The Princess and the Beasts

Act I

“Spiiiiiiike!” Twilight rushed into the library and, slamming the door, she flew upstairs, where she was sure to find the dragon.

Once again her intuition hadn’t failed her; there Spike lay, curled up in his basket, snoring nonchalantly while Twilight was in dire need of his assistance.

Twilight stepped over to her bathroom and, on a whim, she turned on the water, let it form into a sphere via her magic and carefully levitated the precious cargo into her bedroom. As Twilight stood next to Spike once again, she floated the ball over his head.

Twilight grinned maniacally. “Wake up, Spike!” she yelled and, releasing her spell, she dropped the flood on Spike.

“Wha…what?! What’s going on??” Spike shot out of his now wet blanket and looked up at the alicorn standing next to him. “Oh, good morning, Twilight.”

“Seriously, Spike, with how often I have to wake you up like this I’m starting to think that you like it,” Twilight noted. “Now where was I? Ah, yes, do you know where my copy of Metamagical Spelltheory is? I thought I had given it to Pinkie Pie, but she wasn’t at home; I haven’t registered any checkouts either. It is of substantial significance that I find it.”

Spike thought for a few seconds, trying to remember who had last checked out a book like that. He nodded to himself, went over to Twilight’s bed and crouched under it. With flame for better view out and a quick movement of his claw later he crawled out, said book in hand.

The colour on Twilight’s face started to rival Big Mac’s coat.

“But, but… How did you do that?” Twilight stammered. “I’ve searched half the town for that book and you find it in five seconds.”

“Aww, Twilight, I’m not just your number one assistant because of my awesome looks. Professionals have their ways,” he said, a smug grin on his face. “I’ll be downstairs making breakfast. Want some?”

“Yeah, sure,” Twilight answered, still in utter disbelief. She placed the book on her desk and followed Spike to the kitchen. Being the good assistant he was, he had already prepared a mug of strong coffee for Twilight and was now whirling around to create a nice don’t be mad about freaking out for nothing omelette.

“What do you need that book for so desperately anyways?” Spike managed to ask while adding his secret spices to the dish. “I thought you had already read that one a long time ago.”

“That’s true, but recently I’ve had the feeling that there must be more to magic than just focussing energy and casting spells. I’m still at the beginning, but if I manage to explain the true workings behind magic I will be able to create a unified theory for both magical and metamagical phenomena.” Twilight was so lost in her fantasies that she barely noticed the omelette landing on her plate.

“Uh, that sounds important, but I think you better eat now, before you go on a research spree.” Spike directed Twilight’s attention at her meal and started munching on one of his gems.

“Right!” Twilight grinned sheepishly and took a big bite out of her homemade meal. “But after this I’ll go upstairs and I want you to keep every distraction away from me.”

“Roger, Twilight!” Spike saluted.

“Who’s Roger?” Twilight looked confused.

“Never mind,” Spike answered and continued eating a particularly tasty diamond.

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In the background the sun was slowly descending, bathing the sky in orange light, and leaving its place for the lights of Manehattan to shine.

A lonely azure mare in a slightly torn cape slowly pulled her trailer away from the fascinating scene into the darkness of imminent nightfall.

“Trixie is quite pleased with the income from that last show,” Trixie said, counting bits while walking. “It might finally be time to go back to where things have begun and do what must be done.” She opened one of her trailer’s windows and quickly threw the big bag of money in; after all a mare could never be too sure that there were no assailants waiting in the next bush trying to go after her hard earned bits. Although of course the great and powerful Trixie would have no problems dealing with them. For she was Trixie, conqueror of ursae, dragons and timberwolves, the unicorn who had looked into the depths of Tartarus and laughed at every abomination coming out of it.

“I should get a pack of timberwolves to perform with me on my next big event,” she said to herself. “Although that must wait until I’m done with this. For in a few days I shall be Trixie, conqueror of hearts.” She sighed happily and levitated a photo cut from a newspaper from inside her trailer. She hugged the picture and looked deeply into the eyes of Twilight during her coronation ceremony.

“She may not have invited Trixie, but during our last encounter Trixie definitely noticed the spark in her marvellous eyes; she knows it and Trixie knows it: we’re made for each other and there is no denying it.” Trixie kicked a stone into a nearby puddle and watched her reflection moving in the water. Her curly white mane, the radiating purple eyes, her flank, worthy of tales and legends. But she was getting distracted.

She accelerated her steps, because she needed to arrive in Ponyville before the moon was high in the sky or she would lose her chance to ask Twilight on a date for the following evening; her plans allowed for no delays. She had advertised her show in all of Equestria and she simply couldn’t let down her eagerly awaiting fans.

Trixie hummed happily, recalling all her previous shows. Because of imminent dangers like forests invading towns, gods of chaos rising and promises for eternal night, ponies went back to looking up at the tales of great heroes defeating beasts, saving the innocent and so on and so forth and Trixie happily delivered. So it occurred that, in reaction to those disasters, her shows flourished and had more spectators than ever.

After pulling her trailer across a river and pushing it up a steep hill, Trixie looked at the lights of Ponyville, shimmering far in the distance. Her target in plain sight, she mobilised her reserves of strength and went on pulling. Soon, her work would be rewarded; soon she would be able to let herself fall into a loving embrace.

Overjoyed, she started whistling a tune, ready to face anything life threw at her, knowing that somepony was waiting for her.

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“Your beauteous lavender form hath wrecked my heart, and since that day we first met—”“Could you stop trying to come up with lines, Luna?” Celestia tapped her hoof in annoyance.“But you know I can’t make any mistakes in this, sister. I have one chance and an eternal life-time to regret everything I do wrong. She’s seen enough of my bad side already; I want her to see the good too. Just the way she smiles every time our eyes meet, however brief it is, is just marvellous. I haven’t felt like this in a thousand years.” Luna sighed dreamily.“You’ve been on the moon for a thousand years,” Celestia remarked dryly.Luna blushed. “Regardless, I want her to get only the best and that’s why I can’t fail.” Luna paced around anxiously.“Don’t worry, Luna, there’s absolutely nothing that could go wrong with this.” Celestia was trying her best reassuring the younger alicorn. “Besides, even if things go wrong you’ll always have me to comfort you.”

Luna shivered at the prospect of lying in her bed, spotted with ice cream and crying into her sister’s mane. “At second thought, I might be able to make this work.”

Celestia noticed the reaction and poked Luna’s side. “Are buckets of ice cream and alcohol not good enough for the princess of the moon anymore?” she asked playfully.

Luna pushed Celestia’s hoof away, went over to her desk, picked up a scroll adorned by her royal seal and handed it to Celestia in a mock ceremonial manner. Celestia’s golden glow encompassed it and the scroll slid into her saddlebag.

“You just remember to send this off, or my wrath will be terrible,” Luna growled. Stopping her relentless pacing she started ransacking her wardrobe for clothes she would need for the special occasion.

Flying tiaras, horseshoes and dresses had Celestia take a few steps back. “Just remember what I told you and everything will go fine. She likes astronomy, books and magic; I’m sure you can find something to talk about.” Celestia dodged a platinum crown and, profiting from Luna’s sudden lack of ammunition, she approached her sister and dressed one of her alabaster wings over her in an attempt to calm her nerves.

The sudden warmth had the intended effect and, succumbing to the exertion, Luna dropped to the floor. Luna pulled herself up again, strode to her balcony door and stared into a far distance. Ripping herself from sombre thoughts she stepped back and turned her head to look into Celestia’s eyes. “I still can’t believe that you would be so kind as to allow me a rendez-vous with the most astounding mare in all of Equestria and I can’t thank you enough for it. I just fear that she will laugh at my plea, and then the whole town will point at me, call me names and I will eventually have enough of it, turn into Nightmare Moon, try to enslave the town and then you will have to banish me again and the moon is such boring place. I mean it’s my celestial body and I love visiting it once in a while, but I do also like being with our subjects and…” Luna’s rambling was ended by a hoof shoved into her mouth. “Shank you shishter.”

Celestia pulled her hoof out and after wiping it on Luna’s bed she glared at the dark blue mare. “I did not grant you permission for this so you could freak out over it. I’m sure that everything will be fine. You’ll go on a date, have some fun and if for any reason it doesn’t work out I’m sure it won’t have any world-ending consequences. Just go with it and you’ll be fine.” With that, Celestia turned, opened the door and left Luna to her preparations.

“Great, now I have to choose which things to take with me all by myself,” Luna grumbled. “Oh what the hay, I’ll end up on the moon anyways, no need for clothes up there.” She opened her balcony door and, launching forward, she spread her midnight-blue wings and flew off into the afternoon sun.

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Here we go, Trixie thought as she entered Ponyville. But first things first. She pulled her trailer to the nearby park and soon she found a nice secluded spot where she could leave it until later.

Freed of her heavy cargo, she started making her way in the approximative direction of the library; she had only been in this town twice after all.

As Trixie went further, she spotted the branches of her beloved alicorn’s majestic tree. Accelerating her steps, she passed closed shops, houses, trying not to draw anypony’s attention.

Finally she saw it: the wooden door to a realm whose wonders were soon to be shared with her. Only a few steps…

“Good evening, citizen,” a voice came from behind her.

“Who dare halt the great and powerful Trixie in her tracks?” Trixie snapped at the voice, while quickly turning around. Before her stood Princess Luna in full regalia, looking down at the smaller mare and grinning in anticipation of the usual reaction.

“It is I, Princess Luna of Equestria,” Luna said, mock bowing to Trixie.

The azure mare took a step back. “Trixie is truly sorry, Princess. She didn’t expect a guest of your magnitude to appear at this time of the day in a small town like this,” Trixie stuttered, blushing furiously.

“It is alright, little one, no one ever expects us to appear. ‘Tis quite amusing to see ponies tremble at our mere presence. Although rest assured that you have nothing to fear, lest your intentions are of evil nature.” Luna’s soothing voice reassured Trixie and at the mention of her trembling, she forced her legs to stop moving. “I am curious though, what business do you have at the library at this time of the day.”

Trixie ran a few thoughts and, after convincing herself that she could tell a princess about her plans, she started, “You might know that I have visited this town twice so far.”

Luna nodded.

“On every visit the newly crowned princess, Twilight Sparkle, has caught Trixie’s attention and Trixie is now here to conquer her heart, because she is the only pony that Trixie sees herself ever leading a life with. Twilight’s genius and Trixie’s greatness combined will grant both of us the power to make everything we touch gold.”

Luna was dazzled at the mare’s blunt manner to present things. She swiftly caught herself and, taking her best royal stance, she addressed Trixie, “Now it seems that fortune had us run into each other here in front of our common destination. It makes me sad to tell you though, that I as well am here to conquer the fair alicorn’s heart. For she was of unconditional kindness every time I met her and has filled my heart with joy. I claim my right as a princess to call dibs and ask you to step aside.”

Silence. Trixie took a step and positioned herself in front of the door. “No one, not even a princess will get between Trixie and her beloved,” Trixie bellowed.

Luna raised an eyebrow at her opponent’s surprising audacity.

“What’s going on out there?” came a soft call from inside the library.

The door sprung open and revealed a bedraggled lavender alicorn.

Both, Luna and Trixie jumped at the sudden appearance of their common interest and, rushing to her, they shouted in unison,

“Will you go on a date with me?”