It had been an Ominous yet quiet night in the Deep, Shadowed boughs of the Everfree Forest. Normally, at this time of night, this part of the forest would be silent, calm, undisturbed by anypony or Woodland creature of any sort, but this one night was disturbed by footsteps that treaded upon dead leaves and a voice's consistant chattering.

"...and that's how I, the great and Powerful Trixie, got this wonderous map all by myself." was the voice's concluding statement, coming from a blue Unicorn with a Map floating by her. the Griffon she was talking to, however, couldn't care less.

"Whatever. there just better be something good coming out of this useless piece of scrap paper, otherwise this is a lame waste of time. I could be doing a lot of better things right now-infact, probably SLEEPING-but yet I'm stuck with a Bragging, blabbermouth of a Unicorn!"

"Watch your mouth! the great and Powerful Trixie will not take to such lashing!"

"the Great and Powerful Trixie needs to begin talking in First person!"

it wasn't long before Trixie had banged into something smooth whilst her argument with the Griffon flared. she looked up at the thing before her to find...

herself. or more specifically, her reflection. she had arrived at a rather tall mirror, with a Dark Gray-ish tone, an elegant and regal frame design, with a Spider web design at the corner of the reflective surface. despite being in the deepest part of the forest, the Mirror was well-polished and looked as new as a mirror in a furniture store. Trixie had looked at the map-this was where the treasure was, according to it. though when she looked at the mirror, she couldn't help but admire herself. she looked so Beautiful within its polished reflection, she couldn't look away.

Her Griffon "Friend", however, seemed quite annoyed. "a Mirror? the treasure is a mirror? Lame. that's it, I'm heading back to my hou-"

"wait. that's not all what the treasure is, Gilda."

suddenly the Griffon stopped, hearing the voice. "Who's there? show yourself!"

"I'm right here...come closer to the mirror..."

Gilda had stepped closer to the mirror, the image of a young Filly appearing within the reflection. Trixie had blinked, looking at the faint reflection and then looked behind her, seeing no one else.

"Who are you?"

"Why, I'm the spirit of the mirror, of course." the Filly said, batting her eyes. "and I am so happy that you have found me at last, o noble treasure hunters."

"Yeah, Yeah, whatever-can you get to the point? you said there was more than just the mirror-so where's the rest of it?"

the Filly frowned a bit, getting a slightly bittered expression. "one. if it's one thing I hate, it's to be interrupted rudely. two-yes, there is more...but it isn't gold, silver, gems and rubies."

Trixie then gave the mirror a look. "then What is it? the Great and Powerful Trixie demands to know, Mirror!"

"oh...well, you see...I do more than just provide an image to admire yourself in. you see...I can grant the wishes within anyone's heart-their deepest desires...and I can give them what they truely deserve with just a flick of my hoof."

Gilda raised an eyebrow, looking interested. "...ok...go on."

the Filly disappeared from the reflective surface of the mirror and showed a tall, elegant, light blue Adult Unicorn mare with a silverish-white mane, wearing a crown and an elegant cape.

Trixie's eyes widened, looking at the reflection. "my Stars...is that...me?"

"Yes, Trixie. this could be you."

the reflection soon also showed an Adult Griffon dressed in similar attire, but more attributed to a warrior.

"And that's me?"

"Definitely, Gilda. you see...I have the power to make you two the most powerful creatures in all of Equestria. Trixie...the title of Great and Powerful doesn't seem to fit your current strength now...but with my Magic, I can make you even greater-I can give you the power to defeat even the mightiest of Creatures and Vanquish the most powerful of Foes! I can make you more powerful than Princess Celestia herself!"

"as for you, Gilda...I can make you the swiftest, the bravest, the coolest Griffon to ever lay claws upon this land! everyone will be bowing down to worship you and the very earth you walk upon. they'll be chanting your name when you stride into the streets, and eat out of the very palm of your Claws. forget Princess Celestia-you two don't need to be commoners! why not step up from the Great and Powerful Trixie, to Princess Trixie and Princess Gilda-Rulers of all Equestria!"

Trixie's eyes were aglow. the fame, the pampering, the power...and it could all be hers. she darted up to the mirror, bouncing with excitement.

"please, please grant this Wish, spirit of the mirror!"

"I could...but...I cannot."

Gilda arched an eyebrow. "and why not?"

"you see...my power only works OUTSIDE the Mirror...a long time ago, an evil king sealed me in here. if someone was so kind to release me from my prison, I'd be happy to grant their wish...if not...I can only show the reflections of what should've been."

Gilda had stepped up to punch the mirror hard, but the Spirit had intervened.

"brute force will not break the spell! only magic can break the mirror and release me."

"then never fear-the Great and Powerful Trixie, is here."

with that, the blue unicorn approached the mirror, her horn glowing as it tapped the surface. slowly, the mirror began to crack, the spider web designs fading away as it did. as soon as Trixie's concentration broke, the Mirror was completely cracked, with a blackish gray substance oozing out of the cracks as the mirror dissolved.

the Substance surrounded the two as the filly reformed from it, standing in front of them. Trixie looked at her with a confused look on her face. the filly's hair was black, streaked with dark gray, and her eyes were as blank and white as the snow. a smile was spread on her face as the gray substance surrounded the two. soon, a pair of emerald green pupils appeared in the filly's eyes.

"o, fortunate souls...I thank you from freeing me from my infernal prison...and now...I shall give you your earned reward..."

the Gray Substance grabbed both Gilda and Trixie, Gilda struggling to break free, but to no avail.

"wh-what the heck? what are you doing?"

"why...I'm giving you your reward." the filly said, her pupils slitting as her green eyes had turned into a crimson red and she began taking on a different form-the form of a Dark gray horned mare with blackish patches that swirled and changed on her body, cracked, bony-looking wings, a pitch black mane and tail that became nothing but a wispy trail of gray smoke near the ends, silver colored eyes with slit pupils, and a Cutie mark in the shape of a silver-colored Black Widow. her mouth was only a jagged crack on her face as she grinned twistedly.

"after all...you deserve what's coming to you...for freeing the Mare in the Mirror!" the Darkened-toned Mare cackled as sharp fangs appeared in her mouth.

and throughout the Everfree forest, the sound of Horrified Screams were heard ringing out through the place, but had soon died out, letting the stillness of the forest air remain once more.