Trixie's Redemption

Trixie awoke to the smell of fruit. Groggily, she opened her eyes and cleared her throat, blinking and fixing her vision as she looked around. The room was full of food. Plates covered almost every surface, ranging from fruit to full meals sprawled across the bed and tables. As she looked around, a deep-blue mare sat at the end of the bed. A sudden double take confirmed her thoughts. "Luna...this won't make me forgive you" she said to the alicorn perched at the foot of the bed.

The princess quickly lost the smile she had proudly worn, and lowered her head slightly."Listen, we...I know this won't make it all better, but I do not want you to feel as you were...not ever again. I am very sorry for what I did..." She looked away as Trixie kept her eyes on the alicorn.

Shyly, the unicorn picked up a piece of grilled fruit from a plate near her, and softly popped it into her mouth, quietly, emitting a light "mmm". "I...um, I suppose you didn't mean it...I guess I cant hold a grudge." She lightly smiled, looking at Luna with as much forgiveness she could give with just a stare. Luna grinned some, sheepishly nodding.

As the two finished breakfast and the many leftovers were gathered and dealt with, the two started towards the library. Luna was about to enter the archway before stopping promptly and emitting a quiet curse."Damn it. Trixie, I would love for you to learn under my guidance this afternoon, but Celestia spoke to me this morning and told me that she needed my assistance on royal matters...matters I am not allowed to disclose. I have asked a dear friend of mine to help me in instructing you. She is not very magically gifted, but she is good at teaching in general, so she will be able to instruct you on a more...theoretical way. She should be reading up on magic in the library now."

The alicorn politely nodded, excusing herself to Celestia a few rooms away. As Trixie entered the room, a grey mare with a purple Treble Clef (musical note) as a cutie mark was reading to herself about basic magic. She flipped her black mane back, gazing at the unicorn as her eyes switched focus to the mare. "Ah, Trixie, is it?" She spoke in a eloquent, but short tone. It was clear she was good at whatever musical talent she had chosen (obvious due to her cutie mark) and wasn't one for excuses. She looked sternly at Trixie as she entered and immediately began speaking as the blue unicorn sat. "I am Octavia, and today I am going to assign you a task that requires a bit more skill than lifting water" she said with a smug sense of superiority."I did not become one of the best cello players in Equestria by learning and reaching simple goals. I am well aware that your over-confidence had once made you think that you could achieve the impossible, but that is what we shall do. You WILL learn advanced spells and you WILL succeed, but instead of flash and charm, your talents will speak for you...now choose a spell from this book and let us begin." She threw a large encyclopedia-sized book at the mare, who fell back as she grabbed it.

"Well...I think...um...THIS ONE!" Trixie yelled excitedly after a minute of thinking. She held up the book and showed Octavia the spell she planed to undertake.

"Really? Interesting. I've personally never seen this one before...it shall be interesting." Octavia said as she read the summary. "Mistaken identity. Hmm. The ability to change change a pony, regardless of type (earth,pegasi, or unicorn), to another type of pony. WARNING, does not allow them to become alicorns, and can be changed back at any time." Octavia thought for a moment."This is very advanced stuff Trixie...are you sure your ready for it? If not...there are other~"

Instead of answering, the blue unicorn was off on the other side of the room, her muzzle pressed to an "Alteration for Quick Learners" book. Octavia sighed with a mild smile as she exited the room, blurting out "Oh, and that is forbidden magic...so don't use it without Luna's say so."

Another week had passed, and yet again, Trixie was positive she had perfected her craft. She happily bounced to Octavia, who was in the music hall, when she was stopped by the sound of a cello. As she entered, she realized it was Octavia who was playing. The grey earth pony came to a quick stop as she heard Trixie enter, and quickly rushed to the unicorn. "lovely, your here. Now...let's go, Luna and Celestia are waiting in Ponyville and I will not make them wait."

Trixie went stiff as Octavia spoke of Ponyville, then weakly trailed behind the mare, weakly whimpering as she hid her desire to refuse her teacher. She was deathly afraid of showing her face in that village, but refusing her teacher and disappointing Luna and Celestia would be worse, and she knew that. As the two entered the teleportation hub, Trixie let out a single gulp before the two were teleported to a field just south of Ponyville. As Trixie looked around, she noticed it was far enough away to be free of many of the ponies who had mocked her performance just a month ago. She let out a sigh as she looked and quickly spotted the two princess' sitting atop a large set of bleachers, alone. This confused the unicorn. Hmm...a test of Luna's pupal, and no one is watching? And seating is for at least a hundred. Something is very, very wrong here.

"Princess Luna and Princess Celestia" Octavia called out,"today, Trixie shall wow us all with an amazing performance. Because this is Luna's student and protegee, I deemed it necessary to have her learn a very powerful, very dangerous spell, Mis-TAKEN Identity. With the Princess' approval, she will show us her magical talent." To this, both alicorns gave a light smile and nod, standing tall in the white bleachers, a pillow protecting their precious flanks. As Octavia finished, she walked to Trixie and nodded."Alright Trix, your up...show them what you can do."

"B...but Octavia, I have nopony to use the spell on." Trixie blushed lightly as her stomach knotted.

"Yes you do...it's me. Make me into a unicorn, I trust your skill." Octavia sighed lightly as she took a seat a few feet from the cyan unicorn. A powerful poker-face was the only expression she gave as she stood at attention. Trixie hastily placed a few rocks behind her hind hooves as if ready to begin a sprint, then lit her horn up and braced herself. It was a tasking spell, but nothing she wasn't prepared for. As the power shot from her horn in a blue burst, changing into a stream as it collided with the grey mare, Trixie yelped. Octavia was still as the magic worked its way up the mare's form, making her shiver slightly.

Suddenly, a rush of hooves almost deafened her as Trixie looked right, her horn still pointed forward. Every pony in Ponyville, ground based and pegasi alike, flooded in. The earth ponies quickly filled the stands and the Pegasi rushed to push a cloud to a good point in order to watch. "Citizens of Ponyville" Celestia said as she stood and slowly descended the seating area,"this is Trixie...or as you know her, The Great and Powerful Trixie. She has made a mockery of your town before and now seeks to impress you. What do you all think about that?"

The crowd was furious, booing her almost instantly as Celestia finished speaking, Luna's mouth open lightly as she was dumbstruck that her sister would do such a thing. Trixie was hit hard with both guilt and shame. She was embarrassed as the ponies yelled and cheered her imminent failure, chanting "Blank flank" as loud as they could. Trixie slowly lost her will, the words hitting her hard and making her slip lower and lower to the ground. Tears began welling in her eyes as she soon gave up, the magic cutting off and leaving Octavia a regular earth pony. Trixie shivered lightly as her tears bountifully hit the grass, soon making a puddle that the ground refused to absorb. Octavia was next to the unicorn in an instant, lifting her into a hug and cooing soft tones to calm the crying mare. All except for Twilight, who had arrived as soon as the booing began, Luna, who was slowly heading towards Trixie, and Celestia, who simply sat still and looked at the retreating audience, remained."Hmm...your pupal has much to learn" Celestia said with a cold voice."She will have to be punished for her...failure."

"Sister...how could you? It has been not even a month and you toss my student into the manticore den? This is low for you..." Luna said, slightly disgusted as she looked to her sobbing protegee.

"Luna, need I remind you what you had told me when Trixie first came to Canterlot Hospital? It was very clear that I test her as I pleased while following your guidelines, sister. You said to judge the event...and I simply added variables. She is not ready to be a student...she needs training. Twilight?" Celestia looked over at the bleachers, nodding at the purple unicorn to approach. Twilight was upset greatly from the display, a light sniffle rose as she sat in front of the white alicorn."Twilight, my wonderful student...it seems Trixie is not yet ready to be a proper student. She needs more training...and you will be the mare to do it." Both unicorns went wide-eyed, staring at Celestia."You shall teach her, and report and positive findings to me."

"Y...yes princess....of course." Twilight quietly went to Trixie, helping her to her hooves and placing one of Trixie's hooves around her shoulders, helping the unicorn keep balance as they made there way to Twilight's home.

"Um...Princess...that was very harsh...even for me" Octavia blurted out as she wiped her tears away.

"Sometimes...a pony needs harsh lessons. Trust me."

As the two made there way inside of the library, Trixie was panting lighter, able to move on her own as Twilight made her way upstairs with the unicorn. "Um...Trixie...about the magic Luna used...I'm not mad or anything...I'm actually...flattered that you would think so highly of me." She smiled lightly, helping Trixie into her own bed and levitating the covers on.

Spike, almost instinctively burst open the door to the library and upstairs, coming to a quick halt as she saw Trixie."Hey...what's she doing here? I was at Rarity's when I head noise and grumbles about her. Why is she back here, wasn't she laughed outta town a month ago?"

"SPIKE! Is there a reason your up here?" Twilight said harshly.

"Geez, sorry, didn't know you care so much about...wait...were you two..." Spike takes his claws and holds out two fingers on each hand, roughly connecting them so they slip into each other perfectly. He makes a small grin as he slams the digets against each other roughly.

"SPIKE!!!"

"Sorry...Celestia sent you a note...and said it was for 'her' eyes only" he blurts out, jabbing a finger to Trixie who was both wide-eyed and blushing as she watched Spike's finger performance."And by the way...Twi...you could do better..." He bagain to speak again before he was flung down the staircase with a well placed kick with both of Twilight's hind hooves.

Trixie ignored the possible domestic abuse case and went on to reading the note. Dear Trixie, I am well aware that you have much potential, and are more than capable of overcoming problems. I am also well aware of your attraction to my student. Please, for your sake, try to study while winning her over. This is almost like an apology for my sister's actions After reading this note, it will burst into flames. I will be seeing you soon, good luck and...have fun, Princess Celestia. PS, the note is now over. As she reads "over", the parchment instantly caught on fire and disintegrated into the wind.

"Um...Trixie, you should get some rest out after that spell you performed. Oh...and before I forget...I think this is yours." Twilight lightly floats a box onto the mare's legs, opening it and laying the cape out, completely mended and fixed except for a small tear at the corner."It...it was nearly gone when your caravan was crushed, but I wanted to make it better...kind of like a 'I'm sorry I indirectly caused you harm from fleeing the city' gift." Trixie gave a smile as she examined the cape, her eyes glistening as she took the cape into her front hooves, laying back and letting out a quiet sigh.

"T...thank you Twilight...you don't know how much I love it..." Trixie then closed her eyes and quickly fell asleep, hearts filling her dreams as a picture of Twilight flooded her subconscious.