Mirror: Book I - Mind

In the midst of the ponies and the broken bits of the town that lied all about, the dust filtered to a calm and quiet settle. Although the streets were littered and broken, they were free of hostility, all expect for the uncertain figure that lied in the center of the plaza, atop the fountain’s pedestal, lying over the space of the long lost statue. The beast remained motionless, the sound of its breathing just barely heard, should one dare to get close enough. Not a soul was willing to try.

Not a soul, except for one…

“She is the cause of all of this?” The Mayor stared down at the filly, unbelieving of whom was presented unto her.

“You’re damn right that I am.” Cozy Glow spat.

The filly squirmed and struggled in her restraints, but Applejack’s lasso was more than a match for the curly maned, little pegasus.

“It could’ve been easy, Ivory.” Cozy growled on. “One decision. One teensy, weensy tiny decision could have changed everything, but you backed out like the old hag of a coward you are. Mikado was but only a stepping stone to me, but even he couldn’t do his job right. Then, you just had to let your damn, dirty ape stick his smelly paws everywhere and anywhere he could.” She huffed and squirmed about again. “All over my town. That’s right! Y’hear me? My town!”

“What shall we do with her, Miss Mayor, ma’am?” Sam raised.

“Find Princess Twilight, call for her judgment.” She decided.

“She is out relocating the citizens.” Ralph informed.

“Then we shall see to everypony’s safety, first.” The Mayor nodded. “In the meantime, keep her here.”

“Hey, we’re not done here!” The filly rolled and wriggled on the floor. “This is the Nightmare Night that you will never forget! This is the day that I swear my revenge! You haven’t seen the last of me! Do you hear me?! I’ll get you, I’ll get all of you!”

“How’s the east end, captain?” Cloudchaser asked her superior.

“The fires shouldn’t spread any further now.” Sunshower nodded to her crew mates. “Good work, team.”

“Does this mean we finally get those doughnuts you promised?” Oskie asked fervently.

“I believe this means a revision to our Weather Patrol wing would be in order.” Mayor Mare called from below. Sunshower and her pegasi slowly made their descent, approaching the old mare as she continued. “Without a doubt, Ponyville has been in need of a proper fire and rescue team for quite some time, and I believe I know just the right ponies for the job.” She nodded, smiling.

Sunshower adorned a grin of her own, only for it to fade as she looked over her shoulder, turning to her pegasi. Her speech came as slow and meticulous as ever.

“I may not have been the best captain, or any sort of suitable captain at all for that matter, but what I can say is you pegasi are the best wing ponies any captain could ever ask for.” She paused, going stiff. “Even if you are a bunch of slackers from time to time.”

Cskie delivered the celebratory elbow to Oskie, for no particular reason at all.

“I suppose this means goodbye?” Cskie looked on drearily.

“You do have that position in Cloudsdale to look to, after all.” Blossomforth added.

Cloud Chaser slowly trotted up to the mare, flexing and holding out her wing. “It’s been an honor serving under your wing, captain.”

“And…” The pegasus accepted the wing shake. “It would be an honor to continue doing so.”

The crew members were thrown into a pause, looking over the pegasus with wonder.

“Miss Mayor.” Sunshower turned back around. “Permission to extend my stay in Ponyville?”

“I would have to consult the Cloudsdale administration.” She nodded back. “I’m sure they would be pleased to hear of your results.”

Visibly, the entire team winced.

“All the good parts, I mean…” The Mayor corrected.

As such, Sunshower experienced for the first time the full force and fluff of a team huddle, much more like a dog pile, as her wing ponies erupted with cheers and laughter, embracing their captain with shakeless amounts of gratitude.

Sunlight crept steadily over the horizon, the skies shifting from the blackened blue of the night into thin streaks of purple, orange and yellow. Dawn was abound, and yet the locals continued to stare and keep their distance from the creature in the fountain.

The scent of rot and cropper had grown heavy, clogging nostrils and pinching eyes to the point of tears. Despite the unbearable smells, one little pony in the crowd stood out among the rest, one who felt a calling towards the strange entity occupying the pedestal.

Dinky Hooves, placing one hoof after the other, slowly approached the being.

There was a moment in every mother’s life where in the midst of watching their child preparing to do something so inconceivably stupid, their first and only reaction could muster a scream at the very top of their lungs before charging forward in a desperate attempt to save their young. Accordingly, there was a moment in every child’s life where they knew that no matter how much they argued, fought or protested against their guardian, the parent was never in a million years ever going to agree with them. The little unicorn knew this was one of those moments, and pressed forward ever so slowly, gently, and cautiously.

Whooves applied all of his earth pony strength, astounded by the effort the mother was putting in as he beckoned to Ronin for help, two now holding the pegasus at bay. The elder sister could only watch on, horn at the ready, eyes fearful and mind thinking of only the worst. But if there was one thing she was thinking of, her little sister must be doing this for a reason. If there was one thing Amethyst knew, her little sister wasn’t stupid, stupid as the situation may have seemed.

Just what was she planning to do? Beyond all honesty, Dinky hadn’t a clue as to what she was doing. The only action that followed next was her little hoof reaching for the Doctor’s ring. The copper ring lied in the center of her hoof, the early light of the morning bouncing streams of light off of its surface, and with that Dinky looked back up. Her face mere inches away from the beast upon the stone pedestal, her gaze softened and her lips moved slowly.

“You’ve been in pain this whole time, haven’t you?” She closed her eyes, reaching out with her hoof. The unicorn and the monster came in contact.

The crowd was still and frozen with fear, Dinky’s family at a complete loss of action and words. As the little filly’s eyes shined white, she opened her sights back to the being, and she understood what to do. The creature looked down, and she sensed the most subtle yet painful nod of content in its wordless, quiet gesture.

Dinky closed her eyes, and her horn flared to life.

The copper ring was lifted by her levitation, a spell she never thought she herself could achieve. She came to understand the creature’s pain, its suffering, its journey, and its story. All around them and the fountain space, golden specks of light twirled and shimmered as they followed the waves of Dinky’s horn spiral like a rising, roaring river around the creature, soaring for the sky. A faint breeze rushed about their vicinity, carrying the twinkles of light until they encompassed the beast on the pedestal whole, and its figure dissipated into the thin of the air, fluttering above and disappearing upon the canvas of amber gold painting the morning sights. As the bedazzling show of lights were lifted and carried into an ethereal and invisible nothing, the little unicorn at the fountain was all alone.

The beast was gone.

“The creature…” One pony muttered. “It disappeared!”

“And it’s all thanks to that brave, little unicorn!” Another triumphed.

“She’s saved us all!” The ponies stomped their hooves and cheered. “She’s a hero!”

As the citizens gathered to deliver their congratulations, Derpy, Whooves, Amethyst and Ronin quickly trotted up to the exhausted and crumpled form of the little Dinky. Having exerted so much energy out of nowhere, the filly had nearly fallen unconscious, struggling to keep her eyes open as her family lifted her in their hooves. They shared their sights to the copper ring, having landed back into the small of the young one’s hoof. It was completely verdigris.

“You, little miss Doo,” Whooves admired. “Are full of surprises, it seems.”

“That was incredibly brave of you, my little girl.” Her mother acknowledged. “You’re grounded for the rest of your life.”

“I’ve never witnessed such manner of magic before.” Ronin added. “How did you do that?”

“I’m…not sure.” Dinky replied steadily. “Somehow, I just knew what to do.”

Amethyst’s only response to the whole ordeal was a sharp gasp and a sudden shrill. She shoved a hoof in the direction of Dinky’s backside, sputtering and wordless altogether.

“What? What is it?” The mother fret.

“Has she been hurt?” The Doctor feared.

Amethyst finally spat it out. “Dinky…” Her eyes bright and brilliant. “Your cutie mark!”

“What?” Dinky blinked back, disbelieving. “Sis, I don’t have a-”

She stopped, looked to her flank, and there it was. A warm sensation overran the young one’s hide, and there the image appeared. The little unicorn’s very own cutie mark, after thirteen long years, had finally been revealed.

As the commotion and the clamor had all come to a settle, the ponies of Ponyville banded together, just as they had in days of strife and turmoil. Within a matter of mere minutes, instructions were made, tools and supplies were provided, and the bonds of brotherhood began in the spirit to restore and rebuild what they called their home.

Among the sea of equines, a single tall figure emerged and walked among them, approaching the fountain scene that he had idly watched from afar. Dinky’s family gave their admirations and congratulations, not to mention a select few from the crowds, and in the midst of it all the little unicorn looked up.

As they met sights, an urgent sense to speak with the boy washed over her eyes. She wobbled to her hooves and sped forward, David responding in a low crouch as he held out his arms to catch the small pony. Her immediate words put the human to a halt.

“David, I saw it.” She told him. “I saw your home world.”

The boy stopped, and simply listened.

“When I touched that creature, I saw what he really was. He was a human, once, just like you.” Dinky went on. “His people were in danger, and he wanted to protect his home, so he turned into that beast. Even though he knew that was the price he would pay, he did it for the people he loved.”

Dinky looked down, recomposing herself, and the boy calmly rested a hand to her shoulder. As her hoof climbed to his forearm, she found the strength to continue.

“I think I understand you now, why you’ve been so angry and frustrated.” She returned. “It’s because you had a home, but now you’re trying to learn how to live all over again. But you don’t have to worry because…I’m here to learn with you.”

Dinky’s eyes met the boy’s once more, the tears beginning to form and her voice trembling, but she pushed on.

“I guess what I’m trying to say is…home is where your friends are at. It doesn’t have to be a place, or a building, or anything like that. It’s where your heart truly lies.”

And then, the Glass shattered.

As he knelt there in the middle of the plaza courtyard, broken shards of glass surrounding them all about, the boy came to an epiphany. Even if he may never get to see his home ever again, what mattered to him now was the world, the people, and the voices set out before him. It was where he believed his destiny truly lied. He was here, and he was one-hundred percent truly and utterly awake. He was alive.

“Dinky…” The boy choked, wrapping the little mare up in his arms. “Thank you.”

The pony could only reply with muffled reassurance, and soon the two parted.

“I know what I need to do now.” He said.

David reached into his pocket and looked unto the piece in his hand. The memory talisman. Rising to his feet, the boy fell into a run as he weaved about the ponies and the buildings, making his way for Sweet Apple Acres.