On The Wings of Wind

In a dark corner of Canterlot on a rainy night, a hooded pony snuck around seeking a shop hidden away from prying eyes. Finding and entering the target door, the shop happened to be a curio shop that's eager to sell anything curious or dangerous.

As the hooded pony rummaged, the shop keeper lit a candle to see his customer. "May I help you, traveler? I can see in your eyes something drew you into my shop. Something powerful, perhaps?" When the veiled pony pointed behind him, he saw the amulet in its own display case. "Ah, the Alicorn Amulet. A powerful magic relic capable of gifting the wearer the same strength as an Alicorn--"

There was a sharp *WHACK* and the cloaked pony fell down. Yamaha Strings stood behind the now unconscious pony with a flat glare. "I had a feeling you were out to get that particular relic. Apologies, Gleaning Glass, but this one won't be purchasing anything tonight."

"Ah, Agent Yamaha! No worries at all, I wasn't going to sell this particular item anyways!"

"You would have if this Unicorn had the proper mass of bits, which she did. Regardless, I've come to claim that relic and hide it away under orders from Princess Luna. Since I'm in a good mood, I'll give you this much to part with it." Strings throws a sack of bits onto the table.

Gleaning noted that, while not as much as what the Unicorn would've given for it, it was still a hefty amount. Plus the shopkeeper did owe the agent a favor for letting him continue running his shop. "The deal is done. A pleasure doing business once again, Agent Yamaha!"

"Indeed. Now to secure both this Unicorn and the artifact."

"T-Trixie knows nothing about an Alicorn Amulet!"

The hooded Unicorn turned out to be Trixie Lulamoon and, as Strings had surmised, was denying wanting the Alicorn Amulet. "Trixie Lulamoon, you do realize even my patience has limits. All you have to do is confess WHAT you were going to do with that relic. Also, you need to take lessons on bluffing because of all the culprits I interrogated, you're the fastest to spill the beans unknowingly."

"T-this is an outrage! The Great and Powerful Trixie should be in Ponyville taking revenge on that blasted Twilight Sparkle for ruining my career and reputation!" That outburst earned her the flattest look Strings has ever made. "Trixie refuses to tell you!"

"Right... anyways, you're under arrest for attempted possession of dangerous artifacts. Also, your Alicorn Amulet is securely locked away in a forbidden vault. Any attempts at 'retrieving' it will result in increasingly escalating punishments."

Trixie wanted to cry foul, but she couldn't come up with the words when she realized her life truly has hit rock-bottom. "To think... farming rocks wasn't the worst thing to happen to me..."

"Perspective, Ms. Lulamoon. You'd best appreciate it." While Trixie was in tears as she was escorted away to await her punishment, Strings was unaffected. He's seen it too many times to care, regardless if they are genuine or crocodile. With the Unicorn in custody, the Agent made his way to Princess Luna. "Your highness, retrieval of the Alicorn Amulet was successful, though I had to make an arrest at the same time."

"Hm, good work. That's one less potential avenue for corruption in our subjects." Luna had become well acquainted with the secret Agents under her sister's direct command. While one branch was dissolved some time ago after a Bugbear escaped Tartarus, the ones responsible for the more "unscrupulous" parts of pony society were still active. "What of the one you arrested?"

"Awaiting final judgement and her sentencing. Truthfully, I had caught her in the attempt at buying it, but she inadvertently confessed to wanting revenge on one Twilight Sparkle for ruining her reputation."

Luna frowned at the motive. "All that power... and that's all she wanted? Some of the ponies of today are... strange, to say the least. What of your assignment in Ponyville?"

Strings scrunched his muzzle at the question. "Mixed. My cover as a member of Three Night's Grace hasn't been blown yet, but my quarry remains elusive. In fact, I'm beginning to think they have left for greener pastures considering the ponies of Ponyville are too tight-knit to fall for their scams and drugs."

"There was that instance where some members tried to foalnap a Pegasus and her little sister for extra bits, but somepony rendered them capturable. Perhaps that was a contributing factor..."

"Perhaps, but I'll remain on site for the foreseeable future outside of other assignments to keep an eye on things."

Luna noted something in String's voice and smiled. "You like your band, don't you?"

"Is it that obvious?" Strings let out a sigh. "I've had many cover jobs over the years, yet music seems to ever call to me even as an agent. Perhaps, even when I stop being one, I'll still be part of a band." He coughs to clear his throat. "Regardless, any other outstanding assignments for me?"

"None. You may return to Ponyville tomorrow morning to continue your vigil."

As Princess Luna told, Strings was to head back to Ponyville to continue monitoring for criminal activity from shady organizations. What he wasn't expecting was to be roped in with a surprise assignment from Princess Celestia involving Trixie. As it turns out, because she never actually did the crime, she was sentenced to community service in Ponyville by the Sun Princess herself.

"Trixie wonders why it turned out like this. Not only are you my keeper, but going to Ponyville regardless..." The two were currently on the train, with Trixie clearly showing some resentment.

"I wonder the same, truthfully. Does her highness really think I have the time to babysit?" Strings was rather miffed about this particular assignment but orders were orders.

That remark earned a glare from the show-pony. "Maybe if you had let The Great and Powerful Trixie get that relic, you wouldn't be here!"

"You wish. For all I know, you would've tried to kill Princess Celestia's personal student out of petty revenge. And don't say you wouldn't have, the Alicorn Amulet is powerful but also corrupts the user with time."

"Trixie... wait, who's Princess Celestia's student?"

One facehoof later, Strings gives Trixie a flat look. "You really need to learn about ponies other than yourself. I'm talking about Twilight Sparkle!"

"W-what?! Why is she the one personally taught by the Princess when Trixie is clearly more--"

"There you go with your delusions again. Remind me WHY ponies think you're a fraud again?" Trixie didn't say anything as she pouted looking away.

After the train arrived, the two disembark with Trixie continuing to remain silent. Strings simply accepted it and brought out the instructions Princess Celestia had for the two of them. While many ponies looked at the duo, especially Trixie, with confusion and disregard, one in particular flew up to them. "Hey Strings. Finished up in Canterlot again?"

Trixie looks at the strange pony with curiosity as Strings nodded. "As per usual, Zephyr. Granted, my return isn't standard this time due to... specifics, but it'll be some time before I go back."

"I was about to ask who this is. She looks familiar..."

"You forgotten what The Great and Powerful Trixie looks... hmm come to think, Trixie hasn't seen you here before either."

"That's because Zephyr Windstorm moved in long after your initial 'incident' here in Ponyville."

The wording made Zephyr confused. "Initial incident?"

"Hey, what's Trixie doing back in Ponyville?!" Rainbow Dash landed next to her boyfriend while glaring at the show-pony, which was met in kind.

"Okay seriously, can somepony tell me what's going on?"

Rainbow let out a huff. "This show-off tried to pass herself off as a powerful and skilled magic user last time she was here. She was shown her place by Twilight when she lead an Ursa Minor to town to prove herself... forcing Twilight to fix her mess when she couldn't do it."

"You are incorrect about one detail, Ms. Dash." Strings, while disliking babysitting a fully grown mare, did want to set the record straight. "Trixie had no hoof in luring the Ursa Minor to town outside of maybe bragging about vanquishing one in the past. That was the result of two overzealous colts believing that luring one to town would allow them to prove she really was the 'best Unicorn in Equestria', as she so aptly put it."

"Wait... how did you know? Everypony would've been either asleep or indoors at the... oh, right." Rainbow remembered Strings' true job and promptly shut up.

Strings let out a cough. "Now if we're done dragging up the past, there's someplace we need to be."

Wondering what was going on behind the scenes, Zephyr nods. "We'll let you get to it. Good luck!" As the couple walk away, Zephyr gives Rainbow a flat look. "By the way, look who's calling who a show-off."

"Oh shut up." Rainbow looks away with a pout, only to blush when Zephyr pecks her on the cheek with a knowing grin.

Trixie saw the interaction and felt a pang of loneliness in her heart, having not interacted with anypony positively since she was labeled a fraud. Strings made sure to nudge her along. "Come on, we must get going. Our first stop is the Golden Oaks Library."

Trixie said nothing as she followed the agent, wondering what she could have done differently even before she attempted to buy the Alicorn Amulet. When the two entered, the Unicorn stopped dead in her tracks when she saw who was there. "Y-you?!"

"Oh? Hello, Trixie, been some time since you were last here!" Despite their past, Twilight greeted Trixie amiably with a smile. "What brings you back to Ponyville?"

Strings let out a low cough. "I can tell you if you want, Ms. Sparkle, but it must not leave this room."

Twilight nodded and, after Strings explained the situation, bore a sad look on her face. "Trixie... why would you go that far?"

"Because Trixie wanted revenge for the humiliation she suffered at your hooves! Do you know how hard life became after that?!"

"It's not like I WANTED that to be the outcome. Plus, using a dangerous relic to try and defeat me? I'm all for competition, but that's going too far!"

Trixie could hear the sadness in Twilight's voice, which confused her. "All for... competition?"

"You also have a talent in magic. You have so much potential, but you were wasting it on smoke and mirrors doing magic shows. The only reason why I never tried to go against you directly was because I was afraid my friends would hate me for my talent in magic."

"I believe that was partly because of Ms. Lulamoon's own display of arrogance made you uncertain of yourself." Strings made sure to put that out there.

"Part of it, yes. Even so, I would have loved to have a friendly rival who we could compare progress to. Before I moved to Ponyville... nopony ever saw me as me, only as personal student to Princess Celestia. It was to the point I... just started shunning them all.

"That's why seeing you like this makes me sad, Trixie. It reminds me of who I used to be and I don't want that for anypony." Twilight holds one of Trixie's hooves with a smile. "I just want you to become the best Unicorn you can!"

Seeing the Unicorn who would have the most reason to hate her outright saying she wants Trixie to be better brought the show-mare to tears. "I... I'm sorry. All this time I resented you... wanted REVENGE on you... and yet here you are treating me with undeserved kindness." Bowing her head for a moment, she brings it back up with a determined glare. "Trixie will return after she get stronger! And she'll do it through more honest means! Trixie promises that much!"

Strings, figuring Princess Celestia expected something like this to happen, cleared his throat. "I hate to be a killjoy, but you still need to serve your community service sentence first. You can worry about anything else afterwards."

"Ah, right. My assistant is out right now so I'll need some help keeping the library tidy. I'll worry about the actual organization, just make sure the floor isn't cluttered."

"The Great and Apologetic Trixie will do her best!"

Strings felt a presence watching them and snapped his eyes to the window. Despite seeing nothing, his guard was now up. Perhaps it was too optimistic of Princess Luna and I to think the organization left Ponyville...

After some time, Strings figured it was long enough working in the Library. "Alright, Ms. Lulamoon, you're done here. Your community service extends to more than just one job."

Trixie nods nervously, knowing that the rest of town will have a much different opinion of her than Twilight does. Twilight gives her a smile. "Don't worry, Trixie. Keep your head high and, if it's needed, apologize earnestly if you feel you're working for a pony you've wronged somehow."

"I... Trixie will do her best!"

Strings looks at the list again. "Next up is the farm, Sweet Apple Acres. You're already familiar with manual labor, but this won't be as bad as rock farming so don't worry."

Upon arrival, Applejack was a bit hesitant with Trixie but saw that the Unicorn was being earnest with wanting to fulfill her duties. Deciding to give her a chance, the farmer allowed her to use magic to assist with harvesting apples.

It turned out to be beneficial for both parties, Applejack getting a good head start on harvesting while Trixie was able to practice magic more. When Trixie apologized for her actions so long ago, Applejack told her that it wasn't her talent that upset her and her friends, but her relentless bragging. With Trixie being more humble, the farmer was more willing to forgive and forget.

The last item on the list for the day was helping at Sugar Cube Corner, which Pinkie twisted into a party for Trixie after seeing how much the Unicorn had been trying to improve herself. Despite the townsponies' uncertainty, the party went on without incident. Trixie even showed some downscaled tricks for the Cake Twins to entertain them.

Strings noted that the Carousel Boutique was the last item on the list, but chose to save it for tomorrow since he knew the Element of Generosity had the hardest feelings against Trixie. "You'll be staying at the Hay n' Stay Hotel tonight, so rest up for tomorrow."

"Trixie... had realized just how much she just wanted positive attention all this time after that party. But it had gotten so bad after her last visit to Ponyville she gave up and wanted to go full tilt into her negative reputation. Trixie... wonders if she really was about to do something horrible with that Amulet?"

"Hm, better a late realization than never. The corrupting power of the Amulet makes me say yes, you would have eventually done something horrible." Shaking his head, Strings motions towards the hotel. "Sleep well, your final stop tomorrow will test your newfound resolve the most." Trixie nodded as she headed inside to sleep. Strings stuck around for a bit longer in the waning light to make sure nothing untoward was going on before heading out as well.

When Strings went to retrieve his charge the next day, she was late getting out. "Hmm, was her wanting to change for the better a ruse? Or is she just being lazy?"

Deciding to check, he got Trixie's room number and went to visit with a staff member. Opening the door, they were met with a trashed room that the agent knew full well was the result of a scuffle. "Contact the local authorities and tell them a potential foalnapping occurred here!" To think I wasn't vigilant enough... damn it!

Exiting the hotel, he flagged down Zephyr, who saw the seriousness in his band member's face. "I just checked on Trixie and her room shows signs of a struggle. Somepony, or someone, foalnapped her, though the motive is unknown."

"I want to say you're joking, but you're the last pony to make jokes. Alright, I'll ask my friends if they can help rescue her. Any ideas on where she may have been taken?"

Strings thought for a moment. "You might not know the location yourself, but there's the abandoned lab that you were once contained in." The memory got a grimace from the Falconite. "I'll head there now, but I might need back-up depending on who or what is there."

"Got it!" Zephyr took off at high speeds as Strings made a beeline for the abandoned shack. His follow-up investigation of the place after the rescue made him aware of a set of stairs leading down as well. While the elevator might still work, it was a high-risk prospect.

Not long after entering, Strings immediately took down a few Earth Pony peons before they could raise the alarm. While none of the doors were powered and remained open, he had to take into account that any room could hold a good number of enemies. At least I know where they'll hold Ms. Lulamoon. In the same prison Zephyr was once held.

"We're under attack!"

"Tch, I'm losing my touch--" Strings quickly realized it wasn't him they were calling out. A ruckus was being made in another part of the lab, which drew peons away. "Hm, never mind. This'll make my job easier."

Making his way to the back room, he saw Trixie tied up, gagged, and with an anti-magic ring on her horn. The one hovering near her was the mare identified as the leader of this particular group. "Grr, you gave all my stallions and mares the slip, did you?"

"Perhaps, perhaps not. All I know is that you're releasing that mare and coming with us quietly."

That got a sinister chuckle from the leader. "I really don't think so. Turns out certain 'interests' want this mare for their own ends and are willing to pay top bits for her. However... don't force my hoof, or she might just bleed out on the floor."

"Hmph, you and your kind with hostages." Despite saying that, Strings knew he was at an impasse and he refused to risk Trixie's life. He doesn't have any particular feelings for her, but the day a pony wishing to redeem herself earnestly gets murdered on his watch is the day he turns in his badge in shame.

One mare made the decision easy as a streak of rainbow whizzed past Strings and right into the leader, knocking her out. "Like buck we'll let you get away with this!"

Trixie couldn't believe her eyes when she saw Rainbow Dash of all ponies come to her rescue. Followed up by Twilight Sparkle teleporting in and quickly securing her. "Trixie! Thank Celestia you're safe! We got Applejack and Pinkie Pie guarding the exit so none of these crooks can escape their arrest."

"T-Trixie is in shock! Y-you all came to help?"

Rainbow scoffed as she threw the unconscious leader towards Strings. "Of course. I'll be the first to admit that I can carry a grudge pretty well, but I'll eat my Wonderbolts posters if I let anypony trying to make themselves better suffer this!"

"Well... there's Rainbow's reason, but I came to rescue you because you're my friend!" Twilight undoes the ropes and removes the anti-magic ring with a gentle smile. Trixie's eyes welled up at the sight.

"While you girls probably would have come to help because Zephyr asked you to, it is good to see that there's little to no hard feelings over what happened in the past."

That got a snort of laughter from Rainbow. "Way to ruin the mood, Strings."

"It's what I do best. By the way, where IS Zephyr?"

"He went to Canterlot to bring a contingent of Royal Soldiers to help aid in any mass arrests." Twilight put one of Trixie's forehooves over her shoulders to give the show-mare some support. "Since we didn't know how big this organization was, he felt it was better safe than sorry to go for reinforcements."

"Good call. Let's round them up and prepare to hoof them over."

With the Royal Soldiers involved, making the arrests was easy. The leader was still unconscious due to how hard Rainbow had hit her, though Strings knew she'll be throwing a hissy fit once she's awake. Once that business was over, everypony left the area except Twilight, Strings, and Trixie.

Strings decided to make an executive decision. "Trixie, you've gone through enough today. You're free to spend the rest of the day doing whatever you--"

"No, Trixie will finish her community service punishment. If she don't, she's afraid of losing what she worked so hard to gain yesterday."

Twilight shot her new friend a worried look. "Nopony will look down on you for taking it easy after something like THAT!"

"Even so..."

"Very well." Strings admired Trixie's drive for self-improvement and decided to honor her determination. "The only thing left for your community service is Carousel Boutique. Once the proprietress is satisfied with your work, you'll be set free."

"Trixie will do her best!"

Upon arrival at the Boutique, Rarity greeted the show-mare with a warm smile. "Ah, the mare of the hour! Do come in, I have an idea for what you can help me with!"

Trixie was confused as to why Rarity was treating her so nicely. "Trixie is wondering why you're not hating her for--"

"Certainly that was a bad day for me, but upon retrospect I wasn't really helping matters. Plus... ah, never mind. Mind being my assistant for a while?" Strings silently scolded himself for not giving Rarity enough credit.

While being an assistant wasn't her only job-- she modeled a bit as well --Trixie helped Rarity with keeping her materials and tools organized and at the ready. Unbeknownst to her, Trixie was showing a similar amount of magical control Rarity had, something the fashionista honed in on very quickly.

"Alright, darling, that'll be all." Rarity had gotten enough of a feel for the new Trixie to know the show-mare was genuine about wanting to improve.

"Trixie... found this kind of work enjoyable."

That got a giggle from Rarity. "A Unicorn like yourself would feel right at home in environments like this. While I'm convinced of your drive to improve, perhaps you can tell me something about yourself that you're already good with?"

The question blindsided Trixie as she looked stumped. "Trixie's... good with tricks and menial tasks?"

"You have good control over your magic, darling. Comparing yourself to Twilight is unfair to yourself, Trixie, because it's comparing apples to oranges." Rarity thought for a moment before coming up with a good analogy. "Twilight's magic talent is akin to ice, in a manner of speaking: powerful, but rigid without changing its state. Your magic is closer to water: not as strong on its own, but with a greater degree of flexibility!"

Strings raised an eyebrow at the analogy. "More like comparing apples to pears, but I agree. And just like Twilight changing ice to water for more control, you have the potential to change water to ice for more power. All you need is an earnest effort towards practice."

"Trixie... never thought of it that way..."

"Regardless, your community service is done. One last thing before I set you free, which will require you to come with me to the outskirts."

Trixie followed Strings and was shocked to find the wagon that she used as her mobile home in pristine condition. "You... cleaned Trixie's home?"

"More like rebuilt." Applejack came from behind the wagon with her friends with a smile. "We saw how hard you were working and figured renovating yer' wagon would be a good way to show our thanks!"

Twilight trots up to Trixie with her own smile. "Don't be a stranger, Trixie! Next time you come to Ponyville, I'll be more than happy to have a proper duel with you!"

"I... Trixie will remember that! And she wants to thank you all for your forgiveness..."

Rainbow smirked. "Just be sure not to brag too much in the future if it happens. Trust me, I know that lesson by heart."

"Probably because it was your boyfriend who helped teach it to you!" Pinkie unintentionally embarrassed her friend by saying that. Everypony, sans Strings who rolled his eyes, laughed at that.

"Very well, The Great and Apologetic Trixie will take that lesson to heart! Farewell, everypony! The next time we meet, it'll be as equals... as friends!"

As everypony waved Trixie off on her new journey, Strings slowly started feeling a sense of pride for the Unicorn. Princess Celestia... was this whole thing meant as a lesson for me as well? That I shouldn't just... close myself off from everypony else for the sake of my duties?