Distorted Reflections

Points of Divergence

A/N: As usual, it's been a while since the last chapter. It's the end of the semester for my college classes, so I've been busy. As you can see, however, I'm still giving this my all! Enjoy, my readers!

Chapter 2: Points of Divergence

January 10, 2028

Woods Residence, Juniper's room

7:00 a.m.

When Juniper didn't come into the kitchen for breakfast, at first Virginia Woods thought her granddaughter had accidently slept in. So Virginia put breakfast on a tray and walked into her granddaughter's room.

Walking into the room, Virginia saw that Juniper was still in bed, sleeping peacefully. Virginia set down the tray and gently shook Juniper to wake her up. Juniper didn't respond.

Virginia's eyes widened and she shook Juniper harder, to no avail. "No.... Juniper actually found the Mirror Pond?" Virginia said, horrified.

Immediately Virginia dug into her granddaughter's desk, pulling out her cell phone. Normally Virginia wouldn't dare to use her granddaughter's possessions, but this was an emergency. The old woman dialed the first number she saw on the contact list.

January 11, 2028

Mirror Pond

5:30 a.m.

A small part of Juniper hoped the previous day had been nothing but a dream, but it wasn't. So when she woke up the next morning still in the alternate world, Juniper snuck out of her house and went into the forest.

It took a while to retread the path she'd taken before, but eventually Juniper did find her way towards the Mirror Pond. It's location was well hidden, which made all the more notable that Juniper had found it by complete accident. Much like before, the pond looked a lot like a regular pond, except for the fact that the surface didn't reflect anything.

Cautiously approaching the pond, Juniper looked down at the pond's surface. Now that she was here, Juniper wasn't sure just what she wanted to say. Just what exactly did one say to a magic pond?

"Ummm.... What am I doing here? *cough cough*" Juniper said.

Suddenly a voice echoed inside her head. The voice sounded like it was being spoken from beneath a lot of water, which made it impossible to make out any details about it.

You're here because you asked to be here, The voice said.

"I didn't *cough cough* ask to be here. At least, I'm sure I didn't, Mr....um, Ms....*cough cough*" The words were getting harder to speak- the situation was clearly beyond her comprehension.

I am the Spirit of the Mirror Pond. You may refer to me as simply the Mirror Pond, if you wish, The voice said. And your heart did wish to visit here. I heard that wish, and granted it.

Juniper was about to protest again when suddenly her reflection showed up on the surface of the pond. The Juniper in the pond had a concerned expression on her face, which didn't change when Juniper reared back.

The Juniper in the pond started talking. "If Robin had been born a boy like they wanted... would that have really made them happy?" She said. Then the Juniper in the pond faded away, leaving the surface blank again.

In fact, Juniper did think that while looking into the pond the other day. Even so.... "That's really all it took?! That's why I'm here?"

"I do not err in my duties. This is the world you wished to see, so I am showing it to you," The Mirror Pond said impatiently.