When I finally stirred, something soft, and orange was clinging to me like I was a plushie. Once last night came rushing back, I realized I was still in the form of a foal, and being hugged by Scootaloo, I blushed, thankful nobody was awake to notice. Dissolving and sliding out of Scootaloos grasp, I reformed into my fully sized form, stretching. Looking around, I started becoming rather nervous when I couldn't find Mirage. Looking about frantically, I eventually felt something plip against my snout. When I looked up, I saw mirage clinging to the ceiling, a strand of saliva dangling from her mouth as she snoozed. It was adorable.

The moment I thought that, Mirage woke up, more than likely having sensed the spike of emotion from me finding her cute. She looked around, and panicked, before falling off the ceiling…

Right ontop of me. Thankfully I managed to avoid making a racket quickly grabbing her in my mane. “Mama?”

“Yes, Mirage?”

“How Mama do dark pony trick with Mommy?”

“Its because Ribbon has a part of me in her… Like you do.” I quickly realized where she was going with this. “Let me guess. You want to be the ‘dark pony.’” She nodded, grinning. “Fine…” I slowly dissolved into a cloud of miasma, and begun swirling around her. I could tell she was getting scared, but she tried to be brave anyway, as I begun to settle around her, feeling the familiar lurch as I begun seeing through her senses.

“Mama?” It sounded… odd, hearing her voice overlapping with mine. Mirage begun to check herself over, first looking at her hooves. She looked at her sides, and I felt a bit of worry as she thought for moment she had no wings, before she made them twitch, unfolding from against her body.

-It’s okay, I’m still here.-

“Mama!? Where are you?”

Manipulating her mane, I brushed it against her cheek. -I’m part of you right now.- That greatly relieved Mirage, causing her to sigh in relief. and promptly realize that sigh was silent.

“What the… Just what the hey have I been watching for the last five minutes!?”

Mirage whipped her head around, allowing both of us to see Scootaloo, staring wide eyed at her. She must have seen the transformation from the start, judging from how long she said she had been watching, meaning that yeah, she was going to remember this.

“Mama’s special trick?” Mirage offered.

“Mama’s special trick? That… doesn't really explain anything.”

Mirage paused for a moment, at first i thought she was thinking, but then i realized, she must be talking to Ribbon.

’What does Mirage mean by special trick?’

-She may have persuaded me into letting her try shade mode.-

‘Just don’t do anything stupid, you remember how they reacted last time they couldn’t remember us.’

-Well, Cloak will be able to see us regardless, and Scootaloo saw the transformation. so really, its only Twilight and spike that would not remember me and Mirage like this.-

‘So just the fire breather and the test crazy magic user? Oh you’ll be just fine’

-...Thankfully they won't be able to notice us unless Mirage decides to talk to them.-

“Uhh, hello, Mirage, you're spacing out on me.”

“Shhh, Mama and Mommy are talking.”

“Scootaloo? who are you talking to? I don't see anypony else up?” Twilight had just woken up, and was staring at Scootaloo with a confused look on her face.

Before Mirage could open her mouth to speak, I gently wrapped a tendril om mane around her muzzle. -Shh, if you don’t talk, she can’t see you.-

“B-but, she's right there! How can you not see her?”

“Scootaloo, are you sure you’re okay?”

I felt the smirk growing on mirages face, before abruptly, a book tumbled off the bookshelf, having been pulled out by mirages now invisible telekinesis.

“Huh?” Twilight turned around, before picking the book up and putting it back… only for it to fall back out. When Twilight put the book back a second time, Mirage turned towards Scootaloo and winked at her.

Scootaloos eyes widened, before she began to grin. Mirage tipped the book off the shelf a third time, causing Twilight to eye it suspiciously. When she picked it up, Mirage pulled a second book out, where it fell and knocked the first one out of Twilights grip. Twilight's glare turned towards Cloak, but she was still asleep, leaving Twilight confused even further.

“Silly Twi!” Mirage chuckled out, causing Twilight to turn and look at her, wide eyed, before her eyes narrowed.

“Reeeeal funny Chitsuki. Trying to scare me again?”

“Oh, Now you see her!” Scootaloo cried in indignation.

Mirage simply walked over to Twilight, and stared her in the eyes. “Not Mama, Mirage.” Mirage tried to give Twilight a big, innocent smile, only for Twilight to flinch back.

“T-thats… a l-lot of f-fangs.” Twilight stuttered out. Wait, she could make out Mirages teeth? Mirage stopped smiling, and tilted her head, causing Twilight to take a few breaths, before she transfigured a piece of paper into a mirror, not taking her eyes off Mirage for a second. “J-just, see for yourself.” Mirage looked into the mirror, and smiled again. Nothing changed at first, but as she stretched her smile to the point where it looked like the kind one would find on a psychopath, the darkness parted, revealing rows of fangs. Mirage actually was a bit unsettled by that, until she felt her main brushing against her, due to me manipulating it.

-Its alright, that's something that only happens when you’re like this. Like the wings.-

Closing her mouth, Mirage looked back to Twilight, and walked over to her, and hugged her leg, causing Twilight to shiver.

“Stop, that… feels really weird. I can feel my fur being pressed down, and the cold, but… I don’t feel you. its freaky…” I slowly peeled myself away from mirages head, as she leaned forward to nuzzle Twilights leg, causing her to calm down slightly. “Thats… a lot more bearable. How are you doing that, anyway?”

“Not me, Mama.”

“Wait, thats Chitsuki?”

“Yes, thats Mama!” Mirage stated proudly.

“But… How? I remember her doing that with Ribbon way back when Chitsuki had a freakout about her lifespan… but i didn't even know you were there! and how come Scootaloo could see you!?”

-Ask her if she know what a perception filter is.-

“Mama wants to know if you know what a perse…. perchep… persepatation filter is.”

“Its pronounced perception. and yes, I’ve heard of it. But how is it relevant… Oh. I get it! But how did I not notice sooner?”

-Its a self keeping secret. You forget the moment you look away, unless you saw me become one with you or Ribbon.-

“Mama says it’s a self keeping secret, You forget when you look away, unless you say the transformation, Like Scootaloo did!”

I saw Twilight's eyes widen in fear, as she stuttered. “Thats… t-thats… T-too creepy. P-please stop doing it. I slowly drifted away from Mirage, leaving her looking at me sadly. Once I condensed, I picked her up and hugged her, before nuzzling her.

I gently coiled my mane around mirage, holding her against my chest, leaving my forelegs free. “Sorry about that Twilight… Didn't realize it would terrify you that badly.”

“Did what to terrify her?” I turned to see a wide awake Cloak, and after giving her a glare for last night, explained.

“I kinda explaind the whole shade form thing to Twilight.”

“Oh…”

“And don’t think I forget about my threat, I just need to plan it out, so you will regret it.”

“Must you hold that over me?”

“Yes. Or would you rather let Ribbon deal with this?”

“I have at least have an idea of what she’ll do to me.”

“Your funeral.”

“Wow… Thats morbid…”

“Why don’t we just have breakfast, ok?” Twilight butted in.

“Thats probably a good idea Twilight. Just give me a moment.” I looked down at Mirage. “You hungry?” She nodded, but then just begun to stare nervously at Twilight, instead of feeding off me like she usually would. “Something wrong?”

“Scared…” Why would she be… Oh. That disaster of a dinner with the canterlot nobles.

“Its okay, she’s not like those big doo-doo heads in Canterlot.”

I heard Cloak snort in amusement. “Is that really the best you can come up with?”

“You wish.” I nuzzled Mirage softly, trying to ease her nerves. I soon felt the familiar sensation of being fed off of, and smiled. “Doesn't that feel better?” Mirage nodded, making a small burp.

“Home… Wanna go home now.”

“Really? Are you sure?” She nodded. “alright… Sorry I have to cut this short Twilight.” Stepping outside of the library, along with Cloak, I teleported the three of us back to the hive.