Mirror's Image

Chapter 22

Twilight nervously twisted the now empty coffee cup in her hooves. All her friends were staring at her, their eyes full of disbelief and confusion. Obviously Twilight had anticipated such a reaction from her friends but even so, the look on their faces still got to her.

Still, the feelings of confusion and disbelief were an improvement over the overwhelming sadness that filled the entire room. Being sad was one thing. Feeling the sadness of everypony around you wash over you like a tidal wave of emotion was a whole different situation.

"Ah think Ah might've misheard you there, sugarcube." Applejack was the first one to speak up. "Ah could've sworn you said you won't be returning to Ponyville with us."

"It's true," Twilight assured her, her voice small and hesitant. "I've been trying to tell you guys for the past few days."

Fluttershy nodded. "We understand," she said, a small smile on her dainty lips. "You need to stay here for your family after all."

But Twilight just shook her head.

"I'm not staying here either," she said. "I am going back to the hive with the queen."

Again, everypony stared at her. Were it not for the muttering and talking in the background, one would be able to hear a pin drop.

Once more, Applejack was the first to recover. "Well, now ah'm certain ah misheard you."

"Applejack!" Rarity said, perhaps a bit louder than she had intended. "I'm sure Twilight has her reasons for going with... her," she said, stressing that last word. Over the past week, Rarity had come to accept the queen's place in Twilight's life, though she was clearly still wary of the queen, something Twilight couldn't blame her for. After all, she and Fluttershy had been the ones to find Cadance. They were the ones that saw just how hurt and scared she was.

"I do," Twilight said, trying to take control of the conversation again before anypony could interrupt her. "She's going to teach me how to properly use my new magic." Amongst other things, obviously. Twilight still knew next to nothing about her changelings, let alone how to rule them one day.

She hated the idea of leaving her family and friends behind but she had already talked about it with Shining Armor and her father. Neither of them liked the idea but they understood why she had to leave.

"And besides, it's not going to be forever," Twilight said, trying to cheer her friends up as best she could, given what she just dropped on them.

"How long are we talking here, Twilight?" Pinkie asked. "Hours? Days? Weeks? Months? I need details here, Twilight!" The pink pony almost jumped onto the table as she got increasingly agitated.

"Calm down, Pinkie," Rainbow Dash said, pulling Pinkie Pie back by her tail.

"But I need to know! How else will I know when to throw Twilight a 'welcome back' party?" Pinkie crossed her front hooves in annoyance.

"Are you leaving right away?" Rarity asked, trying her best to ignore Pinkie Pie's antics.

Twilight hesitated. "Well, I suppose I could stop in Ponyville for a little while. I have some things I need to pick up." Books, supplies, tooth brushes and the like.

Rarity thought for a minute. "Idea!" she said with a smile. "How about we have a little get-together then? Nothing special or overly bombastic, just friends seeing another friend off?"

"That sounds lovely," Fluttershy admitted.

"Well, I'm sure I could spare a few hours," Twilight said. Of course she could just order her drones to gather what she needed but she could use a little time with her friends before she headed off.