The Last Reflection of the Mirror

The snowflakes danced in the frigid air, a stark contrast to the warmth that once filled the kingdom of Prétear. The once vibrant and lively land now lay in ruins, a testament to the relentless march of time and the harsh realities of a post-apocalyptic world. In the heart of this desolate landscape stood the grand castle, its once majestic towers now crumbling, and its once-golden spires now draped in the heavy weight of snow and soot.

Inside, the throne room was a somber reminder of the past. The throne, once adorned with jewels and tapestries, was now a mere wooden chair, its seat worn and its armrests splintered. At the center of the room stood a large, ornate mirror, its surface cracked and its frame rusted, but its gaze remained piercing and unyielding.

The mirror was the last relic of the old world, a remnant of the days when Snow White was the fairest of them all. Now, it was the source of power and fear for the kingdom. The mirror's reflection was not one of beauty, but of power—a power that could shape the destiny of the kingdom and its people.

In the mirror's reflection, a figure appeared. It was the Queen, once the fairest in the land, now a withered, twisted version of her former self. Her eyes were hollow, her skin sallow, and her hair, once long and flowing, was now a tangled mess of grays and browns.

The Queen approached the mirror, her hand trembling as she reached out to touch the surface. "Mirror, mirror on the wall, who is the fairest of them all?" she whispered, her voice a mere whisper, yet it echoed through the room.

The mirror's voice was cold and distant, a stark contrast to the warmth it once provided. "You, my Queen, are the fairest of them all," the mirror replied, its tone devoid of emotion.

The Queen's smile was a twisted thing, a twisted reflection of her former beauty. "And who is the darkest in the land?" she asked, her voice a mere growl now.

The mirror's reflection changed, revealing a figure cloaked in shadows, a figure that was once a trusted advisor to the Queen. "You, my Queen, are the darkest in the land," the mirror's voice was filled with malice.

The advisor, now revealed as the Queen's betrayer, stepped forward, his face twisted with glee. "I have been waiting for this day, my Queen. The kingdom shall be yours, and the throne shall be mine to rule."

The Queen's eyes narrowed, her hand clutching the mirror's frame. "And what of Snow White?" she asked, her voice a mix of fear and determination.

The advisor's smile widened. "She is but a pawn, to be used and discarded as needed. With her out of the way, the throne is yours for the taking."

The Queen's face twisted in rage. "You will not succeed. Snow White is more than you think. She is the key to our survival, and she will not be taken from us so easily."

As the Queen spoke, the mirror's surface began to glow, casting a eerie light across the room. The Queen, the advisor, and the mirror were all bathed in this light, and for a moment, it seemed as though time itself had stopped.

The Queen's reflection in the mirror began to change, her face becoming younger, her hair returning to its former luster. She was once again the fairest of them all, but her eyes were filled with a newfound determination.

"You have failed," the Queen's voice was now filled with power. "Snow White is not just a pawn, she is the hope of our people. And I will not let you take her from us."

With a swift motion, the Queen reached out and shattered the mirror, sending shards flying across the room. The advisor, caught off guard, stumbled backward, his face contorted in shock.

The Queen turned to him, her eyes filled with a newfound resolve. "You have made a grave mistake, my advisor. The kingdom will not fall into the hands of darkness. We will fight, and we will win."

The advisor's face turned pale, his eyes wide with fear. "But the mirror... the mirror's power..."

The Queen's voice was cold and final. "The mirror's power is gone. Snow White is free. And together, we will rebuild this kingdom."

As the Queen spoke, the advisor's form began to fade, his presence becoming as ethereal as the shadows he once represented. The Queen looked at the shattered mirror, its reflection now a void, and a knowing smile crossed her lips.

Snow White was free, and with her, the hope of the kingdom. The Queen had made her choice, and the fate of the kingdom now rested in the hands of its people.

The snowflakes continued to fall, a silent witness to the change that had come to the kingdom of Prétear. The last reflection of the mirror had been shattered, and in its place, a new beginning had been born.