Equestrian Diaries

Fluttershy's home swirled into view again, the senses quickly returning. Fluttershy first thing opted to curl into a ball and hide behind her mane.

Neither Twilight nor Trixie said anything, so Discord, still there, spoke first. "Hey Fluttershy. Remember when you stared down that dragon? Fun times, fun times."

"How do you even—" Twilight started to ask, before shaking her head and walking over to attempt to comfort Fluttershy.

"There are just some things scarier than dragons, Discord," Fluttershy whispered.

Discord sighed, picked up Fluttershy, unrolled her, and set her back on the floor.

"Eep!" Fluttershy called out, attempting to curl up again, but finding herself frozen.

"Discord!" Twilight yelled. "What are you doing? Can't you see she's scared?"

"What do you take me for, Twilight? A blind bat?" Discord retorted, transforming into a bat and flying around in circles around Twilight before crashing into the back of her head. He reappeared back on the couch with a stronger glare from Twilight drilling at him.

"Fluttershy," Discord continued, softly. "You made a decision yesterday. You decided to live and avert your dead end so you could spare your friends the pain of losing a dear loved one, and spare your animals from having to go without such a kind caretaker. Don't start being selfish now, of all times."

"Discord. Can't she have a little time to—"

"The others aren't taking time to cry. Neither should you."

"Are you telling us we should participate in this-this game?"

"Precisely. Or, at the very least, prepare to defend yourselves."

Fluttershy sniffed, then turned to Twilight and Discord and spoke. "But if we do that, that means Twilight or I will have to-have to—"

Discord finished for her. "—kill the other? Yes, yes you will."

"How could you ask such a thing of me, Discord? I thought we were friends."

"We are friends, Fluttershy. But there are forces beyond even your favorite Lord of Chaos. There's a lot I have hidden from you all that you are just beginning to unravel. It's not pretty, is it? It's not even amusing!"

Discord pulled a single hair out of his beard and tossed it onto the floor, where it formed into a dozen kittens which ran around to Fluttershy, snuggling and purring into her. Fluttershy squeed and started to pet one, before they subsequently disappeared without a trace. She looked back to Discord, who wore a sincerely sad expression.

"Now I apologize, for I must drop out again, but there are some things I simply must attend to. Good luck to the two most powerful elements, and to the quiet great show-pony. Farewell!" Discord bowed, and melted into the floor, disappearing without a trace.

"P-powerful?"

Twilight opened her mouth as if to reply, but closed it and shook her head. The three sat in silence, neither one sure of what to say to the other.

Trixie spoke up first. "Well, Twilight. Whichever route you go, know that I will follow you. You have my word on that. I owe it to you."

"Th-thanks, Trixie."

"Umm, if I may ask, what made you seek Twilight out and all? If you don't mind me asking, that is," Fluttershy asked.

Trixie smiled. "After I headed out of Ponyville after my foalish attempt at revenge with that dreaded amulet, I realized I wasn't who I was before. As I moved on, trying to rebuild my career, I kept thinking about the events that transpired. About just how it was that Twilight beat me, and saved me from that amulet. And, well, I started to make friends. Real friends. I was finally, well, happy. I was coming over to thank Twilight with a performance, but my diary abruptly changed, and continued changing as I ran towards Ponyville as fast as I could. I finally reached you guys and, well."

"You wanted to perform for me in thanks?" Twilight asked.

"Ye-yes. I can't thank you enough, Twilight, for giving me a new light on my life."

"I, well—" Twilight smiled. "There's a good friendship report buried here, but I'm afraid my mind is a little frazzled from recent events." Twilight's smile slowly failed as she spoke. The three then sat in silence again.

Twilight spoke up again. "I know this isn't the best time, but I think I'd like to see it now. We, well, we can talk about our next moves after. I think we could all use a break."

Trixie smiled. "Certainly, Twilight."

Fluttershy meekly nodded to the idea, and she and Twilight followed Trixie outside to her wagon parked a short distance away. Trixie positioned herself at the front and began to move the cart, declining help from Twilight and Fluttershy. After a few short minutes, the three arrived to a calm meadow, and Trixie, with a small application of magic, opened up the cart to reveal her stage tucked inside.

Trixie bounded onto the stage of her life calling, and effectively transformed into her performance form. Fluttershy knew something was missing from how she knew Trixie from before, and this was certainly it. Trixie's very pose, the way she carried herself, her expression, and even the position of her hat. She called out, "Come one! Come all! Come, and witness the magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!"

As she announced, a stream of sparkles erupted from her horn, transforming into colorful fireworks in the sky. A few ponies who were out walking took notice, and cautiously walked over, most remembering Trixie from before. Some wore glares, while others looked merely in curiosity. Fluttershy and Twilight sat a few meters from the stage, watching attentively.

"Today's performance is dedicated to one whom I can say for a fact is more great and powerful than Trixie herself. Not only does she posses magic, but she possesses the magic of friendship, of which she shared with me and changed my life. Twilight Sparkle, this performance is dedicated to you. Now, watch with awe, as the Great and Powerful Trixie demonstrates her life changing moments, and behold a lesson all should take to heart."

Trixie's horn glowed a little brighter as she focused more lights into the sky. The multicolored lights danced around in the sky, forming distinct shapes. Within seconds, they showed the form of Trixie standing on a stage much like the real one was standing on now. A swarm of lights stood before the image Trixie, a group of indistinguishable ponies.

"Here I was, trotting into Ponyville like I owned the place. I boasted and lied about my feats all to impress. I claimed I vanquished an Ursa Major." Trixie chuckled. "As I boasted and boasted, performing not for them, but for myself, several ponies stood up to me."

Several images appeared from the crowd, but disappeared as the image of Trixie silently laughed.

"Later, an ursa minor appeared and showed me for the fraud I very much was. I tried to fight, but I was powerless against it, for all the magic I practiced was for theatrics."

The scene changed to an ursa minor rampaging on the streets of Ponyville.

"Then, here comes Twilight Sparkle, whom all of you here surely know. She, in a feat of genius and power, sent the ursa minor back to its cave. What's more, she was entirely humble about it."

The images showed Twilight appearing and glowing brighter than any of the images, and the image of the ursa minor floated away. Fluttershy couldn't help but notice how much more detailed the images were now than how Trixie's were when she first came to Ponyville.

"After that, I fled, unsure of what to do. I tried to perform again and failed, my new reputation preceding me. It was a dark time in my life. I let my heart grow colder than the rocks I had to farm to make a living."

The images showed a depressed Trixie surrounded by rocks, the eyes of the image suddenly opening wide with red as the rocks turned from gray to blue and shattered.

"It was then I searched for the magic to take revenge, and came across the dreaded Alicorn Amulet, which imbues both power and insanity. I marched straight to Ponyville to confront Twilight."

The image of a cloaked Trixie strided over to an image of Twilight, image Trixie's horn glowing with red.

"I did, and with the immense power of the amulet banished her, and proceeded to abuse the citizens here."

The lights spun to show Snips and Snails dragging a bed sat on by Trixie, her horn still glowing red. The real Trixie closed her eyes and breathed in slowly before continuing.

"What happened next is still laughably ironic. I, due to the power of the amulet, was the incredibly powerful unicorn, and Twilight became the show-pony. She bested me with my own talent. She sent a message to her friends and, with their help, tricked me into taking off the amulet."

The images showed Twilight wearing a green amulet standing up to Trixie, her horn glowing as smoke appeared in front of image Trixie every time Twilight's horn glowed, her friends switching places in the process. Trixie then took Twilight's amulet while taking off her own, the red in her horn suddenly fizzling out as an image of Rainbow Dash flew off with the Alicorn Amulet.

"And after it all? After I had made a fool of myself, came back with revenge, kicked her out, and abused her friends? What did she do?"

The images flashed and shifted to show a deeply apologetic Trixie bowing to Twilight, who regally gestured her to stand.

"She forgave me. And then, I left. As for what happened next?"

The images changed to a picture of Trixie laughing with a group of other ponies.

"I figured it out. I figured out why Twilight Sparkle had bested me both times. It was the magic of friendship, I now know. The magic of friendship, which Twilight extended to me despite it all. After that, I could finally perform again, and as I made friends, I found my magic to be far stronger than ever before."

The real Trixie proceeded to take off her hat with her hoof, and bowed towards Twilight, who shifted nervously at all the attention.

"So let it be known, citizens of Ponyville. Citizens of Equestria. It's all in good fun to boast once in a while, but real power, a power you can really call Great and Powerful, is that of friendship."

The lights from the show separated and shot into the air, exploding into more fireworks, now shaped as the faces of various smiling ponies. Trixie bowed once more, the now large audience, at least for Ponyville, stomping their hooves and smiling in approval.

"Thank you all, for witnessing the performance of the Great and Reformed Trixie!"

It looks like Trixie was forgiven not just by Twilight, but by the rest of Ponyville too. Friendship really is powerful, though I already knew that.

Fluttershy gulped.

But what can friendship do about this-this game? I really wish I knew.

Trixie stepped off her stage as the crowd continued to stomp and, with a small application of magic, sent her stage back into her cart. Twilight and Fluttershy walked over to her as the crowd began to dissipate.

"That was, uh," Twilight started, blushing a little. "I'm just happy I made such a positive influence."

Trixie invited Twilight into a hug, which she accepted.

"You have no idea, Twilight."

"Oh, I think I do. I was lonely once too until I discovered the magic of friendship. I mean, it didn't quite happen that way. But—" Twilight looked towards the ground. "—I can only wonder how it can work in this case. Let's go to Canterlot, girls. I need to see Celestia."

Trixie nodded. Fluttershy nodded as well, being just as lost, glad for some direction.

"Wh-wait! What about my animals?" Fluttershy softly interjected.

Spike then ran from the thinning crowd, hopping in front of Fluttershy.

"Me! I'll do it, Fluttershy! You can count on me! Oh, by the way Twilight, where were you last night? You never came home, with only Owlicious for company, and let me tell you, he's not exactly easy to talk to."

"Umm, I'm not sure—" Fluttershy replied, nervously looking in the direction of her cottage.

"—that should work, Spike, since you've taken care of them in the past," Twilight interrupted. "And I was over at Fluttershy's, helping to, uh, take care of her animals. Now, don't do it alone, though, make sure you talk to one of the girls for help as you need it."

"Right. So how long will you be gone, Twi?"

"I'm not sure, Spike. The three of us has some business to take care of, and it might be a while."

"The three of you? Trixie's going with you? And why don't you let me come with you if it's going to be a while?"

"We need you here, Spike, to hold down the fort and help take care of the animals. Consider this a top priority mission, Spike."

Spike stood up straighter and made a salute.

"You can count on me! Oh, uh, what was with that magazine you left on your desk, by the way? I didn't even know you read magazines. Something about Wet Mar—" Spike found his mouth zipped shut, a "mmph" sounding out as he attempted to continue.

"Not. Another. Word." Twilight scolded. Spike nodded, and his mouth was unzipped. Fluttershy and Trixie looked at each other, the latter shrugging, both unsure of what to make of the exchange. As Spike bounded off, Twilight turned to the other two.

"We should get ready. Meet here in two hours?"

Fluttershy started to question, before meekly lowering her head, deciding against questioning, despite the rush.

Spike ran back towards the three, a letter in one of his claws.

"Hey! This just came for you."

Shortly after Twilight yanked it from him with her magic, Spike bounded off again, his determination for his mission overriding his curiosity. Twilight's eyes darted back and forth, taking in the message. After a few seconds, she lowered the letter and looked at the two.

"It seems Celestia is sending us a chariot. She wants to see the three of us immediately. We still have two hours to prepare, though. Meet in front of the library, instead."

The other two nodded, one meekly, the other dutifully, and the three separated.

"And remember, Angel—"

"Yes, Fluttershy, yes, I know. I've taken care of them before, so don't worry. Besides, Angel loves me, isn't that right?"

Angel proceeded to stop on Spike's tail, eliciting a yelp from the surprised dragon. Fluttershy sighed, but smiled anyways.

"Well alright, Spike, I trust you. Just remember to ask help from the girls if you need it. Now for your efforts—" Fluttershy drew a large sapphire from her saddlebag. Spike's eyes widened and drool formed from his mouth as he watched the gem move towards him.

"Wow. Thanks, Fluttershy!"

Fluttershy scooped Spike up in a hug.

"Just don't be too distracted by the gem."

"Ah, don't worry. I know how to deal with my dragon greed."

Fluttershy, Twilight, and Trixie gathered in front of the library in time for a royal chariot to descend. The three of them each had saddlebags with essentials and some other items, prepared to be away for a while. Trixie left her cart with Applejack who, despite still being wary of Trixie, promised it would be safe in the shed. The two pegasi drivers waited professionally as the three climbed into the carriage, preparing to take off before being interrupted.

Rainbow Dash flew towards the group, stopping in front of the carriage.

"I saw the performance," Rainbow Dash said. "But I still don't trust Trixie. I want to go with you guys."

Twilight shook her head. "Sorry, Rainbow, but Celestia called for the three of us exclusively. I'm afraid you're going to have to stay here."

"But—"

"No buts, Rainbow. This is Celestia we're talking about."

Rainbow Dash sighed. "Fine. But Trixie, if you lay a hoof on Twilight, there is no escape from the fastest flier in Equestria. Got it?"

Trixie smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it."

Rainbow Dash nodded and flew off. As soon as she did, the pegasi drivers took off, the chilled air suddenly flowing against the group.

"So I really am going to see the Princess Celestia," Trixie commented as the chariot ascended. Twilight giggled.

"Don't worry. She's not really as impossibly imposing as you might think. She's really quite approachable."

"Easy for you to say. You're her student."

The countryside sped beneath them as the chariot flew closer towards Canterlot. Twilight quickly cast a sound dampener around the three and pulled a notepad out of her saddlebag. The pegasi drivers, busy with the flight, took no notice.

"We might as well go over all that we know about the situation so far," Twilight suggested. The other two nodded, Fluttershy hesitantly so.

"A deity declaring herself as Harmony, claiming to be the Goddess of Space and Time, has brought twelve beings into some sort of survival game, with the winner to be declared as her successor. All three of us are included, and each one involved possesses a Future Diary.

"Fluttershy, as First, has what I call the Cautious Caretaker Diary. It reports everything Fluttershy observes as frightening, as well as about the animals around. I, as Second, have what I call the Lesson Diary. It reports everything I learn outside of books. Trixie, as Third, has what I call the Magic Diary. It reports all the magic feats Trixie will perform.

"The three of us have decided to stick together, and are about to go see Celestia. After us, there is Swift Brick, as Fourth, who had what I'm just going to call the Murder Diary. I was only able to see a glimpse of it before it disappeared, but it seemed to detail his murders, showing who, how, when, and where they took place. He's now, well, out of the game.

"Beyond the first four, we know almost nothing of five through twelve. I have my suspicions about who Sixth and Eleventh are, but I don't want to lay down names until we're certain.

"Now, for plans, we're first going to see Celestia. It looks like the three of us will be receiving some training that we can use for self defense. That's, well, unfortunately as far as I know for certain. For now, we won't pursue any of the others. I don't know if we even want to participate in the first place except for self defense. Any questions?"

Fluttershy and Trixie shook their heads.

"Then let's go see Celestia."

Twilight released the sound dampener, the wind they continued to feel now having sound again as they flew off towards Canterlot.

The cool starry night shimmered as the chariot descended. The moon was especially bright tonight, illuminating Canterlot in all of its nighttime glory. The castle spires were awash in moonlight, and the city below twinkled with the lights of nighttime activities.

The chariot made its way down to the courtyard of the castle. A pair of Royal Guards awaited Fluttershy, Twilight, and Trixie as the three stepped off. Wordlessly, the five trotted into the castle and towards the throne room. The two guards stopped at the door, moving aside as the doors swung open. Warmer air greeted the three as they stepped into the presence of the two regal diarchs: Princess Celestia and Princess Luna.

Fluttershy and Trixie instantly bowed, while Twilight ran forward, embracing Celestia and smiling warmly towards Luna.

"It's good to see you two," Twilight said.

Trixie stared open mouthed at the exchange, her eyes practically asking why Twilight was still alive. Fluttershy, the only one to notice Trixie's expression, softly giggled.

Celestia replied, "As it is to see you, my most faithful student. I only wish it could be for lighter reasons."

Luna then spoke, "A pleasure to you too, Twilight Sparkle. I would love, as ponies say these days, a chat, but unfortunately the night court is about to start." Luna turned towards Celestia. "Sister, if you wish to avoid the night time nobles—"

Celestia nodded and turned to the three. "Follow me."

Celestia stepped off her throne, and made her way out of the throne room, Fluttershy, Twilight, and Trixie right behind her. Celestia lead the way through a couple hallways, finally stopping at a door emblazoned with her cutie mark. Nodding to the guards, Celestia opened the door and walked through, motioning the others to follow her.

The room contained an assortment of plush cushions, a number of paintings of various ponies, several bookshelves filled with books, and a desk with papers neatly stacked on top of it. Celestia sat down on the largest of the cushions, and motioned for the other three to sit as well.

Celestia closed her eyes for a brief few seconds, then reopened them and began to speak. "You might be wondering why I called you here so suddenly, but I'm sure at least one of you has figured it out. That is, I am, as Harmony has dubbed, Eleventh."