The Crystal Mirror

"Uhm, are you sure about this Angel?" Fluttershy asked, bowing her head as she stepped further forward into the dark room, her dark green Mary Jane’s catching the dust particles in their velvet material as she timidly entered the small space.

“Hurry up!” Angel chittered ahead of her, waving her forward, and with a calming breath - she stepped up the steps to the darkened mirror. The crystals that lined the purple glass were sharp and angular, cutting the light of the mirror into jagged shapes that grew into terrifying shadows. There was an inscription along the base of the mirror, and just above that lay a small bird trapped in the space between the glass and the inscription plate.

“Oh little friend! I’ve been so worried, thank goodness you managed to get the attention of the bats. You won’t find any nesting material in here!” Fluttershy scolded to the best of her abilities as she began to carefully unfurl the wings of the creature, delicately pulling it out of its confines. It wasn’t long until the bird was free, chirping its thanks as it rested happily on her hand. “You’re very welcome! Now let’s go back home and I’ll ask Rarity if she has any fabric scraps for you.”

Fluttershy's contemplative moment was interrupted by a soft chittering from her left. Glancing back at Angel for a moment, she returned her attention to the mirror. "Yes, I suppose it is a pretty mirror. And the purple is just lovely..." Pausing to admire her reflection's gentle purple glow, she stepped closer before gently tracing her hand along the inscription below.

“In this glassy realm where reflections gleam,
Beware, dear soul, of what may seem.

In this glassy portal, secrets untold,
Beware, dear seeker, as stories unfold.
Five moons' passage, a transient spree,
A new visage, a different decree.

But heed this caution, a crucial heed,
For the power gained may plant a seed.
Others shall falter, your identity lost,
Their actions cruel, perhaps at great cost.

So gaze with caution, know the deal,
In this mirror's enchanting appeal.
For transient change may hold its sway,
But the cost, my friend, may lead you astray.”

"I wonder what that means," Fluttershy pondered aloud, before taking a step back to gaze at her reflection once more. It was then that she noticed the strange purple mist that had filled the room, enveloping everything in an eerie haze. All at once she began to panic and, with a few panicked breaths, turned back to Angel. “Oh no. This isn’t good Angel, we need to go get Twilight. She’ll know what’s happening.”

She turned on her heel and rushed to the door, but it was only when she stepped through the threshold of the castle’s doors that she realised she was alone. She turned back with a start, about to call for Angel, only to see the bunny glaring at her with an energy she had never seen. But she didn’t have time to question it before the bird in her hand suddenly pecked her with an unexpected force and flew away.

“Ouch!”

Gasping in pain, Fluttershy looked down at her hand, only to be met with a sight that filled her with terror. Her skin, once a gentle shade of yellow, now appeared as a more muted white. Even more alarming, her usually pastel pink hair now somehow had green at the tips, and the pink butterflies of her cutie mark that usually decorated her hand were gone - replaced with the image of a purple crystal seemingly locked in a chain and trimmed with lace instead. Dread washed over her as she realised something inexplicable had happened to her. She clutched her hand to her chest, her mind racing with confusion and fear. She glanced back up to Angel, only to be met with the glare from before once more.

“Angel? What’s going on? It’s me, Flutter-“ and all at once, the door to the castle of the two sisters was slammed in her face with such force it caused the birds in the trees to chirp angrily. At least, that’s what she assumed anyway, considering she could no longer understand them. It was that thought that had her turning on her heel with tears streaming down her face, directly back into the Everfree forest with one goal - find her friends and figure out what was going on with her.