A Great and Powerful unicorn walked down a lonely trail through the edge of Ponyville. Well past midnight, the search for her hat and cloak had once again proved unsuccessful as she approached the entrance to the Everfree Forest. Before entering, she looked up to the moon, it was bright and beautiful, brighter than she had remembered seeing it earlier. It was almost captivating as it illuminated her icy-white mane and deep blue coat. As she trotted through the forest, glimpses of the unusually bright moon held her attention. There was certainly something more to it, this wasn't simply a bright moon, she decided it must be investigated immediately once she found a clearing in the trees.
In the distance there was a large treeless patch of grass near a small pond. With a distrustful glance over her shoulder, she walked into the clearing. The moon beamed down like never before, Trixie almost felt the need to shield her eyes as she looked upon it's vivid surface, caught under it's alluring and entrancing spell.
Twilight Sparkle stood behind the trees, out of sight. With her horn already glowing, she silently levitated herself to a branch overlooking the clearing with the captivated unicorn staring up at the moon. She closed her eyes and her horn began to produce an intense heat as it sparked. With a bright flash and a snapping sound, her horn erupted into bright magical flames while simultaneously sending constricting tendrils jutting from the ground beneath Trixie. Like ferocious purple vines, they wrapped around the unicorn's entire body and pulled her tightly against the forest ground. A smaller glowing vine tied itself tightly around her horn, most likely inhibiting her use of magic.
The triumphant purple mare leaped down from the branch, a small burst of magic near the ground broke her fall as she landed into a graceful trot. Her target was secured with surprising ease.
"Well well well, look who we have here." Twilight muttered as she approached her apprehended target. "Looks like you're days wreaking havoc across Equestria are over. It would also appear that Celestia over estimated your abilities." As she spoke, she pulled a small scroll out from a small satchel securely strapped to her flank. It possessed a picture of Trixie along with a description of her crimes and her level of danger, she was ranked as a level five threat, as dangerous as they come.
Twilight stopped trotting for a moment as she looked into the restrained mare's eyes; something was off. She leaned closer in an attempt to discern exactly what was happening. Suddenly she heard a snap to her left, catching her attention. Then a powerful kick connected with her right jaw, sending her tumbling across the ground. Her vision blurred as she looked up to identify her attacker. As she regained focus, a deep blue unicorn with alluring purple eyes came into view. Trixie, but how?! Twilight couldn't find an answer.
"As overly confident as always I see, Twilight Sparkle." Trixie spat her name out with sharp disdain. "Your arrogance will prove fatal tonight, you little palace slave."
Twilight scrambled to her hooves, desperately trying to figure out what went wrong. She looked over to the left, her magical tendrils were tightly wrapped around a log with a short branch in place of a horn. An illusion... She concluded.
Trixie stood strong, she had detected Twilight's spell enhancing the moon long ago and prepared accordingly. She knew someone was pursuing and attempting to distract her long enough to spring a trap. Trixie frowned, her horn lit and ready to counter whatever Twilight planned to do next.
Trixie's frown then turned to a slight grin. "Make your next move carefully, for it will be your last."
Twilight licked the blood dripping down her cut lip, eager to prove just how capable she really was. This would be her first unicorn fight since her very first mission. Her other targets have since been too easy to catch, and relatively boring. Her horn sparked and the bright moon faded into the night, casting only its usual dim glow. "Well then Trixie, I suppose I should make it count, right?"
Rather than the expected attack, Twilight disappeared into the darkness. Trixie snapped her teeth and sent a flash-bang into the forest, staining an image on her mind. As she searched the imprinted visual, a faint breeze brushed across her nose, alerting her. She opened her eyes just in time to dive out of the way of a small sphere of concentrated magic. It whizzed past her head, taking a small piece of her mane with it as it crashed into the ground behind her and created a small explosion. In an instant, Trixie whipped her neck mid-dive and sent a crescent shaped wave of magic towards the source of the attack. It cut through the trees and sliced through every branch in it's trail.
As the debris fell, she watched intently, hoping to spot the severed limbs and body of her opponent among the falling branches. She rolled her eyes and shouted. "Twilight! Get out here and make this easier for us both." Trixie lit her horn in preparation for the next attempted surprise attack and got no answer from her opponent. "Well I suppose I'd be hiding too if I were you. Perhaps you've fled, that'd be the smart thing to do. Maybe I'll make my way back into town and fetch that pretty little dragon of yours. I'm sure he'd sell for quite a bit back where I'm from."
Twilight sat in a tree, her horn lightly radiating a spell to keep herself undetectable. All her training told her never to let her emotions cloud her judgement. However, Trixie was making this personal. Not only that, Twilight was itching for a fight, taking Trixie out with a stealthy sneak attack would prove nothing to anyone. If anything, it'd written off as a lucky shot.
"Fine, lets do this your way." Twilight jumped into the clearing, forcefully landing on the ground. "No illusions, no games." She wiped the blood from her slightly cut lip, licking it off the tip of her hoof.
Trixie smiled, her horn already brightly glowing. This is exactly what she wanted, and Twilight played right into her own disadvantage. Starting with a slow trot, the spiteful blue unicorn began to pick up speed as she approached the her opponent. At a full gallop, she prepared for an attack. Twilight stood still and braced herself for whatever might happen. She watched closely and anticipated her target's movements. Trixie jumped into the air and flipped over Twilight, shooting a burst of magic straight down. Surprised, Twilight shielded herself with a quick defensive spell, creating a small magical barrier just before impact.
The spell wasn't able to absorb the blow entirely, she felt the forceful impact as it cracked and pressed the barrier into her back. As Trixie landed, she whipped her self around while hurling another wave of sharp energy at her enemy. Twilight jumped up and kicked off the barrier she had created, causing it to break into pieces. The crescent wave passed over the shattered shield and beneath Twilight as it made its way into the forest. Trixie didn't let up, she continued her assault by quickly trotting up to Twilight and wrapping her in an aura of magic. She began to squeeze with a crushing force, suffocating the captured mare. Twilight felt her ribs being compressed as the air was forced out of her lungs. With a powerful burst of released magic, she broke free and backed away, out of range of the levitation spell.
Trixie was panting, clearly growing tired after casting so many spells in such quick succession. Twilight recognized the crescent wave of magic, it was a powerful spell that used ridiculous amounts of energy to cast. She saw her opportunity to get a hoof up. With a deep breath, she let out a mild shout and her horn burst into purple flames. The log next to her was still wrapped in her magical vines, which then began to squeeze tighter, slicing it into several disks. She lifted them all in her aura and began flinging them with devastating force towards her target. Trixie wasn't so quick to react. After trying to catch her breath, she dived to avoid the first wooden disk. Another came dangerously close to her horn as she ducked beneath it, and she blocked the third with another burst of her own magic.
With several potential projectiles still in Twilight's aura, Trixie began galloping around the edge of the clearing. She planned on making it as easy as possible to dodge the next attack, while simultaneously preparing for her next attack. She knew she couldn't continue using so much magic, she needed to recharge, so physical attacks would prove most effective for now. She stopped and slid across the ground for a moment before turning and galloping straight towards Twilight. Another projectile made it's way towards Trixie's face, she easily dodged it. Then another whizzed past her head. Too easy. She thought.
As Trixie approached her opponent, she prepared to implant her back hooves into her ribs. Then she noticed Twilight's smile. She stopped and glanced over her own shoulder just in time to see the wooden disk coming back and moved just before it crashed into her cheek. She felt the bark brush across her face as it made it's way back, then she fell over after losing her balance. Twilight Sparkle was sure take advantage of the moment. She lifted her projectile into the air and closed her eyes, it burst into flames and came crashing down onto Trixie like a fiery purple meteorite. Dust filled the air and Twilight coughed. She was certain the impact was enough to render her target unconscious.
The dust began to clear, and the silhouette of a unicorn laid still in the center of a small crater. "Missed me." A whisper sounded in Twilight's ear.
Just then, Trixie wrapped her forearm around Twilight's neck and placed a hoof over her horn. Her hoof was glowing and sent a searing pain through Twilight's skull as it blocked the flow of magic through her body.
"I... agh, I thought we agreed... no illusions..." Twilight muttered through the pain.
"What can I say, I lied." Trixie smiled, knowing she's secured her victory.
Twilight thought for a moment and wondered how long she had been fighting the illusion. The cunning blue unicorn realized how confused her captive opponent must be. She turned Twilight's head to face the left side of the clearing. Her eyes widened as she recalled what had happened. Trixie's crescent wave of magic passed through the trees without cutting anything, meaning after she landed from her mid-air attack, she cast an illusion spell and hid in the forest. It was perfect timing, Twilight realized she didn't see it due to the shield hitting her and distracting her for several moments.
"I told you your arrogance would be your prove fatal, didn't I?" As Trixie spoke, she began to choke the life out of Twilight with a forearm.
The purple unicorn coughed and flailed around as she tried to break free. Trixie squeezed tighter, her horn glowing brightly as she held a spell on her own hoof cutting into Twilight's magic supply. With a deep breath, the panicking purple mare thrust her head backwards, smashing into Trixie's muzzle, who stumbled backwards as she tried to regain her balance. Twilight darted away and tripped as she escaped Trixie's short levitation range. As she recalled that Trixie had once again fooled her with an illusion, she realized that her foe still had plenty of reserved magic. She was in trouble, considering her own exhaustion was rapidly approaching.
Trixie placed a hoof over her nose and wiped the blood away. "You'll pay for that you little..." She stopped speaking and tilted her head up. "Come on, seriously?! Head butting? Who do you think you are?!"
Twilight caught her breath and regained her balance. For a moment she considered apologizing, but quickly wiped the thought away. She licked her lip once again, the blood had stopped, but it was still quite sore. This was it, her final stand, she realized that she had made several mistakes during this fight. Mistakes weren't something she was known for, but she let her emotions cloud her judgement. She decided to conserve what little magical energy she had left in case she needed to break free from levitation.
Trixie quickly dropped to all fours when she spotted Twilight beginning to charge her. She stood strong, lowering herself and preparing her horn. Twilight was less than a second away when Trixie shot a powerful wide ranged blast of magic towards her. She was impressed at the speed in which Trixie could conjure such powerful spells, not only that, her stamina seemed to be nearly limitless. In a flash, Twilight disappeared, avoiding the attack and reappearing directly behind her target.
"Teleportation?!" Trixie shouted, then she instinctively kicked her back hooves out.
Twilight predicted this before even teleporting, she dodged to the left and caught Trixie's back leg with her forearms. With all her might she twirled around and tossed her into the center of the clearing. Trixie attempted to spin around mid-air and land on her hooves, but failed to do so. She tumbled across the ground, kicking up a cloud of dust as she rolled into the dirt-crater. She coughed and looked up in time to see Twilight penetrate the wall of dirt with two outstretched hooves.
Trixie rolled out of the way last second, avoiding two powerful hooves targeting her face. She did a quick spin on the ground, tripping Twilight before she jumped back up to her own hooves and grabbed her with an aura of magic.
Twilight was quick to react this time, she used a small portion of her conserved magic to quickly force Trixie's light aura away. Not allowing Trixie to prepare another spell, Twilight lunged towards her once again, swinging a hoof straight towards her cheek. Trixie smacked the hoof away and swiped a glowing horn straight towards her enemy. Twilight was quick to duck out of the way, however the horn's magical aura nicked the tip of her ear and sliced through a portion of her mane.
In a quick motion, Twilight lunged forward once again, this time with her horn glowing and pointed directly at Trixie's heart. The blue unicorn placed her front hooves on Twilight's head and kicked off the ground, dodging her attack and forcing her face into the dirt. Trixie landed, and rapidly turned around to finish her enemy off. Twilight jumped up and turned around in time to see Trixie's horn glowing bright and headed straight towards her neck. She made the last second decision to teleport once again, but before she could let the spell come into effect, Trixie made contact.
There was a bright flash that lit the entire forest for a moment, then the two mares were gone. As they dematerialized, Twilight felt felt every bit of Trixie's body intertwine with hers as they span through an endless void. For what felt like an eternity, the two mares were caught in a magically produced dimensional rift. Normally Twilight could control the rift for several seconds before dispersing it and merging it with reality in what seemed like the blink of an eye. However, this time she was distracted, and let the rift aimless drift across the forest clearing.
Twilight's mind was lost as she reveled in a sensation no pony has ever experienced before. She could feel Trixie inside of her, while simultaneously feeling as if she was within Trixie. There was a very comforting warmth filling her heart and mind. She attempted to reach out and hug the mare near her, but couldn't move or see anything other than a nearly blinding light coming from all directions.
She cleared her mind further, and felt something she couldn't explain. She felt all of Trixie emotions, her anger and spitefulness, her self-righteousness, her superiority complex, even her will to murder another pony. Then she felt something warmer and more peaceful, almost as if Trixie was intentionally opening up to her. She felt her loneliness and regrets, her desire to find love, and more importantly, all the intense pain and sorrow she's carried on her shoulders for the past few years. The source of that pain was unclear, but it was slowly drifting away, as if Trixie was letting it go or being soothed.
Suddenly, she began to see strange images, scenes playing out in her mind. They were Trixie's memories, key points in her life replayed themselves. Happy foalhood moments in Trixie's life were relived by Twilight, then later years came into view. She saw herself handle an Ursa Minor. She saw Trixie return to Manehatten and get cornered by several stallions, some were unicorns. They attacked her and attempted to restrain her, beating her, but she fought. She kicked one in the ribs, causing him to back up, she then sent out her signature crescent wave of magic, slicing through his throat. Another unicorn grabbed her in an aura to hold her down, but she broke free with a focused burst, something one trained in combat would do. Once free she shot a small sphere of concentrated magic through his chest, instantly killing him. She prepared another shot but the other two stallions fled. She then fell onto her stomach and cried. As the police arrived, she turned and ran, not sure how to explain herself, fearing she'd be punished.
Several more fights replayed themselves in Twilight's mind, revealing how she defeated every pony that tried to capture her. First simply police officers, then bounty hunters, then special forces units, now Celestia's elite. She's defeated everyone who tried to stop her, only gaining more and more infamy as being a dangerous pony to avoid. Unimaginable loneliness ensued.
All the pain of these years spent alone seemed to be vanishing, taking all the anger and hatefulness with it, leaving only a loving and lonely mare behind. She felt herself becoming a part of Trixie's heart, and felt as if there was already something for her there. A secret. This was all a mystery to Twilight, all she knew for sure was that she never wanted this moment to end.
For a moment in time, the two mares were one.
Seconds later, the spell released with a bright flash and they reappeared near the edge of the clearing, laying in the grass. Trixie was silent and Twilight wondered if she had experienced something similar. With several deep breaths Twilight jumped up and lit her horn, she swiped her head and aimed directly at Trixie's neck.
She stopped last second, her brightly glowing horn only a centimeter away from her target's throat. She took a few steps back and looked down, wondering why Trixie didn't evade. She knew she easily could have, but she just laid there, silent and motionless. Twilight looked into her eyes, they were staring at the grass beneath her and full of tears.
"Are you crazy? Why didn't you dodge?" Twilight shouted.
Trixie made eye contact. "Just do what you have to do, Sparkle. I can't kill you, I'm done."
"What do you mean? You're giving up?" Twilight couldn't imagine that would ever happen.
Trixie just rolled her eyes and turned away. Twilight's heart was torn, she wasn't sure she wanted to capture her anymore, her crimes hardly seemed punishable by death. Only moments ago, she was ready to end that insufferable mare's life, and now she couldn't even bring herself to capture and turn her in, which would result in that punishment.
"Three times Twilight, there were three moments when I could have killed you but chose not to last second. The one time I went in for the kill, I got sucked into your stupid little spell and now I don't even feel like moving. There's nothing I can do now, you've won." Trixie's voice was sharp yet full of apathy and self pity.
Twilight recoiled and thought for a moment, she wasn't sure what Trixie was talking about.
Knowing Twilight was likely trying to figure out when those moments of near death were, Trixie decided to explain. "When you first entered the forest and attacked my illusion, I charged you with my horn lit and ready to pierce your chest, but I stopped and just hit you in the face instead. Then when I jumped over you, I was about to send a crescent wave that would have easily sliced through your pathetic little shield and finished you, but once again, I stopped last second and released a dull blast of magic before focusing it. Then when you were fooled by my perfect illusion a second time, I was about to slice you in half, I could have so easily, but I didn't... I... I just couldn't... I trotted up to you and grabbed you for some stupid reason and just got head-butted, that's not something I'd normally allow to happen. I've killed before, but I couldn't kill you... no matter how hard I tried..."
Twilight stood silent, she didn't want to believe it was true, though she knew it was. Trixie wobbled to her hooves and slowly began to approach her. The weary purple unicorn tensed up, not sure what to expect. Her ear was bleeding badly, dripping down her cheek. Trixie placed her horn near Twilight's injured ear and let off a soft glow. In a few seconds, the bleeding stopped and scabbed over. Twilight closed her eyes and felt the fur of Trixie's muzzle brush across her face.
"I know you're low on energy and magic, and that was bleeding a lot. Now lead the way, I'll follow you to your escort carriage and go quietly. I'll even let you tie my horn lock me up when we get there." Trixie cleared her throat and looked down.
"Trixie... just... I don't know, just run away. I'll report you as dead. Um, killed while attempting to restrain. Incineration or something, no evidence or body." Twilight couldn't believe what she was suggesting.
"You'd like that wouldn't you, Sparkle, to tell everyone that you single hoofedly killed the Great and Powerful Trixie. That's a laugh, no pony would ever believe you. There would be doubts, and doubts turn to suspicion, then next thing I know, I'm on the run again. I'm tired of running, I'm tired of fighting. I don't want this life anymore, so take me away."
"Trixie... I saw what happened all those years ago. I saw who you killed, and I saw that you never killed any of your pursuers expect the bounty hunters who asked for it. You always gave them a chance to flee, you gave me a chance. I'm not surprised you didn't kill me, you're not a murderer, you're just scared and alone. I can help clear your name and put this all behind you. I'll figure something out, I promise. First I need you to be willing to run for a little while longer. I need to explain what happened in Manehatten and how you were just defending yourself." Twilight's eyes were sincere, she couldn't bring herself to fight anymore either, and she didn't feel Trixie deserved the punishment she knew she was going to receive: Death.
"I didn't absolutely have to kill them, Twilight. Not to mention I killed two of Luna's royal guards while stealing from the palace, I'm done. There's nothing you can do to help me." Trixie looked away again, her heart aching.
"You didn't kill them! You knocked down a pillar to escape and they flew under the falling doorway in order to chase you. I saw and felt the regret that you felt that night. Those two didn't die anyway, Trixie, they were badly injured but they're fine. I know them personally and promised to make you pay for what you did... I, I just... You have a chance, but you have to trust me. Just run and hide for a week maybe a little longer, please?" Twilight's desperation to help her once hostile enemy was beginning to weigh in on her mind. She needed an explanation as to exactly what happened to them in the spell.
"Why not just take me with you now, then explain while I'm locked up?" Trixie asked, attempting to remain logical.
"Its not that simple... Celestia told me to kill you on sight. I can't take you back there now. There won't be a trial, you'll be immediately executed for six counts of murder and countless other crimes." Twilight looked down and wondered where all the pain in her chest was coming from.
"I don't care Twilight... Let's just go. Enough with all these foalish games already! Can't you see I'm tired and finished, it's all wasted effort and I'll have no part in it! If you don't take me now, I'm turning myself in!"
Twilight let out a deep sigh. "Fine, lets go then."
Trixie scoffed and shook her head before heading down the forest trail. Twilight trotted ahead and led the way. As they exited the forest, Twilight's horn let off a small flash and revealed a hidden carriage with a large back compartment. Trixie approached it and lowered her eyes as she imagined what she had in store in Canterlot. She wondered if it would be quick.
"Now, you know I have to restrain you, right?" Twilight grinned and Trixie looked away.
"Of course, by all means." Her voice cut into Twilight with it's sharp edge.
"You asked for it, remember? I said you could run." Twilight smiled and tossed a small glowing ring over Trixie's horn, blocking her use of magic. Once it was secured, it stopped glowing and was a tight black band.
She then wrapped two metal cuffs tightly above her hooves, tightening the chains til Trixie would be unable to run if she tried.
"There we go, now that you're all tied up," Twilight's horn flashed and tightened the chains further, causing Trixie to fall to the ground, "you don't get a say in what happens."
Twilight entered the carriage and returned with a key. She tossed it on the ground in front of Trixie's face.
"What do you think you're doing?!" Trixie shouted.
"Shh, pay attention and listen closely. There's a small cottage in the meadow behind you. I have a friend who lives there, she'll be shy at first, but she'll be more than willing to help you out, okay? Tell her I'm a friend yours and that I got hurt. She'll help us both. If you're still around when I wake up, I'll be forced to take you away and allow you to be killed, which is not something I'm comfortable doing." Twilight jumped up on top of the carriage.
"Are you kidding me?! Twilight, I will kill you myself once I get out of here if you don't stop this nonsense immediately!"
"Don't flatter yourself. We both know you could never kill me." Twilight's horn began to glow brightly.
Trixie watched, not sure what to expect. Twilight's eyes began to glow white, her mane waving in the wind she was generating. She shot a small beam into Trixie's front chain, breaking her free. In an instant, she released the rest of her magic, creating a huge explosion on her carriage.
Trixie shielded her eyes with a forearm and was blown backwards by the blast. She looked up; the carriage was destroyed. Twilight was floating above the wreckage, a white aura surrounding her. Suddenly her eyes closed and she forcefully fell to the ground. Trixie jumped up and approached her. She was unconscious but still breathing. All her energy had been exhausted and fatigue took it's toll. Trixie looked over her shoulder at the cottage. Curse you, Twilight... She was left with no choice but to seek help.
With her front hooves she slid the band off of her head and grabbed the key in her aura, unlocking the cuffs. She turned back to face Twilight, who was laying peacefully with a light smile on her face. Trixie looked up to the sky, the sun was beginning to rise, the stars all disappeared one by one, and she felt the world around her had been changed permanently; she now had an ally, a friend. She trotted up to Twilight and leaned down. She pressed her muzzle up against her cheek and whispered.
"Thank you..."
