Fireworks for a Princess

by Silent Strider

Rating: everyone
Tags: Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Trixie
Length: 1947

Trixie has just left Ponyville again, her self-esteem in tatters. Can Twilight help her recover?

Trixie lost her magic duel against Twilight and is on the run again, unsure of what to do from now on.

Twilight sees hope for the showmare and wants to help Trixie in regaining her self-esteem.

This is my contest entry for the Everfree NW 2014 Pre-Con Contest.

The story happens just after the episode Magic Duel.

Published 2014-03-04 19:50:04 UTC
Last updated 2014-03-04 19:50:04 UTC

Fireworks for a Princess

Great and Insightful journal,

Trixie still can’t understand what she was thinking! Princess Celestia herself enjoyed the fireworks, and Trixie just left Ponyville without claiming the credit for them! What is wrong with me?

… And why does it hurt so much to leave a town behind this time?

Excerpt from the Solar Journal

Twilight wrote today asking a question and a favor. She wanted to know if I liked the fireworks display shown at Ponyville during the visit by the Saddle Arabian delegates, and if I did like it to answer it truthfully if I was ever asked. I suspect she wants to help a wayward pupil of my school reclaim her lost confidence.

PS. Luna, I know you read my journal. Perhaps you would enjoy getting involved; she is the last scion of the Lulamoon family, and you always had a soft spot for the families that honored the night sky.

PPS. I would very much like to share a journal with you again. What do you say, sister?

Great and Insightful Journal,

Today Trixie dreamt of the glorious magic shows of old, but it was… different. Trixie didn’t boast, Trixie didn’t challenge and humiliate other ponies, but still everypony clopped their hooves loudly when the show ended. Trixie was praised, even though Trixie never attempted to claim the glory.

Perhaps Trixie… perhaps I should try to behave as in the dream. There is a town close, I can prepare a new show for tomorrow. And if it doesn’t work, it will be just another town for Trixie to leave behind.

Talking about leaving behind, just how far do pegasi control the weather around their towns? Today I saw that cyan mare from Ponyville flying above again.

Pinkie,

I need you to throw a party in the town Rainbow Dash marked on this map, but it needs to be a party that absolutely needs a magician and fireworks! I know you don’t like throwing incomplete parties, but I can guarantee you a magician will arrive in time.

Remember, don’t tell anypony be discreet this is a secret mission! Nopony may know you are involved.

Twilight Sparkle

PS. No, this note will not self-destruct when you finish reading, and you may not eat the note, or the map, to keep it a secret until after the mission is accomplished.

Great and Insightful Journal,

Trixie still doesn’t understand what happened, but it all worked so better than Trixie expected!

When Trixie arrived at the town there was a festival being organized, and the town desperately needed a magician and fireworks expert for the evening displays. They even had all the fireworks already, what was missing was just somepony that could turn mere fireworks into an unforgettable show. Somepony like Trixie!

Trixie - I mean, I couldn’t keep myself from boasting; it’s in my blood! But I did the rest like in my dream. I did my best to not humiliate anypony even when they deserved it for insulting Trixie, and everypony cheered me at the end.

I’m quite sure the yellow pegasus with butterflies on her flank I saw talking with the mayor is the same I saw in Ponyville. Is she spying on me, perhaps for Twilight? No, I must stop being paranoid. Twilight looked sincere when she forgave me.

Dear Rarity,

I know you are still angry at Trixie, but I really think she deserves a new chance. You are generous with everypony else, please be generous with her too.

I’m not asking for much, just a few choice words with your clients mentioning her shows since our duel, and that Princess Celestia enjoyed her fireworks display; from what I hear, Trixie isn’t challenging or humiliating other ponies anymore, and she is quite talented in her art, so I don’t think there will be any problems between her and your clients.

Sorry about not asking you directly, but my father had an accident. Nothing to be concerned about, but I had to leave for Canterlot in a hurry; I’ll be staying here for a couple days at least.

Your friend,
Twilight Sparkle.

PS. If you see Applejack, tell her that I’m only asking her to tell the most honest truth about Trixie, and that I did ask Princess Celestia directly if she had enjoyed the fireworks display. And tell Pinkie that I’m sorry I didn’t explain who the magician was earlier, but I didn’t want to make her Pinkie Promise not to tell anypony else.

My dearest Twilight,

Don’t you think it was a bit too low to invoke our elements, darling?

Don’t worry, we might still be angry at Trixie but we do believe in second chances.

Why, we are even going to make sure her next show happens, it will be just fabulous! Fluttershy’s animal friends found out where Trixie is headed next, and both Applejack and myself have business there, so we could use the trip.

And we do want to see how Trixie is doing. It’s not that we distrust you, darling, but we want to make sure she deserves our help.

Pinkie insisted in coming with us, but do tell us, why does she insist in coming disguised as Fluttershy? I tried asking Pinkie directly, but it only got me even more confused.

Rarity.

Spike, you have to stop Rarity before she leaves! I’ll explain when you find her, I’m with Princess Celestia right now, so just send a message when you stop her.

Sorry, Twilight, Rarity and the others have already left a few hours ago, and I don’t know where they went.

If you know where they are I can go after them.

Spike,

Thanks, but you don’t have to go. If they left hours ago, between the time to ask Fluttershy where they went and for you to reach them it should be too late anyway.

If the girls do get back, please tell them to wait for me. I’m going back to Ponyville tomorrow morning.

Twilight Sparkle.

TS

OUR COVER WAS BLOWN, OUR COVER WAS BLOWN!

PP

Great and Insightful Journal,

Trixie can’t believe it, Twilight was spying on Trixie all this time!

The show was just like the previous ones, Trixie was cheered, but then Trixie saw the “yellow pegasus”, the orange apple pony, and the white unicorn from Ponyville watching the show.

After the show ended Trixie went to ask them what they were doing here. They didn’t notice Trixie, and kept asking other ponies about what Trixie’s was doing. Trixie went up to them to ask why they were spying on Trixie, and the yellow pegasus removed her disguise’s head; it was the ten instruments pink pony all along!

Trixie is now going to Ponyville, and Twilight better have a very good explanation for why she was spying on Trixie.

To Twilight Sparkle,

The Great and Powerful Trixie challenges you to a magic duel as soon as you get back to Ponyville. If you lose you shall explain in full why you were spying on The Great and Powerful Trixie.

Your dragon assistant has the remaining details.

The Great and Powerful Trixie.

Dear Princess Celestia,

I’m afraid I have to report a failure in the study of the magic of friendship.

When Trixie asked for forgiveness I thought I would help her reclaim her self-esteem and her reputation.

My error was in not talking about this to anypony. Not my friends, not Trixie, and not even you. I thought I could arrange things to help Trixie without her noticing, knowing she, just like Applejack, doesn’t like asking for help.

Trixie, unfortunately, found out and challenged me to another magic duel. I tried to forfeit so I could explain everything to her, but she thought I was just setting some trap to humiliate her, and left angry.

I hurt her when I was just trying to help, and in doing so I failed you in my studies.

I hope you can forgive me.

Your faithful student,
Twilight Sparkle.

Faithful Twilight Sparkle,

Celestia has asked me to reassure you that your studies are only a failure if you don’t learn. As long as you learn from your mistakes, and never hurt others purposefully, you shall be forgiven.

Additionally, I can help you heal Trixie’s feelings. She will soon come to you with an order for yourself and the other element bearers; I ask you all to read between the lines and have fun.

Princess Luna

Our loyal subject Trixie Lulamoon,

It has come to our attention that a rumor is spreading regarding our approval of your fireworks display. While it’s true that Princess Celestia has seen such a display, provided in an impromptu manner, and found it acceptable, we feel that this matter would be better settled with a formally planned fireworks display.

We hereby invite Trixie Lulamoon to provide the fireworks for the reinstated Moonlight Festival, to be celebrated in Canterlot a week from now.

It has also come to our attention that Twilight Sparkle and her friends have allegedly spied on you. Pending a formal investigation, we hereby decree that Twilight and her friends shall work as your assistants during the Festival as their preliminary punishment.

Princess Luna
Princess Celestia

Great and Insightful Journal,

I was wrong about Twilight; all this time she only wanted to help me. I had let my paranoia get the better of me.

As we were preparing the fireworks for the festival Twilight and her friends cornered me; even though I lashed out at first, they bore with me and explained what had happened, asking for forgiveness.

While it was wrong of her to do so behind my back, I was also wrong in striking back without giving her a chance to explain herself.

We all forgave each other. I hope one day I can call them friends.

And then there is the Moonlight Festival! I still can’t believe Princess Luna put me in charge of the fireworks display, presenting my hoofwork in front of all the royals and the high society! I can’t thank her enough for this chance, my fortunes are sure to turn for the better now.

Excerpt from the Journal of Moon and Sun

It was a lovely fireworks display, and my sister’s strange plan did work. Seeing my student and her friends, including Luna, smiling happily took a weight out of my heart.

Celestia

Hey, you have to admit it was a good plan! And your plans are usually stranger and more convoluted anyway.

Luna

Author's Note

Feel free to criticize and point errors; I'm here to learn.
And please, if you downvote, point what you disliked either in a comment or a PM. I can't really improve if I'm not aware of where I fall short.