Mirror's Image

Chapter 18

"It looks amazing," Twilight said to herself as she took in the sight before her. The same ball room where she had held her last birthday party was now decorated in a most beautiful way. A bit more sophisticated than it had been the last time she was here, though, as the company was much more formal this time around.

Several ponies were still working hard to make sure that everything was in order, guided by the combined efforts of Princess Luna and Pinkie Pie. The two of them seemed to have buried the hatchet overnight and were once again working together to make this celebration memorable. Even so, Twilight did notice Luna casting the occasional glance at Pinkie Pie, as if daring her to do something overly crazy. Given Pinkie's track record, Luna probably wouldn't have to wait long for such a thing to happen.

The lock on the door behind Twilight clicked as it was pushed open by an elegant looking stallion, who was carrying a floral centerpiece. Several ponies carrying the same kind of decoration followed behind him and Twilight quickly moved out of their path.

Twilight took a closer look at the flowers as they were carried past her. They were all colored very brightly but the ones that stood out most to Twilight were the ones that were a teal color, just like her mane and tail.

One of the ponies carrying the centerpieces stopped to look at Twilight and then at the flowers, as if comparing their colors. As Twilight opened her mouth to say how beautiful she found the arrangement, the young mare hurried away.

That took Twilight a bit by surprise, since it was the first time anypony seemed put off by her appearance.

But Twilight couldn't really blame her. Not when she herself had been afraid of her own reflection at first, thinking that it was some kind of creepy monster.

Most ponies would probably see her as a strange caricature of a regular pony. Twilight couldn't help but wonder if Discord had actually designed the changeling race or if he just allowed the chaotic magic to run rampant and do as it pleased.

"Is something bothering you?" Celestia asked as she walked up to Twilight.

"No," Twilight said quickly. She hadn't even noticed Celestia walking up to her until she addressed her.

"Are you sure?" Celestia pressed on. "Because you've been staring intently at that floor tile for the past few minutes."

Twilight looked up at her and blinked her eyes a few times. "I was just thinking..." she admitted. "Not everypony is going to be as accepting of this as my friends and family," she stated instead of asking, as she knew it to be true.

"Afraid so, Twilight," Celestia said. "Ponies do tend to be wary of things they don't know or don't understand.

"However, that's what this party is for," Celestia continued. "So that my little ponies may get to know you and the changelings. It may take some time, but I truly believe that this is a step in the right direction... though I do not know how long the road will be."

Twilight smiled, her worries temporarily forgotten. "As long as I have my friends and family walking beside me, I won't care."

The two of them shared a short hug.

"I think I should get back to the preparations," Celestia said. "Before Luna decides to sentence your friend to five years in the dungeons." She paused for a few seconds. "Again," she then added.

Twilight chuckled for a second, but the look on Celestia's face showed this not to be a joke.

Deciding that now was the right time to leave, Twilight left the ball room and the two diarchs behind her.