Work Text:
Once upon a time, there was a legend. It spoke of a powerful mirror that was able to grant one’s wishes infinitely. Many had sought to obtain this relic, sacrificing everything they had, even to only have a glance at it. No one had been successful, so the world deemed it to be nothing more than just a myth. Many years later, a magician stumbled upon it in a chest, locked away deep underground. Unaware of its true purpose, he dismissed it to be some unique fortune teller. He used it in many tricks and performances alike. Magic is rare in this world, so word spread around like wildfire of it, piquing the Royal Family’s interest. It was soon to be Prince Damien’s 7th birthday, and they had personally invited him to perform.
The magician stood proud as he presented that night. Cheers could be heard all over the palace as they celebrated. The mirror gleamed brightly as if it acknowledged all the praise it got. Prince Damien himself had a greedy look in his eyes, clearly not satisfied just yet.
After it all had died down, the magician went to rest at the guest chambers.
“Ah, what a day! I’m sure you and I will be world-famous soon..!” he exclaimed gleefully.
The mirror shimmered, shaking a little in the process.
“Aye, well goodnight, friend. Glad I found you before anyone else! I’ll be hitting the hay now.” he yawned, devoid of any energy left.
Right after that, a faint snore emitted inside the room. Unbeknownst to the sleeping magician, the little prince had broken in. Small, clumsy shuffles pittered around, trying his best to not wake up the man. He approached the mirror, full of curiosity.
“I’m bored, and I can’t sleep. Can you do more tricks, please?” Damien asked, remembering to add a ‘please’ to be more polite.
The mirror only shined for a while. That’s it.
“Aw, come on. I thought magical mirrors can’t get tired.” he whined.
Damien tried to grasp the mirror, only for his hand to sink into the material.
“Woah!”
He played around with it, not realizing that a faint force was pulling him in. Soon, he fully phased-entered into another dimension. The moment he laid eyes on the beyond, he couldn’t hold back his amazement. It was just like a surreal fairyland. Everything was brightly coloured, and there were many creatures that shouldn’t exist. Dragons were soaring through the skies. Gnomes chattering around, and many more he couldn’t name. He recognized some elements to it as they were figments of his own imagination.
Fantasies. His very own wishes he thought were impossible—were right in front of him. He fell to his knees, trying to process everything else. He pinched himself, letting out a silent ‘ow’ as it hurt. This was not a dream. He brightened, as this could mean endless parties, friends, and no school even! He had always wanted an adventurous life, more than being locked in a castle, forced to rule a kingdom. His train of thought was soon interrupted. Squinting hard, something was moving. Is that..a unicorn?
“Welcome home Your Majesty! It is I, your noble steed! You’re just in time, everyone is waiting for you.” the creature proudly stated.
“A talking, flying unicorn.” he dead-panned.
“Get on my back, as we must make haste! The party is almost starting!” Mr. Unicorn hollered.
Damien climbed up the very colourful unicorn, brimming with excitement. They took off to the skies. He peered down below, seeing many wondrous things. The place was a beautiful meadow, with bustling parades stretching infinitely. The people below them cheered. He whooped.
“We have arrived. Feel free to enjoy whatever the mirror provides!” Mr. Unicorn presented.
“A..mirror? What mirror?” he questioned. Had there been a mirror? Oh, how did he get here again? Why was there a fog in his memory?
“Erm.. never mind that. I shall escort you to your throne!”
All the thoughts disappeared. A throne they say? Damien happily followed and it led them to an enormous room, with a big, comfy, pillow-ridden chair on it.
He buzzed through the swarm of his supposed people and landed on his throne. Everyone celebrated joyously just for him. They kept chanting his name as if it was a ritual. The whole day was filled to the brim with parties. Damien enjoyed every single bit of his new kingdom. He was a king now, right? Wouldn’t his father be proud?
“Father..?” he wondered.
He realized it a bit too late.
“How could I forget Father! I definitely need to show this to him! I hope he will let me keep the mirror…if he doesn’t have my head for disappearing, that is.” Damien hurried.
He went on and searched for the mirror, desperate to show his parents what he found. This turned out to be longer than expected—it’s as if it never existed in the first place.
“Where..is it?” he huffed.
A glint blinded his eyes.
“There you are! It's time for me to go home. It was wonderful, but I can’t stay.” he explained sorrowfully.
He grasped the mirror again. What he expected was his hand sinking, instead, it bounced back.
“That’s…strange. Oh, mirror? Why can’t I go out?” he questioned.
Ripples waved through the luminescence. He pushed and pushed, every single one getting more desperate as he continued. Panic slowly ebbed in his mind, feeling his throat closing up. Small worried taps formed anxious and feared slams. Damien couldn’t hold on any longer–he screamed with all his might, trying to get someone. The mirror hovered above him, transforming his surroundings to be that of a glass dome. All of it were mirrors. They reflected everything. He saw himself, disheveled with flowing streaks wetting his face. The screams all shouted back at him, getting louder with each second. Ears deafened, eyes taunted, mirrors everywhere.
He tried everything–scratching the walls, wailing, and pleading. No one came. He’s been at this for a while now, unsure of how long he stayed there. The mirror’s space had altered his sense of time. His breathing went erratic, pupils darting everywhere to just find even a tear to get back. He could hear the ticking of clocks, where had that come from? He felt the mirror’s presence dawning over him.
“Why..?” was all he could muster up from the pressure.
He sobbed—at this point, his shirt was already a mixture of snot and salty tears.
“I…I want to see my parents again! Please! Let me out!”
The mirrors all stopped. It showed a reflection of them, smiling happily.
“No...No, I want the real them! This..this isn’t real!”
The mirror shined again. All that Damien could see were wisps coming straight at him. When it disappeared, he felt as if all his worries had fallen away. All that negative emotion welling up inside of him like a storm, was now nothing but a small, calming breeze. Although, the one thing that bothered him, was his foggy memory.
All the mirrors disappeared in a blink of an eye. Damien found himself on the grass field, wet. Had he cried? He couldn’t remember.
“Your Majesty! I thought I’d lost you! Come quick, there is another party waiting!” Mr. Unicorn pranced.
“Ah, okay Mr. Unicorn. I’m sorry I wandered.” he quietly responded.
“No matter. Now, hurry to my back!” the unicorn rushed.
Damien mounted the unicorn, looking back somberly. What happened? He felt like there was something, but nothing came to mind. The mirror’s powers were too powerful, and soon they drifted away, back to the parades and endless fantasies. It appears that the mirror will grant one’s wishes in a heartbeat, but with a hefty price.