of Destiny here in Midnight Castle. Thanks for not spoiling it, beyond saying ‘Read the book’, Sci-Twi is so excited, she’s been re-reading every book since she came back, you should really check out her charts, breakdowns... yeah she’s pretty you and Rainbow in one person when it comes to the Daring Do series. I am just surprised that they actually casted Rainbow for the role of the character based on her. I wish you could be here, but a princess has her duties.” Sunset paused as she took a breath as she looked over what she wrote.

She raised her head and looked around her to see Sci-Twi engrossed in taking notes on the most recent Daring Do book, Daring Do and the Pyramid of the Sphinx, most likely to see how much of the presented history, anthropology and sociology in the story matched the actual area of Mystica it’s set in. Also in the library were Baroness Sunny and the rest of the Shadowbolts, mostly going over law books, censuses, survies, studies, and the budget of the castle and the government of the domain, well to more accurate Sunny and Sugarcoat were. Lemon was blankly staring into a text as if utterly lost in the letters, Indigo was sound asleep resting on some pages and Sour got up and was leaving the library, or rather the immediate area so that she could scream away her frustrations.

Sunset smiled but something nagged at her, it seemed to be going too well. She sighed,“I know I should also be excited, but I can’t shake this feeling that something is going to go wrong.”she jotted down.

“Sunset, you’re thinking way too much.” was written in response, no doubt by Twilight. “Enjoy the peace and quiet while you can. And if you want to talk about freaking out about things might go wrong, I know I told you about the night before my friends and I had to return the Elements of Harmony to the Tree of Harmony.”

Sunset looked at what Twilight wrote in her reply. She was at ease with the fact that “But what if—” Sunset stopped as she looked at the page and saw that she was the end of it. She turned it over and saw that she was on the last page in the book. “Shoot.” she stated as she put her quill down and sighed in frustration.

“PULL!” Indigo shouted as she woke up from her rest and started to look around. “Did I fall asleep again?” she asked.

“You lasted thirty minutes today before you passed out of sheer boredom.” Sugarcoat stated as she almost mechanically put what she was working on to the side, “And you haven’t drooled once.”

“That’s a record.” Lemon cheered as she was snapped out of her stupor. “I know just the mix.”

“You went blank in less than twenty-five minutes.” Sugarcoat pointed out bluntly, “You’re slipping.”

“You could try to do your name sake, sister.” Sunny said as set aside what she was working on. “Now what’s the matter, Sunset?” Sunny asked as she turned her focus to Sunset, as did everyone else.

Sunset sighed again, “I’m on the last page of my journal.” she informed.

Sci-Twi’s demeanor started to visibly sour as she frowned, “Oh, we can’t have it. You have to be able to write your pen-pal. You two are such good friends, I would just be the worst if I stand in the way.”

The sarcasm and annoyance in Sci-Twi’s words were unmistakable, “Oh, Babe, don’t be like that.” Sunset said as she got up, walked to be behind Sci-Twi and pulled her into a hug. “I am not that kind of girl.”

“You are aware that just saying that is not going to make your girlfriend of approximately three to four months feel better about you communicating with another girl she never met in a, while not sexual or sensual way, but an inescapably intimate manner.” Sugarcoat point out with a slight adjustment of her glasses.

Sunset could only groan at first, “Thanks for pointing that out.” Sunset then sat down next to Sci-Twi and cupped her face in her right hand, “You know this is a close friendship and that’s all it is. That is not this.” Sunset said in a soft and somewhat comforting tone.

Sci-Twi, sighed, “I know, but you send like an hour a day twice a day writing her.”

“And I spend at least two sets of ten hours of the remaining twenty two hours with you.” Sunset counted, “I’m not going anywhere.”

“I believe you spoke too soon.” came Sour as she rejoined them, in a much chipper mode. She had picked up Sunset’s journal and walked to her, “It says that she wants you to come to Magiville in about an hour and pick-up a new journal like this.” Sci-Twi huffed, turned her head, collected everything she was working on got up and left, all the while giving Sunset the cold shoulder.

Sunset sighed and shook her head. She took the book and ran after Sci-Twi. “Oh come, hon!” she shouted trying to reason with Sci-Twi.

“You’re timing was impeccable.” Sugarcoat stated.

“DON’T BE SARCASTIC WITH ME! IT’S MY TIME OF THE MONTH AND I WAS KEPT UP ALL NIGHT BECAUSE OF SUNNY’S EMERGENCY MEETING!!!” Sour roared right in Sugarcoat face.

“You really need to work on your anger issue.” Lemon said, “I know just the thing, calming music.” she added as she pulled out a portable music player and put something in Sour's ears before pressing a button.

Juniper had decided to change things up, starting with her wardrobe, if she was going to make her sisters pay for their in-actions as she was pretty much at Cinch’s and other crimes, she had to do it in style. She replaced her old secretarial garbs and wore now dark blue-light purple pants with blue heeled shoes. She wore, as her top, a small white undershirt with as blue sleeveless shirt with as dark blue vest with a high collar under a light blue jacket with dark blue cuffs, which she wore open. She also wore a set if golden tassels that went from her shirt’s collar to the right side of her jacket with a dark blue artificial flower. Finally, around Juniper’s neck was a light turquoise long neck tie. In her left hand was the mirror her father left her hand. “Let’s get started.” she said to herself before she left her chambers.

After about twenty minutes of walking through the castle’s halls, she spotted the Twilight clone, Sci-Twi being her new name leave in a huff. Juniper pulled back to watch her leave down another hall. A few seconds later Sunset came out as if to chase Sci-Twi. Juniper elected to not go after Sunset, at least not yet. There was other fish to fry first. She knew that as powerful as Sunset was, there was another daughter of Shadow Bolt that was more dangerous to her plans; Sugarcoat.

Juniper waited a little bit until she saw Lemon, Indigo and Sour leave. Sour seemed to have been on a calming trend, as Indigo and Lemon seemed to be relieved from boredom. She knew that she could try to take care of the trio, but that left Sunny and Sugarcoat in the library and able to get her from behind. So she waited for the trio to leave down one of the hallways. She looked ahead of the way the three were heading and noted that they were heading to the training grounds. Juniper then continued to wait for her chance to act on Sugarcoat. After a couple of minutes Sunny and Sugarcoat exited the library. Sunny headed towards the throne room of the castle to hear her subjects. This left Sugarcoat alone. After Sunny was out of sight, “Hello, Sugar.” Juniper said as she revealed herself.

Sugarcoat looked at her bemused, “Good day to you, Juniper. I see you decided to change up your look.” she said as she looked up and down Juniper. “Is there something I can help you with?” she asked as she re-adjusted her glasses. Juniper took her mirror out of her pocket. “What exactly are you doing?” she asked as she raised her eyebrow in slight preplexion.

Juniper smiled evilly, “Just balancing the scale. You can take our father for this.” she said cryptically. Sugarcoat was befuddled at that remake. Before she could say anything, “I wish you were out of the way.” Juniper said and the mirror projected a flash of light that pulled Sugarcoat into it.

Sugarcoat blinked to regain her vision. Once she regained her sight, she saw that was in a space that was pretty much a white room that went on and on. “Well, this is a textbook case of inconvenience.”

“One down, five to go.” Juniper said as she put the mirror back into her jacket pocket. She then held her chin for a second of thought. “Sunny’s alone which makes things easier, but that leaves the other three together and Sunset.” After a couple of seconds, “Better off saving Sunny for last.” She then started down the hallway Indigo, Lemon and Sour went.

About a couple hours after she left, Sunset returned to the library with just a sachle. She sighed as she looked at the mirror, “Well, I can’t blame her.” she had to concede. She started to move the spirals and stars to open the portal. Once she finished, “Maybe she’ll be more forgiving before the premiere.” Once the last of the stars and spirals were in place the portal opened. She took a breath and took a step forward into the portal. Within a couple of seconds she emerged through the mirror in Twilight’s library in the Castle of Friendship. “Hey Twilight, I’m here!” she announced upon her arrival. She looked around, “Twilight?” she asked confused at the absence of Princess Twilight.

“Sorry, she had to leave.” came the voice of a woman that Sunset hadn’t meet before. “Princess Celestia called a small consul of all four princesses, something about an award ceremony.” the woman informed.

Sunset looked at her, “You’re Starlight Glimmer, Princess Twilight’s student I assume.” Sunset said as she held out her hand. “I think Twilight told you about me, Sunset Shimmer.”
Starlight laughed as she walked up to Sunset and shook Sunset’s hand, showing that she had a book that had the right half of Sunset’s Aura Mark merged with the left half of Twilight’s, “Yeah. It’s a pleasure to met you.” She then gave Sunset the book. “This is your copy of the new linked journals.” Starlight informed.

Sunset accepted it and placed it in her satchel, “Thanks,” she said. “What kind of award ceremony could they be planing, and why couldn’t Twilight just do it here with Pinkie?” she asked.

Starlight gave a weak smile, “Well you see, um…” Starlight tried to find the right words, “You heard about the Changeling’s Invasion of Chantalot during Princess Mi Amore Cadenza’s and Grand Marshall Shining Armor’s wedding?” Starlight asked.

“Yeah, Princess Twilight wrote about that, Nightmare Moon, Discord, Nightmare Rarity, King Sombra, I know about the whole ascension thing, the return of the Elements to the Tree of Harmony, Tirek, you…” Sunset listed off and stopped at Starlight in the list. Her eyes then widen in realization. “Oh, I get it now.”

“What?” Starlight asked.

Sunset smiled and shook her head, “Sorry can’t tell yah.” She stated. This brought a slight frown on Starlight’s face. Sunset looked over her shoulder to the mirror, “Say do you want to see Midnight Castle?” she asked Starlight.

“Really?” Starlight asked as her eyes dilated and hearts and stars seemed to form in her pupils. “What’s it like?”

Sunset chuckled, “Well, it’s not that much different to here,” she then stopped as she tried to formulate how best to explain it. After a couple seconds of thought she realized that she can’t articulate the difference at that time. “I can’t really explain it, you’d have to be there to know.”

“Well she does want me to know more about friendship and forge my own friendships.” she said as if in thought. “And I am not learning or forging much here.” After another second of clearly faked thought. “Alright, let’s go!” Starlight cheered as she was about to run into the mirror.

Sunset stopped Starlight, “Hold on, you should leave a message for Princess Twilight to let her know you’re with me.” she pointed out. Starlight groaned and then went over to a desk in the library took out piece of paper and started to write a message on it.

“There, mom, left dad a note. Can we go now?” she asked. Sunset nodded and the two went into the mirror.

More To Reflection

Shortly after she sent Sugarcoat into the mirror, but before Sunset left through the portal to Mystica, Juniper hummed to herself as she traversed the hallway leading towards the training grounds. After a short while, she arrived and witnessed Sour and Indigo engaged in a mixed martial arts duel. Indigo was light on her feet, using her ethereal wings to stay just out of Sour’s reach. “You almost got her that time,” Lemon commented on the duel.

The two paused in their sparring match after another of Sour’s tackling attempts failed and Indigo hovered back to her corner. “You’re slipping, Indi,” Sour said as she knew she was a lot closer to getting Indigo then than would otherwise.

Indigo brushed it aside, “You’re not the only one who had a rough night, Sour.” Indigo commented before she opened her waterskin and took a swig of water.

“Hey, girls,” Juniper said as she made herself known.

“So you decide to join the living.” Lemon joked in her greeting, “Nice duds, big date?” she asked clearly impressed with Juniper’s change of attire.

Juniper gave a small smirk, “You could say that, but there’s something I want to show you three.” Juniper then pulled out the mirror and hand the glass face them.

Lemon and Indigo looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders in confusion. “That’s it? It’s just some dinky hand mirror.” Sour said as she took a couple of steps towards Juniper.

Juniper’s smirk shifted to a wicked grin, “Oh no, it’s actually very special.” she said. “I wish I had a better way of explaining it to you,” she said and the mirror projected a light much like the one that encompassed Sugarcoat.

Once the light vanished, inside the mirror’s realm, Sugarcoat opened her eyes from her meditation to see that Sour, Lemon, and Indigo had joined her. “Well there goes the neighborhood,” she commented.

Outside of the mirror, Juniper pocketed the mirror. “That leaves the Suns.” she paused for a second in thought. “I should make sure Sci-Twi is out of my way first.” Juniper then left and headed to the second most likely place to find Sci-Twi, her chambers with Sunset.

After about half an hour from when Juniper trapped Lemon, Sour, and Indigo, inside Sci-Twi’s and Sunset’s chambers, Sci-Twi laid on their bed. She sighed, “Maybe I’m being too harsh with Sunset, she was friends with the other Twilight longer then we’ve been together.” she said to herself. There was a knock on the door. Sci-Twi got up, Maybe it’s Sunset asking me to understand. Sci-Twi thought. She walked to the door, her eyes closed. As she opened the door, “Listen, Sunset, I was wrong to get as huffy as I did concerning you writing the other Twilight. I hope you can forgive me for being so jealous.” Sci-Twi then opened her eyes to see Juniper holding the mirror.

“I’m certain she’ll understand. But for now, I wish that I don’t have to deal with this SunLight drama.” Juniper said and Sci-Twi was pulled into the same realm as the others. “Now for Sunny.” She paused in thought. “Too soon for public display, I’ll catch her in her office in about an hour or so.”

Sunset and Starlight stepped through the portal, “Just try to blend in. While most of the people here are Magicborn, Earthborn, and Skyborn, most are still learning what their talents are and how to use their intent magic, so don’t show off by augmenting a spell made by Star Swirl the Great.” Sunset then gave a playful chuckle.

Starlight rolled her eyes, “Says the girl that resorted to stealing Twilight’s crown.” she countered in a deadpan.

Sunset gave a weak chuckle in response, “Sorry, trying to cope with the feeling of unease.” She looked down, “I don’t know why, but I feel like things have been going too well recently,” she exhaled, “ and that there is something around the corner. I don’t know what to do.”

Starlight took her chin for a second of thought, “Well, I’ve usually just let things play out, and more often than not things work themselves out. If you spend too much time worrying about the bad things that might happen, you'll miss out on all the good things that are happening.” she finished. She smiled alongside Sunset, which seemed to give the pyromancer some comfort. “So how about a tour?” Starlight asked. Sunset nodded and started with the library.

After about two hours, the two arrived outside of Juniper’s chamber and saw that the door was still open, “That’s odd.” Sunset said, “Normally Juniper keeps the door shut.” She then stepped into the room.

“Are you sure this a good idea?” Starlight asked. “Twilight would throw a fit if she found out.”
“Keyword, ‘if’,” Sunset said as she looked around and saw a book with two marks she recognized on the cover. “That’s my dad’s Aura Mark,” Sunset said as she picked the book up and showed it to Starlight.

“A sun bargue?” Starlight asked.

“My father’s name was Dawntreader,” Sunset explained. “I’d tell you more but…”

“Way ahead of you. Are you familiar with Hayscarte’s Method of In-textual Studying.” Starlight asked. Sunset gave a cautious and unsure nod. “Excellent. Just give me a couple of seconds.” Starlight said as her focus gem started to glow. She began to wave her hands and mutter words as her eyes shut. Sunset looked around as a ring of white light surrounded the two. The light faded and the two were in the chambers where Celestia gave birth to Sunset. “Who’s the guy with the bacon hair?” Starlight asked as she pointed to Dawntreader.

“That’s my father, Dawntreader,” Sunset answered.

Dawntreader then spoke as he returned the baby to Celestia, “What should we name her?”

Celestia accepted her baby, “Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia answered as she placed a soft kiss on Sunset’s check, “My little sunshine.” The scene then changed to be Celestia’s study as Dawntreader came into the room, his eyes red with wrath his nostrils flaring, “Well good morning to you too.” Celestia said calmly, “Can I have someone fetch you some tea, dear?” she asked.

“How could you?” Dawntreader asked, “I can understand why you wouldn’t want me to be our daughter’s guardian, I am in the ESM. But how could you put her up to be fostered?” if voicing the cause of his anger was intended to calm Dawntreader it failed as he seemed to be even hotter under the collar.

Celestia sighed, “Please don’t make this harder then has to be.” she pleaded in a near whisper as if in prayer as a tear formed in the corner of her eye. “I can’t raise her, not the way you want me to, as my successor.”

“Well isn’t she? She’s your daughter, you are the princess.” Dawntreader pointed out.

Celestia raised her head, “I have reigned for a millennium, how many times you do think I have given birth? Just the once with OUR daughter? Do you sincerely believe that you are the first man I have loved to the point I would bear a child with him?” she asked. “Do you think Sunset is the first of my children? Or the only one I’ve trusted the rearing in the hands of those better suited?” She continued as she got up. “Also, I wasn't crowned because I was born into a certain line, I merited my crown and I can only be succeeded by one who merited the crown as well, and my blood is not a qualifier, and to raise her like she’s a princess would blind me to anything I’m doing wrong as a mother and predecessor to know if she does or doesn’t merit it.” Dawntreader could say nothing, but Celestia had more, “She might show that she does merit the ascension to being a demigod and to be my successor, but I can’t know that if I raise her. I will be too close.”

“So that’s it, you’re just going to let strangers raise my little girl!” Dawntreader was not asking. “No, I will not let her be raised like she’s a common loose!” Dawntreader turned and was about to leave.

“Dawn, don’t do this.” Celestia pleaded. Dawntreader paused for a second, but then stormed out, turning a deaf ear to Celestia.

The scene changed again to be in some sort of ruins in the middle of a moonless, starless and stormy night. There Dawntreader looked around with an old tome in his hands, “If she won’t raise her, then I’ll do it.” he said as he opened the book. “Star Swirl made a spell for pretty much everything,” he muttered as he looked through the tome. After nearly a minute, Dawntreader stopped. “And he does.” Dawntreader then put the tome down and pulled out a knife. He undid the sleeve of his left arm and brought the blade to arm and began to cut into his arm going vertical towards the wrist. He stopped about three-forth the way up his forearm. He then withdrew the knife in the and held it up in the air, while making sure it was in the shadow of the ruins. “With the faithful blood drawn in spite, in skies devoid of heaven’s lights, as lightning cracks and thunder roars, I am a Sential nevermore. With vows rescinded, I embrace the shadow.” As he finished a bolt of lightning struck the knife and jumped from it into the open wound. He screamed in pain as he was engulfed in a black-colored light. Once the light subsided, Dawntreader was on the ground, his hair had changed to black where it was red and white where it was yellow. The wound on his arm was sealed up with a massive electrical burn. Another lightning bolt came to Dawntreader, but he caught it and redirected it back into the sky. “I am sorry Tia, but I have to do this.” He took a breath and then seemed to melt into the shadow.

The scene again changed to be a room that seemed to fit for a young baby girl, Dawntreader appeared and looked around. He gave a sigh of relief. He looked around and found the crib. He slowly walked towards it and was about to lean in to pick up the child in it. Suddenly the light went on to reveal Celestia sitting in a rocking-chair with Sunset in her arms and a handful of Royal Guards at the ready in the room. Celestia got up and from the chair. “Please, Dawn. Let it go.”

Dawntreader sighed in defeat before he spoke. “If you won’t raise my child as she should be, I’ll find some who will.” Dawntreader then slipped into the shadows.

The scene changed to some time later in Cinch’s office with Cinch at the desk, she was at least twenty years younger and also in the room were four other women, each looking almost uncannily similar to either Sugarcoat, Sour, Indigo and Lemon. On her deck was a large stack of papers. The papers she was focused on were collections of images of Longhorn and the rest of his gang which was much larger at the time, a small army. She sighed in frustration, “What am I going to do about them?” she asked no one.

“I can help you with that,” Dawntreader said as he emerged from the shadows cast by the office’s fireplace. Cinch froze in fear and reach for something in her desk, “Baroness Abacus Cinch, my name is Shadow Bolt.” he said as he genuflected to her. “I am an exile from Mystica and cast out from Princess Celestia and I wish to make a deal.”

Cinch withdrew her hand and held her chin, “What do you have to offer?”
Dawntreader/Shadow Bolt raised his right hand and showed lightning sparkle on his fingertips, “I can bring the minotaurs you have problems with to beg for you to grant a swift death,”

“And your asking price?” Cinch asked.

Shadow Bolt then pulled out a small box for a ring and placed it on the desk near him, “My ligament child with you to be raised as the heir he or she is meant to be.”

Cinch rubbed her chin in thought, “You’re offering to take on a small army of minotaurs,” she looked at the file on Longhorn noticing the number of people he murdered. She then looked back up to Shadow Bolt, “with only one child as an asking price.” She looked to the other women then back to Shadow Bolt, “These are my ladies-in-waiting,” she said gesturing to them. “They will each also bear you a child, and you can one more child with another woman of your choice. Given Longhorn’s murder count alone, I believe six children is a more equable exchange, but only my child will you deem legitimate.” Cinch countered offered.

Shadow Bolt looked to the four other women, “Shouldn’t they have a say in the matter?” he asked.

The four looked to each other and then nodded, the one that looked like Sugarcoat spoke, “We are Baroness Cinch’s ladies-in-waiting, we serve her, bearing her husband’s children is a duty we will honor.”

Shadow Bolt gave a slight sigh, “Such a deal wouldn’t fly in Mystica,” he muttered but he picked up the box walked to be at Cinch’s right side. He kneeled and open the box, “But this is not Mystica. I accept your counteroffer.”

Cinch accepted the ring and slid it on her left ring finger, “And we have a deal. We’ll have the marriage in the morning. I need a good night sleep.” Cinch got up and walked to the door. She opened it, “Serving maid!” she called and a woman that looked rather similar to Juniper came as summoned, “Escort this gentleman to an unused bedchamber.”

“Yes, your grace.” the maid answered and walked to Shadow Bolt, “This way, milord.”

As Shadow Bolt and the maid left the office, the room was bathed in light only to reveal that Sunset and Starlight were both back in Juniper’s room. “Okay so your dad slept around and he fathered six other girls,” Starlight commented as if to dismiss Sunset's concern. “What’s the big deal?”Sunset turned the journal to the last page and showed it to Starlight. “Oh. So what do we do?”

Sunset placed the book down on a nightstand, “We got to warn Sunny.” Sunset said as she started to run out of the room, grabbing Starlight by the arm.

Closer Than They Are

At the same time as Sunset and Starlight had left Juniper’s chambers, Juniper arrived at the office of the baroness. Juniper knocked on the door, “You may enter.” came Sunny’s voice from the other side. Sunny was at her desk and was scribing on a piece of paper. Sunny finished scribing and blew on the paper to blow off some dust and help it dry. She looked it over and gave a nod. She then rolled it up put on some sealing wax, warmed it. She then made a fist with her right hand showing a ring on the index finger with the insignia of Midnight Castle on it. She then placed the insignia ring into the wax and then pulled it out. She waited for the wax to finish cooling before she put it to the side and turn her attention to who she invited in. “Juniper, what brings you by?” she asked somewhat surprised to see Juniper.

Juniper smiled as she pulled out the hand mirror and pointed it to Sunny, “You know about your late parent’s marriage contract?” she asked.

Sunny raised an eyebrow, “Yes, what are you getting at, dearie?” she asked.

Juniper smirked, “Let’s just say I wish I could show you how to be a baroness and that I’m daddy’s favorite.”

The mirror then flashed and before Sunny could respond she was in the same realm as Sci-Twi, Sugarcoat and the others. Sunny looked around and noticed that her right ring finger didn't have the baron’s ring. “Well, this is just great.”

Back outside of the mirror Juniper giggled as she walked over to where Sunny sat and picked up the ring. She slid it on her finger, “Just like a glove.” she laughed.

Juniper didn’t know that she had left the office’s door open and her picking up the baron’s ring and putting it on was witnessed by Sunset and Starlight. The two stepped back around the corner. “Well, what do we do now?” Starlight asked.

Sunset looked to the ceiling, she took a breath, “Stay here and wait for me.” Sunset said and left Starlight around a corner and walked into the office and towards Juniper. She then coughed to get Juniper’s attention.

Juniper turned and smirked as she placed her left hand on the handle of her mirror, “Sunset Shimmer. I was wondering when you'd show up.”

Sunset took a second to form a good response, “I'm, uh, looking for Sunny.” Sunset mostly asked as she looked around the office. “I don't suppose you've seen her,” she added hoping to get a willing answer from her. Juniper only giggled mischievously in response. Sunset scowled as she placed both her hands on the desk. “Where are she and the others?”

Juniper smiled evilly as she began to pick up the mirror, “I'll never tell.”

“You don't have to.” Sunset’s right hand started to glow as she took hold of Juniper’s upper arm. She then saw how Juniper learned that she was another of her half-sisters, how Juniper figured out how the mirror worked and each of the times Juniper’s used the mirror. After the last image flashed, Sunset let go with a gasp. Juniper was still recovering from the spell. “Juniper, listen, I know what it's like to have issues with my family, but what you are doing with that mirror is only gonna make things worse for everyone, especially you.” Juniper scowled at Sunset and seemed unmoved at the argument. “Please, Juniper.” Sunset pleaded. “You wished them into that mirror. Maybe there's a way you can wish them out.”

Juniper looked from Sunset to the mirror and then back to Sunset. She then started to smirk evilly, “Or maybe... I wish you'd join them!” She pointed the mirror at Sunset and a white light was projected from it. The mirror’s light then pulled Sunset into the mirror’s pocket realm as the pyromancer screamed.

Starlight gasped as she ducked behind the corner. “Looks like it’s up to me,” she whispered before she gulped in slight dread.

Inside the mirror’s realm, Sunset was tackled by Sci-Twi. “Sunset! I’m so sorry for being jealous.”

“Not to rain on your parade, but we’re now trapped in here with no way out.” Sugarcoat pointed out.

“Starlight’s still outside,” Sunset replied. Before anyone could ask, “She’s a sort of a protege of Princess Twilight and she came here with me from Mystica after I got my copy of the linked journals.” she explained. Sci-Twi was about to let go of Sunset when they all heard the sound of glass breaking and space started to shake.

“That’s not good,” Sunset said as she unconsciously pulled Sci-Twi close to her.

“No, it’s a sign that everything's just fine,” Sour replied sarcastically. They all heard the sound of breaking glass. Everyone turned to see the floor starting to fragment and shatter.

“Hurry, Starlight,” Sunset whispered in prayer.

Back in the world outside the mirror, “Now I have justice.” Juniper laughed as she placed the mirror on the desk. “And everyone will see the truth, that I am the one fit to reign, how does it feel Cinch?” She asked as she turned her attention to the wall with portraits of past barons and baronesses of Midnight Castle. She looked to the mirror, “I wish I could show them all I am the greatest.” The mirror then flashed.

From within the mirror, Sunset suddenly gasped as she opened her eyes wide and became white and a red light was pulled out of her and out of the realm.

The flash from the mirror subsided as the red light entered into Juniper. She felt her body grew until she was twice her size, but still proportional. Her suit had changed to be a long shoulderless green and black gown. Her hair had become wavy and her face appeared to have makeup applied. “Not too shabby,” she giggled. She then placed the mirror back on the desk.

Starlight had witnessed this and turned back to think, “Okay, first things first. I need to get that mirror away from her.” she said to herself. She looked back in and while Juniper had her back to the door and the desk. Starlight took a breath and then dashed into office. She managed to grab the mirror.

“Hey!” Juniper shouted as she turned to see Starlight grab the mirror. Juniper panicked and accidentally dropped the mirror causing it to crack slightly. Starlight swiftly grabbed the mirror as Juniper started towards her, “Give that back!”

“No!” Starlight shouted as she tried to dash to the door only to be blocked by Juniper. She swiftly spun around and dove for the desk. “This mirror is nothing but trouble. You have to realize that.” she tried to plead.

“What I realize is that with it I have all the power!” Juniper shouted as she tried to reach for Starlight, but missed. She growled in frustration, “I wish you'd join them!” she shouted.

Both young women saw that nothing happened, Starlight gave a sigh of relief, “Eh... Phew! Looks like you can't make that wish unless you're the one holding the mirror!” Starlight declared but then she forgot that Juniper could reach for her until she tried. “Whoa!” Starlight then dove to be under it. “I wish Sunset Shimmer and her friends would come back!” she asked but then saw that the mirror was cracking more.

Juniper laughed as nothing happened, “Looks like you can't use it, either!” Juniper then picked up the desk, revealing Starlight. “Now, Give it back to me!”

Inside the mirror’s pocket realm as floor continued to break and shatter around the seven trapped young women. They whimpered in fear at the thought of falling into oblivion.

Back outside of the mirror’s realm, Starlight looked around her and saw no escape. However something struck her, Juniper’s mother was shown as little more than a maid. Juniper was hurting not because she wanted recognition, she wanted a family. “Is being the baroness really what you want?” Starlight asked. Juniper stopped and looked at Starlight confused. “Because I think what you’re looking for is something else.” Starlight added.

“Like what?!” Juniper asked in disgust and wrath before she reached for Starlight only for the binder to jump over the outreached arm and rolled to another corner of the room, still blocked from the door.

“Like…” Starlight started but quickly realized that she didn’t have an answer to go to as soon as she wanted. She couldn’t say ‘family’ because even though she only had her mother, that was still a family. After a second of thought, “someone who understands you, someone that wants to connect with you, a friend?” she offered.

Juniper paused, somehow that word managed to cut to her bones. She grew up always close to Sunny and her sisters, but they bonded and relied on the blood of their covenant with each other. She didn’t know that they were sisters, but she was always excluded, “Who would want to be my friend?” she asked as a tear started to form in the corner of her eye.

“I would.” Starlight answered as she stood up and stepped towards Juniper as the Amazon took a set on the desk in utter shock.

“Why?” Juniper asked as she was taken that anyone would reach out to her.

Starlight offered her right hand, “Because I understand you, Juniper.” Juniper raised an eyebrow in confusion, “You think getting revenge is going to make you feel better, but it's not! Please, don't make a mistake that you'll end up regretting for the rest of your life.”

Juniper paused as she let the words sink in, “I've already made too many mistakes.” she pointed out. She then started to hold herself, “What I've done is... is... unforgivable.”

Starlight shook her head with a small smile. “No, Juniper,” she said as she started to walk towards the desperate girl. “I know they'll forgive you,” she added as she starting to turn the mirror so that Juniper could take hold of the mirror’s handle. “But first, you have to set them free!” she finished.

Juniper looked into the mirror, and even though it was shattered and pieces were still breaking, she could still see part of her reflection and what she saw disgusted her. She turned her face away as she reached her right hand out and touched the mirror’s handle. “I... I wish I could make up for my mistakes.” Juniper reluctantly said and the mirror projected a light. Once the light faded Sci-Twi, Sunset, Sunny, Sugarcoat, Lemon, Indigo and Sour were out of the mirror's pocket dimension and back in the real world. They all gave breaths of relief. At the same time, Juniper transformed back to her normal state and the red light exited Juniper and returned to Sunset. Juniper and Starlight then both let go of the mirror let it fall to the floor destroying it.

“Starlight, you did it!” Sunset cheered as pulled Starlight into a hug or gratitude.

Juniper could only drop to her knees, she couldn’t even cry. All she could do was sigh in defeat at first. She took off the ring and placed it on the desk. “I suppose I’m about to lose my head.” She said looking at Sunny’s feet. “I'm sorry,” Juniper whispered as she looked up and saw that Sunny was looking down at her as the baroness had crossed her arms across her chest, with a face that seemed to be both emotionless and yet ready to cast judgment. Juniper gulped as she lowered her head.

Sunset looked from Juniper to Sunny and saw Sunny seemed to tap her left arm with the fingers of her right hand. She then stepped up and placed her hand on Juniper’s shoulder. “We've all been there,” Sunset said as she seemed to be defending Juniper.

Juniper looked up to Sunset somewhat surprised that anyone would come to her defense. She then recalled what Sunset and Sci-Twi did, and to the actions Shadowbolts when they aided Sunset. However, she was perplexed by the statement as it seemed to imply that “I remember what you and Sci-Twi did... but.” Juniper said and then she turned to Starlight utterly befuddled in her expression.

Starlight gave a weak chuckle as she rubbed the back of her head as she was about to answer the yet to be asked question on Juniper’s mind, “I manipulated an entire town into giving up their talents so they wouldn't think they were special and then augmented Star Swirl the Great’s time-traveling spell and almost doomed all life on the planet.” She then gave a large forced smile.

There was a pause that impregnated the air. “Huh, looks like we and the Rainbooms are a quite the pardoning lot.” Sugarcoat said as she took off and cleaned her glasses. “That assumes that Sunny is merciful.” Sugarcoat said as everyone looked to Sunny.

It was then that Sunny finally spoke, “Cinch would have had you drawn and quartered.” she said plainly. Juniper flinched and whimpered. “But I am not my mother, I am not going to cast out my family,” she said as she lowered her arms and a small smiled formed on her face. As she went to the desk and put her ring back on, “Besides, this day has been too exciting and there is a film I would like to enjoy.” She said as she started to leave, “Well, come on.” she said as she looked back to the others.

As the rest, including the seemingly pardoned Juniper, were about to leave, Sunset’s journal started to vibrate. Sci-Twi was the one open it and started to read, “Dear Sunset, I hope you and Starlight are well. Let her know, she can catch the premiere with you. On a different note, maybe we shouldn’t be writing to each other as often, I have enough communication issues with my boyfriend, I really don’t want to make him jealous. Sincerely Twilight.” Sci-Twi closed the book and seemed to smile. “I feel better now.”

Sunset shook her head, “Bae, never change.” she said as she pulled Sci-Twi into a hug and kissed her on the cheek.

Epilogue: Start of Omission

As the girls arrived at the theater inside the main build of the city's marketplace, Sunset stopped in front of the concession stand, “Hey bae, you want some popcorn and a drink?” Sunset asked Sci-Twi. Sci-Twi nodded. “Alright you get our seats and I'll get the munchies,” the two parted and as Sunset walked forward she bumped into another young woman, a couple of years younger than her. “Oops sorry, I didn't see you.” she tried to apologize.

The girl had green hair and wore just a pair of denim pants and a brown sweater. She turned to reveal her freckled face and light brown eyes. She sighed, “I get that all the time.”

Sunset offered her hand, “Suns..”

“Sunset Shimmer, we met when you moved here. I am Wallflower Blush.” She said with an annoyed deadpan.

Sunset gave a nervous laugh, “Sorry. I'll try better. Say, you here for the Daring Do movie, my friends are here for it.”

Wallflower shrugged her shoulders. Once Sunset headed to the concession stand, “It’s not like you’ll remember this.” she said in spite as she looked to the floor. There was a glow that lasted a second from within her sweater.

Prologue: Familial Truth

A man in his early thirties, with red and yellow hair that looked not unlike strips of bacon and green eyes paced in front of a set of blue doors. He was dressed in the golden color armor of the ESM, but his helmet, which he held, was designed like a lion’s head, on the back on his chest plate were engraved eagle-like wings and throughout his armor were many engravings of stylized suns. The door he was pacing in front of towered him by at least thrice his height. He stopped his pacing and was about to rip the door off its hinges when it was opened from the other side by a woman dressed in a simple dark blue dress of a servant. “Commander Dawntreader, the princess is ready to see y…” she didn’t get to finish her sentence as the recently identified Dawntreader ran into the room.

Dawntreader slowed his pace once he was in and walked slowly towards the main thing in the room, a bed fit for a queen. Seated on the bed, at its head, was Princess Celestia, her hair noticeable disheveled, in a gray gown. In her arms was a wrapped bundle, Celestia was looking down upon the bundle with a smile on her face as she hummed and cooed to it. She raised her gaze slightly up to see Dawntreader as he neared the head of her bed, “She has your eyes.” and presented the bundle, a newborn girl to Dawntreader.

Dawntreader cautiously reached out and the back of the fingers of his right hand on the baby, “She’s beautiful” he whispered and turned his gaze to Celestia, “Like her mother.”

As Dawntreader went to kiss Celestia, the scene vanished as Juniper Montage’s voice began to read, “Little did I know things would spiral out of control.” The scene changed to Juniper’s chambers in Midnight Castle. “Big deal, this is thick and tedious.” she groaned and started to skip ahead in the book she was reading from. She got closer to the end when she saw her name. “Juniper, my little tree, I know you will be or depending on when you read this have been mistreated by my wife and denied your place in the family. This mirror should help restore some semblance of justice at the hand of Cinch.” Juniper put the book to the side as there was nothing else written in it, and looked at the mirror that came in the same box. “How?” She asked. “I wished he actually wrote down an instruction manual.” the mirror flashed and a small brochure manifested itself in Juniper’s hands. “How to use a Mirror of Wishes” she read the title. She didn’t bother to open it as sinister grimace grew on her face. “So I am daddy’s favorite after all.”