Mirror's Image

Chapter 23

Blueblood stared into the crystal orb floating in front of him. It shook occasionally as the changeling inside was trying to escape. The imposter was slamming her hooves against it, in a way that reminded him of a moth bumping into a lantern, trying to touch the flame.

The orb even began to light up like a lantern as the princess began to use her magic. "Save your energy," Blueblood said. "You can't escape my prison."

A small crack formed on the crystal where Twilight had struck it with her hind hooves. Blueblood twitched, annoyance clear on his face.

But the prince's confident grin quickly returned. "Either way, it won't matter. Before long, we'll be on our way," he said smugly.

"Not if I can help it!" Rainbow Dash yelled as she came flying in.

"And what, pray tell, are you going to do about it?" Blueblood asked. His voice still carried that smug tone, as though he was assured of his victory.

But Rainbow Dash knew just how to handle ponies like that. And as such, she didn't say anything. Instead, Rainbow Dash just looked at Twilight and nodded, before taking off like an arrow shot from a bow.

Blueblood stared at the spot where Rainbow Dash had been mere seconds ago. "Flying away?" he asked. "Can't say I'm very impressed by that."

It took Blueblood a few seconds too long to realize what she was actually up to. But by then, it was too late for him to do anything about it, as a rainbow colored streak came rushing back towards him. Out of sheer reflex, he held the crystal orb up in order to shield himself.

As Rainbow Dash slammed into the crystal ball, it shattered into a million pieces. Jagged shards rained down all around the mad prince, miraculously missing him and any pony or changeling around him.

"He's all yours, Twilight," Rainbow Dash said, before flying off to help out with putting out the fire.

"Curse you..." Blueblood muttered as he saw that his bargaining chip had gotten free again. His eyes remained fixed on her as he approached her.

"Prince Blueblood!" Twilight yelled, raising her voice to be heard over the roaring flames. "Stop this madness at once, please!" Twilight pleaded as she took a step back, lighting up her horn with green magic.

"I will stop at nothing until I get Twilight Sparkle back!" Blueblood yelled back, suddenly breaking into a gallop with his horn glowing red.

Sucker Punch took advantage of the distraction his princess provided and grabbed the mad prince, holding him in a neck hold. As Blueblood struggled to get free, Twilight Sparkle approached him. "Prince Blueblood, look at what you've done." She pointed at the burning building. Slowly but surely it was spreading to nearby buildings.

Ponies were running around in panic, grabbing buckets of water or clouds as they tried to get the flames under control. Changelings and clones were still duking it out, neither side willing to give up. "Is this what you wanted?"

Blueblood hesitated, biting his lip. "What am I doing... Ah!" The mad prince cried out in pain as the amulet glowed a deep red color. Strange shadows formed around him, even in the light of day.

Twilight didn't hesitate and used her magic to pull on the red jewel. "Sucker Punch, hold him still!" she yelled as the amulet began to budge slowly but surely. Just a bit more...

"No!" Blueblood yelled. His red magic wrapped around Sucker Punch's left hoof and twisted. A sickening crunch rung through the air and the Praetorian screamed with pain, before being knocked back by the prince's magic