Why the hell not eh?
I suppose this gives you an idea of what I've been doing since I stopped writing Pokémon fanfiction. This thing is long, as in 91,000 characters long... so if you intend on reading it, perhaps make yourself a cup of tea first or prepare a sandwich.
I wrote this a while ago, took about a week of steady writing and another few days of rigourous editting and scene additions/general housekeeping. This was the result. It's kind of a What If? scenario.
It was also written with the notion that you know who the characters are. I know that as a writer I'm supposed not to think like that, but sometimes it just comes off as condescending, you know?
Anyway, Characters: Twilight Sparkle, The Great and Powerful Trixie, Princess Celestia (kinda minor), Princess Luna (very minor)
Adored
Deep within the Canterlot market, countless wooden stalls had been set up, each selling the most weird and wonderful goods known to pony-kind.
It was for this exact reason that the one and only, the greatest and most powerful unicorn in the entirety of Equestria, was perusing it's offerings. Trixie, for who else would this title refer, strode imperiously down a row of stalls, eyeing each one with disdain. Her purple cape glittered in the mid-morning sun and her similarly styled hat kept said sun out of her eyes. Trixie thought it was awfully inconsiderate of Celestia to have her sun as bright as it is, the ponies need to see her equally radiant face, yet the darn sun forced her to keep it partially hidden under a hat.
Regardless of how stylish the hat was, it was nothing compared to the face of Trixie.
Trixie pushed her way past lowly Canterlot natives and instead of apologising for daring to get in her way, they voiced annoyance at her. Did they not know who stood before them?
“Who do you think you are!?” One shouted, an insolent grey earth pony who had no business browsing arcane curios.
Trixie merely laughed, “If you are not aware of Trixie then you're as ignorant as you are stupid.” Without another word, Trixie turned and continued walking, a stunned crowd in her wake. “Yes, I have that effect on ponies.”
A nearby merchant cleared his throat, causing Trixie to look around, “Trixie does not dispense lozenges, seek your own remedies.”
The merchant smiled, he was an orange unicorn with heavy wrappings around his head and neck, a grey mane could be seen poking through the wrappings, “Surely one as obviously powerful as yourself would be interested in my wares.” It was a statement, not a question.
Trixie was visibly pleased by this, “Why yes, I am powerful, I am also great, for I am Trixie. As if you didn't already know.” She laughed disarmingly.
“Of course madam, I have various magical artefacts that I'm sure one as intelligent as yourself would be able to decipher.”
“Finally, someone in this town who appreciates the truth when they see it, jealousy is not a good look for ponies.”
The orange unicorn smiled once more, “I am bound by the Merchant's Code to tell the truth.”
Trixie saw fit to browse the merchant's goods. Trixie is so good to her fans, almost too kind. It was a weakness of hers, she loved too much. “What is this, merchant?” Trixie indicated a sealed scroll in it's own glass casing.
“You have exquisite tastes madam.” The merchant said, causing Trixie to smirk. “This is a powerful spell, a spell that will make the caster loved throughout Equestria.”
Trixie yawned, “Trixie is already loved throughout Equestria, I have no need for such a spell.”
The merchant faltered, but quickly recovered, “Yes, of course madam, but even genius has its critics. Some ponies are just too blinded by ignorance to see true brilliance, they cannot accept their own failings in the face of perfection.”
Trixie sighed theatrically, “I believe you may speak the truth, merchant. Of course you do, you are bound to speak only the truth. I'll take that spell, merchant, if only to open the eyes of the none-believers, like that wretched earth pony from earlier. How much?”
The merchant smiled his biggest smile yet, “For you, O' Trixie? It is my gift to you, for gifting your presence to me.”
“Trixie appreciates your candour, merchant.” She grabbed the scroll from it's casing and flashed a triumphant smile to the unicorn before going on her merry way.
The merchant laughed a maniacal laugh, his job here was done.
With a bang, the market stall disappeared, it's unicorn owner along with it.
==
Trixie had headed for the first up-scale Inn that crossed her path when she first arrived in Canterlot. Trixie deserved the best, especially when it came to where she would sleep. When she pulled out her pouch of bits however, she noticed that it considerably lighter than it needed to be.
Surely, she rationalised, some scoundrel of a pony had stolen from her during one of her enrapturing performances. Someone as successful and fiscally responsible as Trixie always has enough for suitable lodgings. This time, she had settled for a more... humble abode. Trixie was currently sat in her room, staring at the scroll in front of her with a mixture of joy and scepticism.
“If this spell makes everypony love the caster, why hadn't the merchant used it? Surely it would have allowed him to get a less degrading job. More likely that he just didn't have the spectacular talents of The Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Using her magic, Trixie unfurled the scroll, laying it down flat on a desk the room provided.
The scroll contained several ancient sigils and a few choice words of arcane power, common fare to a worldly mare like Trixie. She took a few moments to memorize the contents and began pouring her magic into the sigils. Trixie could feel her magic flowing into the scroll just as fast as she could provide it, it seemed almost hungry. Trixie could feel the toll it was having on her body, but was determined to see it through.
The scroll began glowing with a strange purple light that filled the entire room, Trixie closed her eyes, but it was still painful. Trixie could see why lesser unicorns would have trouble activating the spell, it was taking all of her immense power to merely unlock the damn thing.
After a gruelling battle with the scroll, Trixie finished with a rather undignified grunt of exertion, she almost fainted right then, but managed to catch herself at the last moment and shook herself to stay conscious. With the spell now firmly in her grasp, the scroll's magic turned upon itself, ripping into pieces before bursting into flames. Trixie gasped and began putting it out with her hat, smothering the flames before they could do any damage to her room.
“Okay then,” Trixie announced to herself, breathing heavily, “Let's see if this spell really works.” With a surge of power, the purple glow from the scroll was reflected in her horn, the arcane corona growing to an immense pillar of pure magic before exploding, sending a wave beyond her tiny hotel bedroom.
With a groan, Trixie finally collapsed, the exertion catching up to her.
When Trixie awoke, a homely earth pony stood over her, she had a worried look on her plain face.
“Guh?” Trixie struggled to say, her eyes didn't seem to want to open and her limbs didn't want to move.
“Are you well, O' Great One?” The earth pony asked.
Trixie struggled to get onto her hooves and ended up just sitting on her rump, staring into the earth pony's fearful eyes, “Trixie does not need your help, she is perfectly able to function on her own!”
The yellow earth pony backed away, “I'm sorry, Great One, I shan't intrude again.” She bowed her head and walked slowly out of the room.
It took Trixie a few seconds to figure out what had just happened, an earth pony had entered her room to see if she was okay and upon finding out that she was, referred to her as 'great one'. A devious smile broke out on her face, “It worked!” Trixie got onto all fours and took a glance outside the bedroom door, a small crowd had gathered, all surreptitiously trying to peek into her room. Trixie flung the door open with her magic and a roar of applause sounded from the crowd.
“THIS is what Trixie deserves,” she said to herself.
The crowd was whooping and cheering, “We love you Trixie!”
“Show us your powerful magic!”
“I want your foals!”
All Trixie heard was the applause, the individual voices were drowned out by her own ego as she took in all the praise and adoration she could. “Now, my wonderful fans, Trixie must leave you for the time being! There is urgent business Trixie must attend to.”
The crowd were visibly disappointed, but accepted her decision, she was perfect after all. Who were they to argue with perfection?
Trixie had never had this much fun, adoration poured in from every direction as she walked the streets of Canterlot. Trixie thanked her loving audience but waved back the gathering crowd, she didn't want an entourage when she arrived at her destination.
It was a simple idea, just crazy enough to work, Trixie had thought of it when she realised that the spell wasn't a dud. Step one of Trixie's grand plan was to make her way to the castle. Step two was to gain an audience with the princess. Step three would only be put into action once she was sure it would work, Trixie did not like the idea of spending her best years on the moon.
Her fans were all too eager to point Trixie in the right direction. Following a young mare down a suburban street, Trixie happened across a rolling field cut in two by a concrete path, at the end of the path was a drawbridge that lead to the castle, home of Princess Celestia herself.
Trixie laughed and several ponies nearby laughed as well.
“You're as funny as you are beautiful Great Trixie.”
“Regale us with an epic tale, O' Trixie.”
“Trixie demands solitude!” And of course she got it, ponies scampered out of her way, looking pleased as punch to do so. Trixie walked calmly down the concrete path, gazing at the boorish sculptures and tatty topiaries, “The Princess seriously abides this amateur landscaping? It's a wonder anypony actually respects her.”
Before long, Trixie ran out of things to sneer at and then there was the problem of drawbridge being up, barring her entry. Luckily an adoring fan was by the entrance, performing his guarding duties admirably, “Oh guard, Trixie demands entrance to the castle.”
The guard began to shake, “I... erm... the Princess said not to let anypony in today. Royal business.” Trixie could see how her mere presence was causing the poor stallion to question his loyalty to the Princess.
“But surely you know that Trixie is not just anypony. I am Trixie, the Great, the Powerful, the most fabulous show pony to ever grace the lands of Equestria. Surely somepony of Trixie's obvious talents should be allowed entrance. Surely my immense intellect would certainly lend a hoof in such royal affairs.”
The guard had a few moments of before his face fell, “You're right, of course you are, Trixie is always right. I'll lower the bridge O' Great Trixie.” The guard spread his wings and took off, flying to the top of the battlements to activate the bridge lowering mechanism.
Trixie smiled to herself, “O' Trixie, it was surely unfair for you to be born with such charisma.”
The bridge lowered and affixed itself in place, allowing Trixie to trot happily into the grand foyer. Once again, the decoration was not to Trixie's refined tastes, “So gaudy, the populace are supposed to look up to these ponies?”
Trixie locked eyes with another guard, dressed in the same style as earlier, “You there, guard, direct me to the Princess.” It took the guard a few seconds to realise something was wrong, but once he did, he immediately rushed over to the unicorn, “Y-You're not supposed to be here!”
Trixie merely raised an eyebrow, as if to say “Really?”
The guard quaked in his golden boots, “I'm sorry, Great One. Of course you can come in, I'll show you to the throne room.” He bowed low then began a cautious trot up the main staircase. Trixie followed closely behind, feeling the soft carpet underneath her hooves, she could get used to carpet like this after her months of travelling.
Reaching the top of the staircase, Trixie and the guard stood before a massive ornate door that radiated power. The guard coughed twice and pushed it open, revealing a large room with a vaulted ceiling, pillars surely straining to hold up the roof. Two pairs of very important eyes looked towards the door where Trixie was framed majestically.
“My stars!” It was the smaller of the two, her surprise more glad than angry.
The older of the two, a pony more glamorous than her castle suggested, stood and regarded the intrusion with mild annoyance.
Trixie almost dropped her plan right there, under Celestia's stern gaze.
“I asked for no intrusions. What is the meaning of this?” The white alicorn asked, wings spread wide intimidatingly, flowing pastel hair shining deceptively in the non-existent breeze.
The guard coughed once more, probably getting ready to apologise, but he was cut off by another voice.
“Sister! Do you not know who that is?” The midnight blue alicorn spoke up defensively.
Celestia looked momentarily stunned, “And you do, Luna?”
“She's only the greatest and most powerful unicorn to ever set foot in Equestria!”
Celestia strained her eyes but soon relaxed them and allowed herself a small chuckle, “Oh dear, my eyes aren't as young as they used to be. Join us Trixie, your talents will surely come in handy.” Celestia smiled in a motherly fashion and beckoned the magician over.
Trixie sighed in relief. The unicorn would never admit it and would actively deny it if you asked, but she was worried for a moment there.
“Thank you Princess. I wanted an audience with you pertaining matters important to Equestria.” Trixie began walking down the plush carpet towards the throne, approaching the two alicorns cautiously.
“Important to Equestria? Whatever do you mean Trixie?” Celestia asked, looking momentarily worried, she cast her eyes to her sister, who looked back with an equally worried look.
“What can be worse than-” Luna began, stopping when Trixie interrupted her.
“Darling, I'm talking to the Princess.”
“But I'm-”
Trixie gave her an imperious glare, “These matters do not concern you.”
Celestia rolled her eyes, “Luna has as much say as I in these matters, she is my sister and co-ruler after all.”
“Not in my eyes! Lazing about on the moon like the wastrel she is. Can she honestly expect to be treated as an equal ruler by ponies whose great-grandfathers didn't even know whether she existed or not? Most ponies still believe she's an old mares tale.”
The white alicorn raised a regal eyebrow, “Trixie raises a valid point Luna, have you really earned your leadership role?” Celestia regarded her warily, “Maybe I should take the moon back off of you.”
“A wise decision, Princess.” Trixie nodded, wearing a smug grin.
Luna spluttered hopelessly, trying to think of some words that would keep the moon under her purview.
“Princess, if I may?” Trixie asked, a look of mock respect on her face.
Celestia smiled her motherly smile again, “Of course Trixie.”
Trixie regarded Luna, giving her a quick once over, “Luna, you have to respect the wishes of your older and much wiser sister. She is only looking out for your best interests after all.”
“I couldn't have said it better myself” Celestia nodded appreciatively towards Trixie. “We only want you to be accepted by the ponies of Equestria, travel the land if you have to, meet the ponies and help where possible. Soon they will come to accept you as our leader, maybe then I'll give you the moon back.”
Luna looked sad but she also had a small smile on her lips, “If both you and Trixie believe it's what I should do,” she looked up at Trixie, who nodded agreement, “Then that's what I'll do.”
The midnight blue alicorn got up and gave Celestia a hug, “I'll make you proud sister.” With a polite bow to Trixie, Luna cantered out of the throne room.
Trixie waited for a few moments to let Celestia compose herself. She could understand the Princess' pain to a degree, she had already been forced to say goodbye to her sister once and now she was doing it again after so little time together. At least this time, it's not going to be a thousand years.
“Now that she's out of our manes, how about we continue our discussion?” Trixie walked over and took Luna's place by the throne, she put on her most serious voice. “Now Princess, there's a predicament Trixie finds herself in. I am of course talented, intelligent, beautiful and vast array of other adjectives, but I find myself with only meagre lodgings. How I ask you, is that fair? Surely a pony of my considerable skill deserves an equally considerable place to call home.”
Celestia nodded, “I have to agree with you, but there is only so much one mare can do, even if she is the Princess.”
“Exactly!” Trixie emphasised her confusion with a wild swing of her front hooves, “So Trixie thought to herself, why not live at the castle? It's opulence is matched only by it's grandeur, a fitting place for one such as Trixie.”
“Again, I have to agree with you,” Celestia sighed knowingly, “Canterlot just isn't equipped to deal with ponies like you, for that I formally apologise. It would be my honour to house The Great and Powerful Trixie. Now that Luna is finding her own way in the world, I'll need someone to keep me company anyway.” She winked playfully.
“Oh, speaking of company,” Celestia whipped her head around, facing a door in the back corner of the room, “Twilight are you there?”
The door opened and a familiar lavender head appeared, “Yes Princess? Oh, we have a guest.”
Celestia chuckled, “Yes, as you've noticed, we have a guest. None other than The Great and Powerful Trixie, aren't we lucky, my faithful student?”
Twilight Sparkle, personal protégée to Princess Celestia herself, fully entered the throne room and made her way over, “Very lucky indeed.”
Trixie had to keep her emotions in check, the charlatan, the despicable figure of all that is wrong with the world that haunts her dreams, the loathsome scab is the Princess' Protégée? How could such injustice be allowed?
“Sparkle,” Trixie said in greeting, she needed to choose her words for fear of blurting out her true feelings, something Trixie didn't trust the Princess to forgive, “Very nice to meet you again.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Again? You've met before?”
“Oh yes, Princess” Twilight answered, smiling “Although I feel that I owe you an apology for my behaviour that night, I acted dreadfully. For me to assume that you couldn't handle the situation and for me to take it into my own hooves was a silly thing to do, I fear I may have stolen the credit for saving Ponyville that day. So for that, I apologise.
Celestia regarded her student with pride, “One of your wonderful lessons in friendship I presume?”
Twilight merely smiled gleefully and nodded.
“As long as you know that you were wrong and that Trixie was right, that settles that.” Trixie was taken aback, a simple apology and she felt all of the built up hatred slowly melting away.
Celestia stood and stretched her wings wide, straining before folding them back, “I've invited Trixie to stay here, she'll be our guest so I'd like you to make sure she's as comfortable as possible. Luna's room should do.”
Twilight nodded, “I saw Luna just a few minutes ago, she said that she's leaving on a trip.”
“Trixie here, in her infinite wisdom, advised her to get to know the ponies that inhabit our lands, to gain their trust and to cement herself as a true Equestrian leader. She won't be back for a while so her room is free.”
“Of course Princess, I'll show Trixie there immediately.” Twilight turned to Trixie and flashed her a well meaning smile, “Follow me.”
==
Luna's room was magnificent.
“How?” Trixie asked, taking it in, “How do you become resentful about what common ponies think when you have this to come home to every night?”
Twilight giggled, “Luna did enjoy the solitude in her room, when I'm around the castle it's sometimes hard to get her out. Heavens knows what she's like when I'm back in Ponyville.”
To put it simply, Luna's room was perfect. The decoration was exactly to Trixie's tastes, the bed was a massive four poster affair, the carpet beneath her hooves was so plush she would happily sleep on it if the bed wasn't there. “This is mine for the duration of my stay?”
“Of course,” Twilight beamed with pleasure, “If Celestia wants you to stay, then I want you to stay.”
Trixie raised an eyebrow, “Oh you do? You do not wish to humiliate The Great and Powerful Trixie any more than you already have?”
Twilight backed away, looking slightly fearful, “Of c-course not!” She stammered, “My wish is only that you are happy.”
“Really?” Trixie took a few steps towards the lavender unicorn, forcing her backwards. Twilight back-pedalled until her flank hit a hard something and she toppled onto a very soft something.
“Comfy?” Trixie taunted playfully.
The lavender mare merely sighed contently, “Yes, very.”
Trixie gasped, “You're enjoying Trixie's bed before Trixie herself has had a chance to try it? Is this how rudely you treat all of your guests?”
“It was an accident, I assure you!” Twilight scrambled to her hooves and made a move to get up, but Trixie stopped her, choosing to climb onto the bed herself.
“And thus Trixie finally discovers a bed worthy of her,” she sank into the impossibly soft, downy mattress and echoed Twilight's contented sigh. “How is such a bed possible, Sparkle?”
The unicorn in question rolled over to face Trixie, “Luna once told me that it is made entirely from her own wings. When the princesses wings moult, they collect the feathers and use them for their beds, it take a long time to collect enough, but luckily the Princesses are immortal and have feathers that grow back rather quickly.”
“It's almost unfair how soft this bed is. Would you care to join me for a while? I'm sure you don't get this opportunity very often and Trixie feels that there are some things too good to keep to oneself.” Trixie had remained in her prone position on the bed, not daring to move for fear of ruining the comfort.
“I'd love that, Trixie.” Twilight blushed madly.
Trixie sighed again, “This had been a humbling experience, I feel there is something I could learn from this bed... but perhaps” Trixie yawned, “Perhaps after a short nap.”
The Tired and Comfortable Trixie's eyes closed and the gentle sound of her snoozing filled the room and it wasn't long before Twilight's joined it.
--
Trixie awoke in pretty much the exact position she had fallen asleep in, the azure unicorn saw this as a testament to her dedication to the pursuit of absolute comfort.
One thing that had changed since she had fallen asleep however, were the hooves draped across her chest and the muzzle pressed into her mane. More specifically, a lavender muzzle and hooves. Trixie knew that she had to be careful, she wanted to get up, but she didn't want to wake Twilight Sparkle. To be rudely awoken on this bed especially, not even Trixie would dare. Carefully, Trixie grabbed Twilight in a hugging motion and slowly rolled her over so she was on her back, then she carefully rolled herself back over to her side.
'Freedom!'
Trixie rolled off of the bed, it's comfortable magnetism tried to pull her back but Trixie had things to do, plans to plan and a balcony to explore. One thing she had overlooked on her first look around was the arched window that housed a glass door onto the large balcony. The sun was low in the sky, but it was the sounds of early morning that fell into Trixie's ears. “Have I been asleep all night?”
When she looked around from her vantage point on the balcony, Trixie could see the tiny ants setting up stalls in the market and the gathering of ponies getting ready for a long day of work. Trixie yawned and shook the sleep from her eyes, “Well, it was a very comfortable bed.”
“Yes it was, probably the best nights sleep I've ever gotten.”
Trixie jumped, she hadn't expected Twilight to wake so soon.
The lavender unicorn apparently noticed, “Oh, did I scare you? I'm sorry.”
“No, Trixie was merely startled. I thought that I had done a fairly good job of my hug and roll technique.”
Twilight giggled, “It probably would have worked if I wasn't already awake.”
“You were awake!?” Trixie almost choked on the very air itself. “Why didn't you do anything to make that fact obvious like, I don't know, opening your eyes!?”
Whatever amount of Twilight's face wasn't blushing before this, soon joined the rest, “I woke up and you were still asleep, you looked so peaceful and I didn't want to disturb you.” Anything else she wanted to say evaporated into awkwardness.
Trixie took another glance over the edge of the balcony, 'If I jumped, would the landing kill me?' She was so preoccupied by calculating her chance of survival that she didn't notice Twilight slowly walking over, trying and failing to look casual.
“If you er... ever want some more er... company,” Twilight whispered, hardly daring to say it out loud, “I'm not too far away.” Before Trixie could respond, Twilight hurried away, trying to escape the room as quickly as possible.
“Twilight wait!” The unicorn had almost opened the bedroom door, if the room wasn't as big as it was, she would've been free.
“Yes, T-Trixie?”
For once, Trixie found that the words weren't coming fast enough, her usually endless store of wit and snide retorts had run dry. Trixie settled on the one thing she didn't think she'd be saying, especially to the lavender unicorn. The truth. “I need your help with something, a prank if you will.”
“My help, why me?” Twilight would have liked anything more than to just leave and collect her thoughts, the azure unicorn was making it incredibly difficult however.
“It can only be you, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight stared into Trixie's eyes for a few seconds, they seemed sincere, Twilight couldn't say no to those eyes. She nodded, opened the door and left.
'Damn her! Damn this spell! Why must she insist on making things more difficult than they have to be!?”
Trixie looked around and saw her hat and cape hanging on a wooden hat stand, they looked cleaned and pressed. Trixie then realised that she had fallen asleep in her hat and cape. Despite herself, a smile appeared on her lips.
–
“Okay Twilight, are you aware of your role?”
The lavender unicorn nodded, Trixie had insisted she wear a smart pair of glasses and a sweater vest for this. “For emphasis!” Trixie had said.
The show mare herself was dressed in her full Trixie gear, ready to leap out at the opportune moment.
“It's show time, take your place Twilight.”
“Is the other guy in on it as well?”
“Of course not, we would never get the same reaction from an actor, we need reality!”
“But this could be very-”
Trixie gave Twilight one of her patented, 'don't test me' glares, sending the unicorn to her seat without another word.
The two unicorns were currently in one of Canterlot's best restaurants. Getting a table wasn't particularly difficult, the Princess' protégée and The Great and Powerful Trixie? How does a Maître D' say no to that?
Once they had their table, Trixie had dragged Twilight into the bathroom, where the finer details of the plan were spelled out, the wider aims having already been discussed on the way to the restaurant.
Twilight was to sit at her table and wait patiently until the proper cue had been... what the hay, let's just watch what happens.
Twilight was sat peacefully at her table, drinking a complementary glass of juice. A waiter strolled over and asked for her order, Trixie had already informed Twilight as to what she wanted, so the unicorn listed off each meal perfectly and the plan was slowly coming into effect.
It was a calm day for a restaurant of this calibre, everypony seemed to be placated by the food and there was never a feeling of the staff being rushed, it was one of those days you savoured because the other days were hell. That all changed when a coughing hack spread loudly across the restaurant, a middle aged, brown stallion had gotten up from his seat clutching a hoof to his chest, he seemed delirious, stumbling about like the floor was made entirely of marbles. Rather dramatically, he dropped in a dead faint, twitching slightly.
There was a dead silence throughout the restaurant broken by a lone theatrical voice, “Heavens! Is there a doctor on the premises!”
Twilight perked up, this was her cue, she stood and raised a hoof in the air, “I'm a doctor! I earned my Doctorate in Friendship!”
Trixie allowed herself a gloating chuckle before taking centre stage, “Stand down you foal, let a true master take care of this!” Trixie walked purposefully towards the collapsed stallion, giving him an overly dramatic once over, “Yes of course, Trixie has seen this once before, but an incredibly tricky counter-jinx is what this situation calls for. Stand back, Trixie is a professional.” Her horn began to glow with a blinding light, it looked impressive, but in reality all she was doing was activating the antidote she had placed in his food when she arrived in the restaurant.
With a feigned strain of effort, Trixie pulled out of the spell with a flourish, sending a small burst of colourful light into the air behind her. Sure enough, the stallion was coming around, his symptoms mysteriously gone. “You... You saved me! I cannot thank you enough!”
The restaurant exploded with cheers and applause, Trixie laughed, “Oh it was nothing really,” but she made no attempt to stop the applause.
At that moment, the owner of the restaurant appeared and demanded that Trixie eat for free for her daring heroics.
“Wasn't that fun, my lovely assistant?” Trixie said as they strolled away from the restaurant amidst one of Canterlot's more affluent areas.
Twilight had trouble agreeing with her, “You made me look stupid and you belittled my research, I didn't think it was very fun.” Twilight hung her head.
The sight hurt Trixie more than she would like to admit, “There was no malice intended, Sparkle, I was merely repaying our debt. You defeated the Ursa, I saved a pony's life. We're all square on my end.”
“But Trixie,” The lavender unicorn, never content with letting things lie, just had to speak up, “When I defeated the Ursa, it was a real, identifiable threat. With you, no offence, but the stallion was never in any real danger was he?”
Trixie smiled, “Perceived danger is just as real as regular danger in the eyes of those not in on the trick. Trixie is an entertainer, what matters is whether the audience believe Trixie.” She gave the unicorn a playful wink.
“So our debt is truly over, we can start afresh?” Twilight's voice was dripping with hopefulness.
“If you want it to be, Trixie has found that you aren't entirely worthless company...” Trixie took a breath, not wanting to end the sentence on such a negative sounding note, “And you make a brilliant assistant, those glasses looked lovely on you.”
Twilight didn't reply, merely contenting herself with a smile and a new spring in her step.
==
“Trixie, I have to show you the Royal Archives, you'll love it!”
During one of her many tours of the palace, Twilight had suddenly realised that she had never showed her new friend around the prestigious library. The lavender unicorn immediately grabbed Trixie by the hoof and began dragging her her forcefully through the castle's many corridors, “Why didn't I think of this sooner? I spend almost all of my time in there myself.”
Trixie had tried to tell her that it wasn't so important to see the archives, but Twilight had blocked her at every path, raving about how it was 'the most complete collection of books in Equestria' and that 'there was a book on any conceivable subject within its confines.'
Whilst the azure unicorn was not adverse to studying in a library or perusing an ancient book of spell theory, she wasn't exactly the biggest fan of it. Trixie preferred entertaining and showing off her magic instead of merely studying it. “It is imperative that I see the Royal Archives now?”
Twilight stopped and turned to face the azure mare, she wore a serious expression, “Yes, it's my most favourite place in the world and I know that you will appreciate it as much as I do. It's not every day I get to meet a unicorn my own age who's a talented magician.” Twilight took her friend's silence as an excuse to continue dragging her to the library.
“Well, I am flattered that you want to share this with me, but surely it can't be much different from any other library. They are all just places with lots of bookshelves after all.” Trixie had expected some backlash for this response, Twilight lived in a library, so she obvious loves the places, but the lavender unicorn stayed silent.
Only one left turn later and she stopped, pointing at a large door inlaid with magical symbols and the royal seal, Twilight didn't look impressed with Trixie's dismissive attitude. “We're here, first rule of the library, be quiet-”
Trixie laughed loudly on purpose, catching Twilight off guard, “I've been in libraries before, Trixie is fully aware of proper library etiquette.”
“Good,” Twilight replied, looking around nervously to make sure no one had heard Trixie's loud laugh, “Just keep that etiquette in mind, I don't want the librarian to get the wrong idea about me.”
“Oh, heavens no. I wouldn't want to get straight-laced, bookworm Twilight in trouble, the Princess might put you in detention!” Trixie teased playfully.
“Exactly. I have no intention of repeating that experience.”
Despite Trixie's mischievous attitude, Twilight seemed deadly serious, “Er... I was just joking about the whole detention thing, did I touch a nerve by accident?”
“I don't want to talk about it... let's just show you around the archives.”
Trixie frowned, but followed the lavender unicorn silently. Twilight's heart didn't seem to be in the tour, she announced each section including renowned names on the subject and rare books, but didn't really elaborate beyond that. With all the time Twilight had seemingly spent here, Trixie imagined that she would have endless tales of study and discovery amongst the shelves, maybe even just a story about how she had been told off by the librarian for staying too late whilst researching advanced transmutation.
As it was though, Trixie's tour was flavour free. She felt bad for being partly responsible for Twilight's mood but she had no way of knowing that she would react so badly to her teasing. It seemed that Trixie wasn't being a very good friend, especially to someone who tolerated her so well, even if it was due to a spell. “Twilight, is that a study area?” Trixie pointed out an open area with a bunch of lined up tables and chairs.
“Yes, it's mostly just for convenience though, if you absolutely require somewhere to sit and a table to lean on. I mostly stayed near the books, practising writing and holding the paper steady with my magic.”
“Why don't we have a quick rest, I never expected the archives to be this big.” Trixie smiled helpfully before walking over and taking a seat, she waved a hoof for Twilight to join her.
The lavender unicorn sat down opposite Trixie, but sighed heavily, “I don't need to rest, we've barely toured the east wing.”
Trixie put on a serious expression, “Not to cause any offence, but you are being a terrible tour guide. If I said anything to upset you, then I am sorry, Trixie didn't intend any harm.”
“It's not your fault, really. It's just... what you said dragged up a lot of old memories, I wasn't always a model student, you know.”
“Look, Sparkle. I don't know how most other ponies would react in such a situation and I'm not going to pretend that I know what your tuition was like, but look where you grew up.” Trixie indicated the vast library around her, the rows and rows of bookshelves, “Do you think every little budding magician got this treatment?”
Twilight hung her head, but what little Trixie could see through the lavender unicorn's mane, looked guilty. “I didn't think...”
“It's easy to assume things when you don't know anything else. I'm not saying it's your own fault, you just have to realise how little you really had to worry about when you were growing up.” Trixie looked away for a few moments, composing herself.
“I grew up in Manehattan and there was this young filly that I knew, she wanted to be a great magician. She didn't have any money and she didn't have any parents, she had grown up in an orphanage for almost her entire life. The care workers had given her a few things that were her parents, pictures and a few keepsakes, they told her that her parents were respected magicians, which fuelled her desire to be like them. She wanted to make her parents proud.”
“The filly knew what she wanted to do, but growing up in a poor area of Manehattan meant that she had very little at hand to help her achieve her goal. Every day she would go to the local library and camp in the magic section, there was such a meagre selection that it was just classified as 'magic' instead of by school like here. She would set up camp and stay there for as long as the librarian would allow her, reading and re-reading each book and practising controlling that tiny spark of untamed magic. She was still only a filly however, there is only so much a pony so young can do.”
“As she grew up, her powers grew with her and soon she was able to lift things using her magic with ease, a few years later and she was old to enough to leave the orphanage and find her own way in the world. She was able to enrol herself into a magical academy on a scholarship and that was where she stayed until her education was complete. It wasn't the most prestigious magical academy in the land or even the area, but she graduated with honours and she felt that if her parents were alive, they would be proud of her.”
“After she graduated, she didn't know what she should do with herself. She couldn't think of anything that she would like to do with her skills in the job market and didn't have anywhere to live, so she used what little funds she had to buy a simple caravan. She had had enough of living in the city and thought that travelling around Equestria to see the sights would be about as good as she could get whilst trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.”
“She passed through rural earth pony villages and would stop for a while to admire the scenery or just to rest for a while. She would put on magic shows for the townsfolk and the ponies would reward her with small tokens of gratitude like food or money, sometimes she would tell tales of magic and intrigue she had gathered from her years of education, using her magic to emphasise the story or to help the ponies visualise the events. She would do a few shows, earn a few bits and move on to her travels. She would do the same thing in the next town to earn some more money, but after a while, it wasn't the sightseeing she was looking forwards to, it was the performing.”
“Somewhere along the line, she mistakenly thought that her performance was becoming stale and that she needed to make herself look more impressive. She continued to tell her stories, but put herself in the place of the ancient heroes, acting as though she had performed all of the heroic deeds. One fateful morning, she passed into a small town named Ponyville, full of confidence and boastful pride, she put on her act, told her stories and performed her magic. Night fell and an Ursa Minor strode into town, Trixie was put on spot, told that she must live up to her stories, but had nothing but tricks and no true talents. Trixie ran away in the face of a greater magician, with a shattered caravan and a shattered reputation, she lived rough until she got far enough away from Ponyville that nopony had heard of her.”
“The sad thing was, even after all that, Trixie hadn't learned anything.”
The azure mare concluded her story with a sigh, looking down at the empty table in front of her.
“I think you've learned your lesson now and if it's any consolation,” Twilight reached out and patted the back of Trixie's hoof with a smile, “I thought your story was great.”
“It's always easier to tell them when I pretend it's somepony else.”
Twilight smiled, “Perhaps it wasn't the best of ideas to come to library after all.” She chuckled slightly.
Trixie laughed with her, “That's not entirely true, I wouldn't mind if you showed me where I could find a good book on the subject of illusionary magic. I would love to get your opinion on the subject.”
Twilight gasped, “I know just the book, come with me, it's in the west wing.”
The azure unicorn smiled, she was glad to see that Twilight had perked up again, all it took was a simple admission of the fact that she was in the wrong. Perhaps Twilight was right after all, perhaps friendship was magic.
--
A few days had passed since Trixie had convinced the Princess that she would make an excellent room-mate. After this short period of time, Trixie had started to believe that, should she be forced to leave, she'd never be able to get comfortable on another bed for as long as she lived, Luna's bed was just that good.
Other than living literally like a Princess, the castle had very little to do in terms of entertainment. So when she wasn't eating or sleeping, she found herself spending more and more time with Twilight, be it walking around the garden and admiring the hedge maze or studying in the library. Trixie found that she was never short of fun when the lavender unicorn was along for the ride.
“Tell me something Twilight.” She asked one of the days, lounging next to a bizarre statue of a discordant beast.
“Yes, Trixie.” Twilight looked up from the book she was reading.
“I asked the Princess at dinner yesterday, why you were in Canterlot when your home is in Ponyville. She told me that you came to research something only the royal archives could tell you.”
“That's right.” Twilight looked a little confused by this line of questioning.
Trixie took her time wording her next question, “If you only came here to research and you being the studious and knowledgeable mare that you are, surely you've finished your research by now?”
Twilight blushed slightly, “Well yes, I actually finished a while ago, the compiled notes are packed into my saddlebags.”
“So why are you still hanging around this draughty old castle when you could be back home with those friends of yours?”
Twilight sighed and closed her book, “Can I tell you a story, Trixie?”
The azure unicorn raised her eyebrows, “I hope you're not trying to dodge my question.”
“No no, of course not, the story will help make my point.” Twilight gazed into Trixie's eyes, the ones so like her own and continued, “I used to be so focused in study, thinking that it was the only way to improve my skills as a magician. Learn the theory, put the theory into practice and then practice until perfect. I wanted to make Celestia proud of me, I still do, but back then I was so intent on becoming stronger so that I could show her I was worthy to be her protégée.”
“For a while, that was how we did things. I could tell that Celestia wasn't pleased with me, but I had always imagined that it was because I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't proving myself enough. There were periods where I would imagine her smiling with past pupils and I'd tell myself that I would get better even if it hurt.” Twilight began to tear up slightly, the corners of her eyes were wet, but she quickly wiped them away.
“What I didn't realise was that Celestia knew I was working myself into a rut, she could see the damage I was doing to myself and that was what she wasn't pleased about. I feel personally responsible for not bringing my fears to Celestia right away, if I had known then what I know now, perhaps I wouldn't need a crash course in friendship, perhaps I wouldn't have almost doomed Equestria to serve under eternal night.”
Trixie moved herself closer to the lavender unicorn, “You can't dwell on the past, Twilight. What's done is done.”
A few of Twilight's tears had freely escaped, cascading down her cheeks where they met a handkerchief, conjured by the azure unicorn.
“Thank you Trixie, I find it difficult to speak about that part of my life, especially considering how much of a foal I was.”
“Hindsight is twenty twenty, but you can only look and learn from it. Just think about everything that you've done because of your past mistakes, your friends, your continued tutelage under the Princess...”
“And you.” Twilight mumbled, almost inaudibly, Trixie barely registered Twilight's lips moving. Before Trixie could respond however, Twilight continued her tale. “As I've said, Celestia knew I was working to the bone every night to impress her, so she devised a plan to keep me working, but on something healthy, something that would make me happy, something that I severely lacked. She tasked me with making friends, a prospect more frightening to my past self than tackling a book on Advanced Psychomantic Theory.”
Trixie smiled knowingly at the comparison.
“The first assignment she gave me was a dual role, I was also tasked with overseeing the preparation of the Summer Sun Festival in Ponyville. As I went about my business I, in turn, met the five ponies who become my best friends. When I first met them however, their personalities and overt friendliness was something I couldn't handle. I felt resentful of Celestia for forcing me into the situation, I felt that she was doing it for no good reason other than to tempt me away from my studies and more importantly, research into the 'Mare in the Moon' legend.”
“As that night went on, as Nightmare Moon took the Princess and refused to raise the sun, those five ponies took it upon themselves to force their way into my life. In the next few hours I learned more about myself than I could have ever hoped to achieve by studying library books, I learned how to live and to not merely exist.”
“I truly learned that friendship is as legitimate a magic as any other that day. This is why I've not gone home yet Trixie, you don't ignore friendship when it presents itself because more often than not, it's there for a reason.” Twilight finished by resting a hoof around Trixie's shoulder and giving the show mare a quick hug.
“That was beautiful Twilight, I thank you for having the courage to share it with me.”
Twilight lay her head down, staring into Trixie's eyes, “Anything for a friend.”
“You really mean that? Trixie – no, I am not used to such things, my travelling lifestyle and... demeanour, often lead to scorn, not friendship. I attributed it mostly to jealousy back then, but I see now that it was entirely my fault. I'm sorry if I hurt or offended you or your friends all that time ago, I was a foal.”
Twilight smiled a smile that told Trixie, everything was going to be okay, “I forgive you Trixie. I'm sure my friends would as well.”
“It's a wonderful day,” Trixie mentioned, the sun was high in the sky and a gentle breeze played across the garden, “Too good to be wasted in contemplation, shall we take a walk Twilight, perhaps get some lunch in town?”
“That would be lovely Trixie.”
--
*continued*
I suppose this gives you an idea of what I've been doing since I stopped writing Pokémon fanfiction. This thing is long, as in 91,000 characters long... so if you intend on reading it, perhaps make yourself a cup of tea first or prepare a sandwich.
I wrote this a while ago, took about a week of steady writing and another few days of rigourous editting and scene additions/general housekeeping. This was the result. It's kind of a What If? scenario.
It was also written with the notion that you know who the characters are. I know that as a writer I'm supposed not to think like that, but sometimes it just comes off as condescending, you know?
Anyway, Characters: Twilight Sparkle, The Great and Powerful Trixie, Princess Celestia (kinda minor), Princess Luna (very minor)
Adored
Deep within the Canterlot market, countless wooden stalls had been set up, each selling the most weird and wonderful goods known to pony-kind.
It was for this exact reason that the one and only, the greatest and most powerful unicorn in the entirety of Equestria, was perusing it's offerings. Trixie, for who else would this title refer, strode imperiously down a row of stalls, eyeing each one with disdain. Her purple cape glittered in the mid-morning sun and her similarly styled hat kept said sun out of her eyes. Trixie thought it was awfully inconsiderate of Celestia to have her sun as bright as it is, the ponies need to see her equally radiant face, yet the darn sun forced her to keep it partially hidden under a hat.
Regardless of how stylish the hat was, it was nothing compared to the face of Trixie.
Trixie pushed her way past lowly Canterlot natives and instead of apologising for daring to get in her way, they voiced annoyance at her. Did they not know who stood before them?
“Who do you think you are!?” One shouted, an insolent grey earth pony who had no business browsing arcane curios.
Trixie merely laughed, “If you are not aware of Trixie then you're as ignorant as you are stupid.” Without another word, Trixie turned and continued walking, a stunned crowd in her wake. “Yes, I have that effect on ponies.”
A nearby merchant cleared his throat, causing Trixie to look around, “Trixie does not dispense lozenges, seek your own remedies.”
The merchant smiled, he was an orange unicorn with heavy wrappings around his head and neck, a grey mane could be seen poking through the wrappings, “Surely one as obviously powerful as yourself would be interested in my wares.” It was a statement, not a question.
Trixie was visibly pleased by this, “Why yes, I am powerful, I am also great, for I am Trixie. As if you didn't already know.” She laughed disarmingly.
“Of course madam, I have various magical artefacts that I'm sure one as intelligent as yourself would be able to decipher.”
“Finally, someone in this town who appreciates the truth when they see it, jealousy is not a good look for ponies.”
The orange unicorn smiled once more, “I am bound by the Merchant's Code to tell the truth.”
Trixie saw fit to browse the merchant's goods. Trixie is so good to her fans, almost too kind. It was a weakness of hers, she loved too much. “What is this, merchant?” Trixie indicated a sealed scroll in it's own glass casing.
“You have exquisite tastes madam.” The merchant said, causing Trixie to smirk. “This is a powerful spell, a spell that will make the caster loved throughout Equestria.”
Trixie yawned, “Trixie is already loved throughout Equestria, I have no need for such a spell.”
The merchant faltered, but quickly recovered, “Yes, of course madam, but even genius has its critics. Some ponies are just too blinded by ignorance to see true brilliance, they cannot accept their own failings in the face of perfection.”
Trixie sighed theatrically, “I believe you may speak the truth, merchant. Of course you do, you are bound to speak only the truth. I'll take that spell, merchant, if only to open the eyes of the none-believers, like that wretched earth pony from earlier. How much?”
The merchant smiled his biggest smile yet, “For you, O' Trixie? It is my gift to you, for gifting your presence to me.”
“Trixie appreciates your candour, merchant.” She grabbed the scroll from it's casing and flashed a triumphant smile to the unicorn before going on her merry way.
The merchant laughed a maniacal laugh, his job here was done.
With a bang, the market stall disappeared, it's unicorn owner along with it.
==
Trixie had headed for the first up-scale Inn that crossed her path when she first arrived in Canterlot. Trixie deserved the best, especially when it came to where she would sleep. When she pulled out her pouch of bits however, she noticed that it considerably lighter than it needed to be.
Surely, she rationalised, some scoundrel of a pony had stolen from her during one of her enrapturing performances. Someone as successful and fiscally responsible as Trixie always has enough for suitable lodgings. This time, she had settled for a more... humble abode. Trixie was currently sat in her room, staring at the scroll in front of her with a mixture of joy and scepticism.
“If this spell makes everypony love the caster, why hadn't the merchant used it? Surely it would have allowed him to get a less degrading job. More likely that he just didn't have the spectacular talents of The Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Using her magic, Trixie unfurled the scroll, laying it down flat on a desk the room provided.
The scroll contained several ancient sigils and a few choice words of arcane power, common fare to a worldly mare like Trixie. She took a few moments to memorize the contents and began pouring her magic into the sigils. Trixie could feel her magic flowing into the scroll just as fast as she could provide it, it seemed almost hungry. Trixie could feel the toll it was having on her body, but was determined to see it through.
The scroll began glowing with a strange purple light that filled the entire room, Trixie closed her eyes, but it was still painful. Trixie could see why lesser unicorns would have trouble activating the spell, it was taking all of her immense power to merely unlock the damn thing.
After a gruelling battle with the scroll, Trixie finished with a rather undignified grunt of exertion, she almost fainted right then, but managed to catch herself at the last moment and shook herself to stay conscious. With the spell now firmly in her grasp, the scroll's magic turned upon itself, ripping into pieces before bursting into flames. Trixie gasped and began putting it out with her hat, smothering the flames before they could do any damage to her room.
“Okay then,” Trixie announced to herself, breathing heavily, “Let's see if this spell really works.” With a surge of power, the purple glow from the scroll was reflected in her horn, the arcane corona growing to an immense pillar of pure magic before exploding, sending a wave beyond her tiny hotel bedroom.
With a groan, Trixie finally collapsed, the exertion catching up to her.
When Trixie awoke, a homely earth pony stood over her, she had a worried look on her plain face.
“Guh?” Trixie struggled to say, her eyes didn't seem to want to open and her limbs didn't want to move.
“Are you well, O' Great One?” The earth pony asked.
Trixie struggled to get onto her hooves and ended up just sitting on her rump, staring into the earth pony's fearful eyes, “Trixie does not need your help, she is perfectly able to function on her own!”
The yellow earth pony backed away, “I'm sorry, Great One, I shan't intrude again.” She bowed her head and walked slowly out of the room.
It took Trixie a few seconds to figure out what had just happened, an earth pony had entered her room to see if she was okay and upon finding out that she was, referred to her as 'great one'. A devious smile broke out on her face, “It worked!” Trixie got onto all fours and took a glance outside the bedroom door, a small crowd had gathered, all surreptitiously trying to peek into her room. Trixie flung the door open with her magic and a roar of applause sounded from the crowd.
“THIS is what Trixie deserves,” she said to herself.
The crowd was whooping and cheering, “We love you Trixie!”
“Show us your powerful magic!”
“I want your foals!”
All Trixie heard was the applause, the individual voices were drowned out by her own ego as she took in all the praise and adoration she could. “Now, my wonderful fans, Trixie must leave you for the time being! There is urgent business Trixie must attend to.”
The crowd were visibly disappointed, but accepted her decision, she was perfect after all. Who were they to argue with perfection?
Trixie had never had this much fun, adoration poured in from every direction as she walked the streets of Canterlot. Trixie thanked her loving audience but waved back the gathering crowd, she didn't want an entourage when she arrived at her destination.
It was a simple idea, just crazy enough to work, Trixie had thought of it when she realised that the spell wasn't a dud. Step one of Trixie's grand plan was to make her way to the castle. Step two was to gain an audience with the princess. Step three would only be put into action once she was sure it would work, Trixie did not like the idea of spending her best years on the moon.
Her fans were all too eager to point Trixie in the right direction. Following a young mare down a suburban street, Trixie happened across a rolling field cut in two by a concrete path, at the end of the path was a drawbridge that lead to the castle, home of Princess Celestia herself.
Trixie laughed and several ponies nearby laughed as well.
“You're as funny as you are beautiful Great Trixie.”
“Regale us with an epic tale, O' Trixie.”
“Trixie demands solitude!” And of course she got it, ponies scampered out of her way, looking pleased as punch to do so. Trixie walked calmly down the concrete path, gazing at the boorish sculptures and tatty topiaries, “The Princess seriously abides this amateur landscaping? It's a wonder anypony actually respects her.”
Before long, Trixie ran out of things to sneer at and then there was the problem of drawbridge being up, barring her entry. Luckily an adoring fan was by the entrance, performing his guarding duties admirably, “Oh guard, Trixie demands entrance to the castle.”
The guard began to shake, “I... erm... the Princess said not to let anypony in today. Royal business.” Trixie could see how her mere presence was causing the poor stallion to question his loyalty to the Princess.
“But surely you know that Trixie is not just anypony. I am Trixie, the Great, the Powerful, the most fabulous show pony to ever grace the lands of Equestria. Surely somepony of Trixie's obvious talents should be allowed entrance. Surely my immense intellect would certainly lend a hoof in such royal affairs.”
The guard had a few moments of before his face fell, “You're right, of course you are, Trixie is always right. I'll lower the bridge O' Great Trixie.” The guard spread his wings and took off, flying to the top of the battlements to activate the bridge lowering mechanism.
Trixie smiled to herself, “O' Trixie, it was surely unfair for you to be born with such charisma.”
The bridge lowered and affixed itself in place, allowing Trixie to trot happily into the grand foyer. Once again, the decoration was not to Trixie's refined tastes, “So gaudy, the populace are supposed to look up to these ponies?”
Trixie locked eyes with another guard, dressed in the same style as earlier, “You there, guard, direct me to the Princess.” It took the guard a few seconds to realise something was wrong, but once he did, he immediately rushed over to the unicorn, “Y-You're not supposed to be here!”
Trixie merely raised an eyebrow, as if to say “Really?”
The guard quaked in his golden boots, “I'm sorry, Great One. Of course you can come in, I'll show you to the throne room.” He bowed low then began a cautious trot up the main staircase. Trixie followed closely behind, feeling the soft carpet underneath her hooves, she could get used to carpet like this after her months of travelling.
Reaching the top of the staircase, Trixie and the guard stood before a massive ornate door that radiated power. The guard coughed twice and pushed it open, revealing a large room with a vaulted ceiling, pillars surely straining to hold up the roof. Two pairs of very important eyes looked towards the door where Trixie was framed majestically.
“My stars!” It was the smaller of the two, her surprise more glad than angry.
The older of the two, a pony more glamorous than her castle suggested, stood and regarded the intrusion with mild annoyance.
Trixie almost dropped her plan right there, under Celestia's stern gaze.
“I asked for no intrusions. What is the meaning of this?” The white alicorn asked, wings spread wide intimidatingly, flowing pastel hair shining deceptively in the non-existent breeze.
The guard coughed once more, probably getting ready to apologise, but he was cut off by another voice.
“Sister! Do you not know who that is?” The midnight blue alicorn spoke up defensively.
Celestia looked momentarily stunned, “And you do, Luna?”
“She's only the greatest and most powerful unicorn to ever set foot in Equestria!”
Celestia strained her eyes but soon relaxed them and allowed herself a small chuckle, “Oh dear, my eyes aren't as young as they used to be. Join us Trixie, your talents will surely come in handy.” Celestia smiled in a motherly fashion and beckoned the magician over.
Trixie sighed in relief. The unicorn would never admit it and would actively deny it if you asked, but she was worried for a moment there.
“Thank you Princess. I wanted an audience with you pertaining matters important to Equestria.” Trixie began walking down the plush carpet towards the throne, approaching the two alicorns cautiously.
“Important to Equestria? Whatever do you mean Trixie?” Celestia asked, looking momentarily worried, she cast her eyes to her sister, who looked back with an equally worried look.
“What can be worse than-” Luna began, stopping when Trixie interrupted her.
“Darling, I'm talking to the Princess.”
“But I'm-”
Trixie gave her an imperious glare, “These matters do not concern you.”
Celestia rolled her eyes, “Luna has as much say as I in these matters, she is my sister and co-ruler after all.”
“Not in my eyes! Lazing about on the moon like the wastrel she is. Can she honestly expect to be treated as an equal ruler by ponies whose great-grandfathers didn't even know whether she existed or not? Most ponies still believe she's an old mares tale.”
The white alicorn raised a regal eyebrow, “Trixie raises a valid point Luna, have you really earned your leadership role?” Celestia regarded her warily, “Maybe I should take the moon back off of you.”
“A wise decision, Princess.” Trixie nodded, wearing a smug grin.
Luna spluttered hopelessly, trying to think of some words that would keep the moon under her purview.
“Princess, if I may?” Trixie asked, a look of mock respect on her face.
Celestia smiled her motherly smile again, “Of course Trixie.”
Trixie regarded Luna, giving her a quick once over, “Luna, you have to respect the wishes of your older and much wiser sister. She is only looking out for your best interests after all.”
“I couldn't have said it better myself” Celestia nodded appreciatively towards Trixie. “We only want you to be accepted by the ponies of Equestria, travel the land if you have to, meet the ponies and help where possible. Soon they will come to accept you as our leader, maybe then I'll give you the moon back.”
Luna looked sad but she also had a small smile on her lips, “If both you and Trixie believe it's what I should do,” she looked up at Trixie, who nodded agreement, “Then that's what I'll do.”
The midnight blue alicorn got up and gave Celestia a hug, “I'll make you proud sister.” With a polite bow to Trixie, Luna cantered out of the throne room.
Trixie waited for a few moments to let Celestia compose herself. She could understand the Princess' pain to a degree, she had already been forced to say goodbye to her sister once and now she was doing it again after so little time together. At least this time, it's not going to be a thousand years.
“Now that she's out of our manes, how about we continue our discussion?” Trixie walked over and took Luna's place by the throne, she put on her most serious voice. “Now Princess, there's a predicament Trixie finds herself in. I am of course talented, intelligent, beautiful and vast array of other adjectives, but I find myself with only meagre lodgings. How I ask you, is that fair? Surely a pony of my considerable skill deserves an equally considerable place to call home.”
Celestia nodded, “I have to agree with you, but there is only so much one mare can do, even if she is the Princess.”
“Exactly!” Trixie emphasised her confusion with a wild swing of her front hooves, “So Trixie thought to herself, why not live at the castle? It's opulence is matched only by it's grandeur, a fitting place for one such as Trixie.”
“Again, I have to agree with you,” Celestia sighed knowingly, “Canterlot just isn't equipped to deal with ponies like you, for that I formally apologise. It would be my honour to house The Great and Powerful Trixie. Now that Luna is finding her own way in the world, I'll need someone to keep me company anyway.” She winked playfully.
“Oh, speaking of company,” Celestia whipped her head around, facing a door in the back corner of the room, “Twilight are you there?”
The door opened and a familiar lavender head appeared, “Yes Princess? Oh, we have a guest.”
Celestia chuckled, “Yes, as you've noticed, we have a guest. None other than The Great and Powerful Trixie, aren't we lucky, my faithful student?”
Twilight Sparkle, personal protégée to Princess Celestia herself, fully entered the throne room and made her way over, “Very lucky indeed.”
Trixie had to keep her emotions in check, the charlatan, the despicable figure of all that is wrong with the world that haunts her dreams, the loathsome scab is the Princess' Protégée? How could such injustice be allowed?
“Sparkle,” Trixie said in greeting, she needed to choose her words for fear of blurting out her true feelings, something Trixie didn't trust the Princess to forgive, “Very nice to meet you again.”
Celestia raised an eyebrow, “Again? You've met before?”
“Oh yes, Princess” Twilight answered, smiling “Although I feel that I owe you an apology for my behaviour that night, I acted dreadfully. For me to assume that you couldn't handle the situation and for me to take it into my own hooves was a silly thing to do, I fear I may have stolen the credit for saving Ponyville that day. So for that, I apologise.
Celestia regarded her student with pride, “One of your wonderful lessons in friendship I presume?”
Twilight merely smiled gleefully and nodded.
“As long as you know that you were wrong and that Trixie was right, that settles that.” Trixie was taken aback, a simple apology and she felt all of the built up hatred slowly melting away.
Celestia stood and stretched her wings wide, straining before folding them back, “I've invited Trixie to stay here, she'll be our guest so I'd like you to make sure she's as comfortable as possible. Luna's room should do.”
Twilight nodded, “I saw Luna just a few minutes ago, she said that she's leaving on a trip.”
“Trixie here, in her infinite wisdom, advised her to get to know the ponies that inhabit our lands, to gain their trust and to cement herself as a true Equestrian leader. She won't be back for a while so her room is free.”
“Of course Princess, I'll show Trixie there immediately.” Twilight turned to Trixie and flashed her a well meaning smile, “Follow me.”
==
Luna's room was magnificent.
“How?” Trixie asked, taking it in, “How do you become resentful about what common ponies think when you have this to come home to every night?”
Twilight giggled, “Luna did enjoy the solitude in her room, when I'm around the castle it's sometimes hard to get her out. Heavens knows what she's like when I'm back in Ponyville.”
To put it simply, Luna's room was perfect. The decoration was exactly to Trixie's tastes, the bed was a massive four poster affair, the carpet beneath her hooves was so plush she would happily sleep on it if the bed wasn't there. “This is mine for the duration of my stay?”
“Of course,” Twilight beamed with pleasure, “If Celestia wants you to stay, then I want you to stay.”
Trixie raised an eyebrow, “Oh you do? You do not wish to humiliate The Great and Powerful Trixie any more than you already have?”
Twilight backed away, looking slightly fearful, “Of c-course not!” She stammered, “My wish is only that you are happy.”
“Really?” Trixie took a few steps towards the lavender unicorn, forcing her backwards. Twilight back-pedalled until her flank hit a hard something and she toppled onto a very soft something.
“Comfy?” Trixie taunted playfully.
The lavender mare merely sighed contently, “Yes, very.”
Trixie gasped, “You're enjoying Trixie's bed before Trixie herself has had a chance to try it? Is this how rudely you treat all of your guests?”
“It was an accident, I assure you!” Twilight scrambled to her hooves and made a move to get up, but Trixie stopped her, choosing to climb onto the bed herself.
“And thus Trixie finally discovers a bed worthy of her,” she sank into the impossibly soft, downy mattress and echoed Twilight's contented sigh. “How is such a bed possible, Sparkle?”
The unicorn in question rolled over to face Trixie, “Luna once told me that it is made entirely from her own wings. When the princesses wings moult, they collect the feathers and use them for their beds, it take a long time to collect enough, but luckily the Princesses are immortal and have feathers that grow back rather quickly.”
“It's almost unfair how soft this bed is. Would you care to join me for a while? I'm sure you don't get this opportunity very often and Trixie feels that there are some things too good to keep to oneself.” Trixie had remained in her prone position on the bed, not daring to move for fear of ruining the comfort.
“I'd love that, Trixie.” Twilight blushed madly.
Trixie sighed again, “This had been a humbling experience, I feel there is something I could learn from this bed... but perhaps” Trixie yawned, “Perhaps after a short nap.”
The Tired and Comfortable Trixie's eyes closed and the gentle sound of her snoozing filled the room and it wasn't long before Twilight's joined it.
--
Trixie awoke in pretty much the exact position she had fallen asleep in, the azure unicorn saw this as a testament to her dedication to the pursuit of absolute comfort.
One thing that had changed since she had fallen asleep however, were the hooves draped across her chest and the muzzle pressed into her mane. More specifically, a lavender muzzle and hooves. Trixie knew that she had to be careful, she wanted to get up, but she didn't want to wake Twilight Sparkle. To be rudely awoken on this bed especially, not even Trixie would dare. Carefully, Trixie grabbed Twilight in a hugging motion and slowly rolled her over so she was on her back, then she carefully rolled herself back over to her side.
'Freedom!'
Trixie rolled off of the bed, it's comfortable magnetism tried to pull her back but Trixie had things to do, plans to plan and a balcony to explore. One thing she had overlooked on her first look around was the arched window that housed a glass door onto the large balcony. The sun was low in the sky, but it was the sounds of early morning that fell into Trixie's ears. “Have I been asleep all night?”
When she looked around from her vantage point on the balcony, Trixie could see the tiny ants setting up stalls in the market and the gathering of ponies getting ready for a long day of work. Trixie yawned and shook the sleep from her eyes, “Well, it was a very comfortable bed.”
“Yes it was, probably the best nights sleep I've ever gotten.”
Trixie jumped, she hadn't expected Twilight to wake so soon.
The lavender unicorn apparently noticed, “Oh, did I scare you? I'm sorry.”
“No, Trixie was merely startled. I thought that I had done a fairly good job of my hug and roll technique.”
Twilight giggled, “It probably would have worked if I wasn't already awake.”
“You were awake!?” Trixie almost choked on the very air itself. “Why didn't you do anything to make that fact obvious like, I don't know, opening your eyes!?”
Whatever amount of Twilight's face wasn't blushing before this, soon joined the rest, “I woke up and you were still asleep, you looked so peaceful and I didn't want to disturb you.” Anything else she wanted to say evaporated into awkwardness.
Trixie took another glance over the edge of the balcony, 'If I jumped, would the landing kill me?' She was so preoccupied by calculating her chance of survival that she didn't notice Twilight slowly walking over, trying and failing to look casual.
“If you er... ever want some more er... company,” Twilight whispered, hardly daring to say it out loud, “I'm not too far away.” Before Trixie could respond, Twilight hurried away, trying to escape the room as quickly as possible.
“Twilight wait!” The unicorn had almost opened the bedroom door, if the room wasn't as big as it was, she would've been free.
“Yes, T-Trixie?”
For once, Trixie found that the words weren't coming fast enough, her usually endless store of wit and snide retorts had run dry. Trixie settled on the one thing she didn't think she'd be saying, especially to the lavender unicorn. The truth. “I need your help with something, a prank if you will.”
“My help, why me?” Twilight would have liked anything more than to just leave and collect her thoughts, the azure unicorn was making it incredibly difficult however.
“It can only be you, Twilight Sparkle.”
Twilight stared into Trixie's eyes for a few seconds, they seemed sincere, Twilight couldn't say no to those eyes. She nodded, opened the door and left.
'Damn her! Damn this spell! Why must she insist on making things more difficult than they have to be!?”
Trixie looked around and saw her hat and cape hanging on a wooden hat stand, they looked cleaned and pressed. Trixie then realised that she had fallen asleep in her hat and cape. Despite herself, a smile appeared on her lips.
–
“Okay Twilight, are you aware of your role?”
The lavender unicorn nodded, Trixie had insisted she wear a smart pair of glasses and a sweater vest for this. “For emphasis!” Trixie had said.
The show mare herself was dressed in her full Trixie gear, ready to leap out at the opportune moment.
“It's show time, take your place Twilight.”
“Is the other guy in on it as well?”
“Of course not, we would never get the same reaction from an actor, we need reality!”
“But this could be very-”
Trixie gave Twilight one of her patented, 'don't test me' glares, sending the unicorn to her seat without another word.
The two unicorns were currently in one of Canterlot's best restaurants. Getting a table wasn't particularly difficult, the Princess' protégée and The Great and Powerful Trixie? How does a Maître D' say no to that?
Once they had their table, Trixie had dragged Twilight into the bathroom, where the finer details of the plan were spelled out, the wider aims having already been discussed on the way to the restaurant.
Twilight was to sit at her table and wait patiently until the proper cue had been... what the hay, let's just watch what happens.
Twilight was sat peacefully at her table, drinking a complementary glass of juice. A waiter strolled over and asked for her order, Trixie had already informed Twilight as to what she wanted, so the unicorn listed off each meal perfectly and the plan was slowly coming into effect.
It was a calm day for a restaurant of this calibre, everypony seemed to be placated by the food and there was never a feeling of the staff being rushed, it was one of those days you savoured because the other days were hell. That all changed when a coughing hack spread loudly across the restaurant, a middle aged, brown stallion had gotten up from his seat clutching a hoof to his chest, he seemed delirious, stumbling about like the floor was made entirely of marbles. Rather dramatically, he dropped in a dead faint, twitching slightly.
There was a dead silence throughout the restaurant broken by a lone theatrical voice, “Heavens! Is there a doctor on the premises!”
Twilight perked up, this was her cue, she stood and raised a hoof in the air, “I'm a doctor! I earned my Doctorate in Friendship!”
Trixie allowed herself a gloating chuckle before taking centre stage, “Stand down you foal, let a true master take care of this!” Trixie walked purposefully towards the collapsed stallion, giving him an overly dramatic once over, “Yes of course, Trixie has seen this once before, but an incredibly tricky counter-jinx is what this situation calls for. Stand back, Trixie is a professional.” Her horn began to glow with a blinding light, it looked impressive, but in reality all she was doing was activating the antidote she had placed in his food when she arrived in the restaurant.
With a feigned strain of effort, Trixie pulled out of the spell with a flourish, sending a small burst of colourful light into the air behind her. Sure enough, the stallion was coming around, his symptoms mysteriously gone. “You... You saved me! I cannot thank you enough!”
The restaurant exploded with cheers and applause, Trixie laughed, “Oh it was nothing really,” but she made no attempt to stop the applause.
At that moment, the owner of the restaurant appeared and demanded that Trixie eat for free for her daring heroics.
“Wasn't that fun, my lovely assistant?” Trixie said as they strolled away from the restaurant amidst one of Canterlot's more affluent areas.
Twilight had trouble agreeing with her, “You made me look stupid and you belittled my research, I didn't think it was very fun.” Twilight hung her head.
The sight hurt Trixie more than she would like to admit, “There was no malice intended, Sparkle, I was merely repaying our debt. You defeated the Ursa, I saved a pony's life. We're all square on my end.”
“But Trixie,” The lavender unicorn, never content with letting things lie, just had to speak up, “When I defeated the Ursa, it was a real, identifiable threat. With you, no offence, but the stallion was never in any real danger was he?”
Trixie smiled, “Perceived danger is just as real as regular danger in the eyes of those not in on the trick. Trixie is an entertainer, what matters is whether the audience believe Trixie.” She gave the unicorn a playful wink.
“So our debt is truly over, we can start afresh?” Twilight's voice was dripping with hopefulness.
“If you want it to be, Trixie has found that you aren't entirely worthless company...” Trixie took a breath, not wanting to end the sentence on such a negative sounding note, “And you make a brilliant assistant, those glasses looked lovely on you.”
Twilight didn't reply, merely contenting herself with a smile and a new spring in her step.
==
“Trixie, I have to show you the Royal Archives, you'll love it!”
During one of her many tours of the palace, Twilight had suddenly realised that she had never showed her new friend around the prestigious library. The lavender unicorn immediately grabbed Trixie by the hoof and began dragging her her forcefully through the castle's many corridors, “Why didn't I think of this sooner? I spend almost all of my time in there myself.”
Trixie had tried to tell her that it wasn't so important to see the archives, but Twilight had blocked her at every path, raving about how it was 'the most complete collection of books in Equestria' and that 'there was a book on any conceivable subject within its confines.'
Whilst the azure unicorn was not adverse to studying in a library or perusing an ancient book of spell theory, she wasn't exactly the biggest fan of it. Trixie preferred entertaining and showing off her magic instead of merely studying it. “It is imperative that I see the Royal Archives now?”
Twilight stopped and turned to face the azure mare, she wore a serious expression, “Yes, it's my most favourite place in the world and I know that you will appreciate it as much as I do. It's not every day I get to meet a unicorn my own age who's a talented magician.” Twilight took her friend's silence as an excuse to continue dragging her to the library.
“Well, I am flattered that you want to share this with me, but surely it can't be much different from any other library. They are all just places with lots of bookshelves after all.” Trixie had expected some backlash for this response, Twilight lived in a library, so she obvious loves the places, but the lavender unicorn stayed silent.
Only one left turn later and she stopped, pointing at a large door inlaid with magical symbols and the royal seal, Twilight didn't look impressed with Trixie's dismissive attitude. “We're here, first rule of the library, be quiet-”
Trixie laughed loudly on purpose, catching Twilight off guard, “I've been in libraries before, Trixie is fully aware of proper library etiquette.”
“Good,” Twilight replied, looking around nervously to make sure no one had heard Trixie's loud laugh, “Just keep that etiquette in mind, I don't want the librarian to get the wrong idea about me.”
“Oh, heavens no. I wouldn't want to get straight-laced, bookworm Twilight in trouble, the Princess might put you in detention!” Trixie teased playfully.
“Exactly. I have no intention of repeating that experience.”
Despite Trixie's mischievous attitude, Twilight seemed deadly serious, “Er... I was just joking about the whole detention thing, did I touch a nerve by accident?”
“I don't want to talk about it... let's just show you around the archives.”
Trixie frowned, but followed the lavender unicorn silently. Twilight's heart didn't seem to be in the tour, she announced each section including renowned names on the subject and rare books, but didn't really elaborate beyond that. With all the time Twilight had seemingly spent here, Trixie imagined that she would have endless tales of study and discovery amongst the shelves, maybe even just a story about how she had been told off by the librarian for staying too late whilst researching advanced transmutation.
As it was though, Trixie's tour was flavour free. She felt bad for being partly responsible for Twilight's mood but she had no way of knowing that she would react so badly to her teasing. It seemed that Trixie wasn't being a very good friend, especially to someone who tolerated her so well, even if it was due to a spell. “Twilight, is that a study area?” Trixie pointed out an open area with a bunch of lined up tables and chairs.
“Yes, it's mostly just for convenience though, if you absolutely require somewhere to sit and a table to lean on. I mostly stayed near the books, practising writing and holding the paper steady with my magic.”
“Why don't we have a quick rest, I never expected the archives to be this big.” Trixie smiled helpfully before walking over and taking a seat, she waved a hoof for Twilight to join her.
The lavender unicorn sat down opposite Trixie, but sighed heavily, “I don't need to rest, we've barely toured the east wing.”
Trixie put on a serious expression, “Not to cause any offence, but you are being a terrible tour guide. If I said anything to upset you, then I am sorry, Trixie didn't intend any harm.”
“It's not your fault, really. It's just... what you said dragged up a lot of old memories, I wasn't always a model student, you know.”
“Look, Sparkle. I don't know how most other ponies would react in such a situation and I'm not going to pretend that I know what your tuition was like, but look where you grew up.” Trixie indicated the vast library around her, the rows and rows of bookshelves, “Do you think every little budding magician got this treatment?”
Twilight hung her head, but what little Trixie could see through the lavender unicorn's mane, looked guilty. “I didn't think...”
“It's easy to assume things when you don't know anything else. I'm not saying it's your own fault, you just have to realise how little you really had to worry about when you were growing up.” Trixie looked away for a few moments, composing herself.
“I grew up in Manehattan and there was this young filly that I knew, she wanted to be a great magician. She didn't have any money and she didn't have any parents, she had grown up in an orphanage for almost her entire life. The care workers had given her a few things that were her parents, pictures and a few keepsakes, they told her that her parents were respected magicians, which fuelled her desire to be like them. She wanted to make her parents proud.”
“The filly knew what she wanted to do, but growing up in a poor area of Manehattan meant that she had very little at hand to help her achieve her goal. Every day she would go to the local library and camp in the magic section, there was such a meagre selection that it was just classified as 'magic' instead of by school like here. She would set up camp and stay there for as long as the librarian would allow her, reading and re-reading each book and practising controlling that tiny spark of untamed magic. She was still only a filly however, there is only so much a pony so young can do.”
“As she grew up, her powers grew with her and soon she was able to lift things using her magic with ease, a few years later and she was old to enough to leave the orphanage and find her own way in the world. She was able to enrol herself into a magical academy on a scholarship and that was where she stayed until her education was complete. It wasn't the most prestigious magical academy in the land or even the area, but she graduated with honours and she felt that if her parents were alive, they would be proud of her.”
“After she graduated, she didn't know what she should do with herself. She couldn't think of anything that she would like to do with her skills in the job market and didn't have anywhere to live, so she used what little funds she had to buy a simple caravan. She had had enough of living in the city and thought that travelling around Equestria to see the sights would be about as good as she could get whilst trying to figure out what she wanted to do with her life.”
“She passed through rural earth pony villages and would stop for a while to admire the scenery or just to rest for a while. She would put on magic shows for the townsfolk and the ponies would reward her with small tokens of gratitude like food or money, sometimes she would tell tales of magic and intrigue she had gathered from her years of education, using her magic to emphasise the story or to help the ponies visualise the events. She would do a few shows, earn a few bits and move on to her travels. She would do the same thing in the next town to earn some more money, but after a while, it wasn't the sightseeing she was looking forwards to, it was the performing.”
“Somewhere along the line, she mistakenly thought that her performance was becoming stale and that she needed to make herself look more impressive. She continued to tell her stories, but put herself in the place of the ancient heroes, acting as though she had performed all of the heroic deeds. One fateful morning, she passed into a small town named Ponyville, full of confidence and boastful pride, she put on her act, told her stories and performed her magic. Night fell and an Ursa Minor strode into town, Trixie was put on spot, told that she must live up to her stories, but had nothing but tricks and no true talents. Trixie ran away in the face of a greater magician, with a shattered caravan and a shattered reputation, she lived rough until she got far enough away from Ponyville that nopony had heard of her.”
“The sad thing was, even after all that, Trixie hadn't learned anything.”
The azure mare concluded her story with a sigh, looking down at the empty table in front of her.
“I think you've learned your lesson now and if it's any consolation,” Twilight reached out and patted the back of Trixie's hoof with a smile, “I thought your story was great.”
“It's always easier to tell them when I pretend it's somepony else.”
Twilight smiled, “Perhaps it wasn't the best of ideas to come to library after all.” She chuckled slightly.
Trixie laughed with her, “That's not entirely true, I wouldn't mind if you showed me where I could find a good book on the subject of illusionary magic. I would love to get your opinion on the subject.”
Twilight gasped, “I know just the book, come with me, it's in the west wing.”
The azure unicorn smiled, she was glad to see that Twilight had perked up again, all it took was a simple admission of the fact that she was in the wrong. Perhaps Twilight was right after all, perhaps friendship was magic.
--
A few days had passed since Trixie had convinced the Princess that she would make an excellent room-mate. After this short period of time, Trixie had started to believe that, should she be forced to leave, she'd never be able to get comfortable on another bed for as long as she lived, Luna's bed was just that good.
Other than living literally like a Princess, the castle had very little to do in terms of entertainment. So when she wasn't eating or sleeping, she found herself spending more and more time with Twilight, be it walking around the garden and admiring the hedge maze or studying in the library. Trixie found that she was never short of fun when the lavender unicorn was along for the ride.
“Tell me something Twilight.” She asked one of the days, lounging next to a bizarre statue of a discordant beast.
“Yes, Trixie.” Twilight looked up from the book she was reading.
“I asked the Princess at dinner yesterday, why you were in Canterlot when your home is in Ponyville. She told me that you came to research something only the royal archives could tell you.”
“That's right.” Twilight looked a little confused by this line of questioning.
Trixie took her time wording her next question, “If you only came here to research and you being the studious and knowledgeable mare that you are, surely you've finished your research by now?”
Twilight blushed slightly, “Well yes, I actually finished a while ago, the compiled notes are packed into my saddlebags.”
“So why are you still hanging around this draughty old castle when you could be back home with those friends of yours?”
Twilight sighed and closed her book, “Can I tell you a story, Trixie?”
The azure unicorn raised her eyebrows, “I hope you're not trying to dodge my question.”
“No no, of course not, the story will help make my point.” Twilight gazed into Trixie's eyes, the ones so like her own and continued, “I used to be so focused in study, thinking that it was the only way to improve my skills as a magician. Learn the theory, put the theory into practice and then practice until perfect. I wanted to make Celestia proud of me, I still do, but back then I was so intent on becoming stronger so that I could show her I was worthy to be her protégée.”
“For a while, that was how we did things. I could tell that Celestia wasn't pleased with me, but I had always imagined that it was because I wasn't strong enough, I wasn't proving myself enough. There were periods where I would imagine her smiling with past pupils and I'd tell myself that I would get better even if it hurt.” Twilight began to tear up slightly, the corners of her eyes were wet, but she quickly wiped them away.
“What I didn't realise was that Celestia knew I was working myself into a rut, she could see the damage I was doing to myself and that was what she wasn't pleased about. I feel personally responsible for not bringing my fears to Celestia right away, if I had known then what I know now, perhaps I wouldn't need a crash course in friendship, perhaps I wouldn't have almost doomed Equestria to serve under eternal night.”
Trixie moved herself closer to the lavender unicorn, “You can't dwell on the past, Twilight. What's done is done.”
A few of Twilight's tears had freely escaped, cascading down her cheeks where they met a handkerchief, conjured by the azure unicorn.
“Thank you Trixie, I find it difficult to speak about that part of my life, especially considering how much of a foal I was.”
“Hindsight is twenty twenty, but you can only look and learn from it. Just think about everything that you've done because of your past mistakes, your friends, your continued tutelage under the Princess...”
“And you.” Twilight mumbled, almost inaudibly, Trixie barely registered Twilight's lips moving. Before Trixie could respond however, Twilight continued her tale. “As I've said, Celestia knew I was working to the bone every night to impress her, so she devised a plan to keep me working, but on something healthy, something that would make me happy, something that I severely lacked. She tasked me with making friends, a prospect more frightening to my past self than tackling a book on Advanced Psychomantic Theory.”
Trixie smiled knowingly at the comparison.
“The first assignment she gave me was a dual role, I was also tasked with overseeing the preparation of the Summer Sun Festival in Ponyville. As I went about my business I, in turn, met the five ponies who become my best friends. When I first met them however, their personalities and overt friendliness was something I couldn't handle. I felt resentful of Celestia for forcing me into the situation, I felt that she was doing it for no good reason other than to tempt me away from my studies and more importantly, research into the 'Mare in the Moon' legend.”
“As that night went on, as Nightmare Moon took the Princess and refused to raise the sun, those five ponies took it upon themselves to force their way into my life. In the next few hours I learned more about myself than I could have ever hoped to achieve by studying library books, I learned how to live and to not merely exist.”
“I truly learned that friendship is as legitimate a magic as any other that day. This is why I've not gone home yet Trixie, you don't ignore friendship when it presents itself because more often than not, it's there for a reason.” Twilight finished by resting a hoof around Trixie's shoulder and giving the show mare a quick hug.
“That was beautiful Twilight, I thank you for having the courage to share it with me.”
Twilight lay her head down, staring into Trixie's eyes, “Anything for a friend.”
“You really mean that? Trixie – no, I am not used to such things, my travelling lifestyle and... demeanour, often lead to scorn, not friendship. I attributed it mostly to jealousy back then, but I see now that it was entirely my fault. I'm sorry if I hurt or offended you or your friends all that time ago, I was a foal.”
Twilight smiled a smile that told Trixie, everything was going to be okay, “I forgive you Trixie. I'm sure my friends would as well.”
“It's a wonderful day,” Trixie mentioned, the sun was high in the sky and a gentle breeze played across the garden, “Too good to be wasted in contemplation, shall we take a walk Twilight, perhaps get some lunch in town?”
“That would be lovely Trixie.”
--
*continued*