The Three Princess Rejects

For the first time Sprinklejinx was in Canterlot. Ponies walked the streets in dresses and tuxes. She gazed up at the gigantic castle in front of her. It made her apartment back in Fillydelphia look like an anthill. Luna and Celestia were waiting for them at the door.

“There you are. Come inside.” Princess Celestia said.

“Let us show you our students.” Luna said.

“This is my most faithful student, Sunset Shimmer.” Celestia said pointing her hoof at the unicorn with the red and yellow mane. “And this is my sister’s student, Trixie.” Celestia added.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie.” Trixie said correcting the princess.

“Why don’t you two show Sprinklejinx a few spells you learned?” Cadence said.

“Check this out!” Trixie said. She tossed her hat in the air with her teeth. Before the hat fell on her she made a barrier around herself. She then used her magic to make a duplicate of herself. Trixie used her magic to make a cloud of smoke. She morphed the cloud into the shape of a star. Each time a beam of light bounced off her horn the cloud changed colors. She ended her act with a cluster of fireworks.

“Let me show you how it’s done.” Sunset Shimmer said. Sunset Shimmer turned herself invisible. Then she used a gravity spell to make her walk on walls. Then she put a spell on an apple to make it taste like an oats. “Alright, Jinx. Let’s see what you got.” Sunset Shimmer said. Sprinklejinx swallowed a lump in her throat. The princesses waited patiently for Sprinklejinx to begin. Sprinklejinx’s horn shined briefly. She levitated a tea pot into the air. It teetered from side to side. She tilted it in front of a cup. She nearly spilled tea on their fancy table cloth. She poured the tea into the cup. Trixie laughed.

“Do you really think she has what it takes?” Celestia whispered to Cadence.

“That’s it? I could do better than that.” Trixie said unimpressed by her magical ability. Sunset Shimmer yawned.

“I am very disappointed in you.” Celestia said looking down at the fillies. Sprinlejinx’s horn glowed brighter. She tried her best to fight it.

“No! Not again! Not now. Stay away from me.” Jinx said feeling her own magic taking over her.

“What’s happening?” Luna asks.

“Sprinklejinx! Calm down.” Cadence said.

“I can’t control it!” Sprinklejinx screamed. A tree collapsed on top of the roof. The branches landed into the castle. The tea pot went sailing into the air spilling on Luna. It hit the floor and shattered. The princesses looked at each other and gasped. “I’m sorry! I didn’t mean to.” Sprinklejinx said.

“We know.” Celestia said.

“I just wanted to be good enough. I just wanted to make you proud.” Sprinklejinx said.

“I said I was disappointed in Trixie’s behavior. Not you.” Celestia said.

“We didn’t expect you to know all of those spells. It took weeks for them to master those spells. You didn’t flunk the entrance exam. You got a C+. That’s still passing.” Cadence said.

“I got an A on mine.” Trixie bragged.

“So did I.” Sunset Shimmer said.

“That power can cause a lot of danger.” Luna said.

“That’s why we should train her as soon as possible.” Cadence said giving her a spell book. After Sprinklejinx told her family the good news, they bought her a carrot cake. Normally, her family would eat grass to save money. On special occasions they might have oats, carrots, or apples. Carrots were always her favorite. After they were done celebrating, Dice helped Sprinklejinx practice her magic. They tossed around a paper airplane made out of an old newspaper back and forth. He taught her how to change its shape. After they were done, she solved the cross word puzzles. Even if Sprinklejinx and Dice didn’t have very many toys, they always had ways to amuse themselves.

After a week of training, Sprinklejinx didn’t have a single magical meltdown. It was finally time for her to try new spells instead of learning to prevent her bad luck spell.

“Are you ready to go?" Princess Cadence asked smiling at Sprinklejinx.

"I sure am." Sprinklejinx said trying to hide her panting.

"Good. Then let's go." Princess Cadence said teleporting them to the castle.

"I wish I could teleport." Sprinklejinx said.

"One day you will, Jinx. So have you been reading your new book?" Princess Cadence asked.

"Uh, yeah." Sprinklejinx said nervously.

"How far have you gotten?" Princess Cadence asked.

"Well... I only read up to chapter four." Sprinklejinx said.

"Four chapters? That’s not too bad. " Princess Cadence said seeming a bit surprised by her student’s progress.

"So what are we going to do today?" Sprinklejinx asked anxiously. She wanted to show her everything she learned.

"How about you show me your breathing techniques." Princess Cadence said. She read in the book that it is easier to use magic when you breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. She hasn't tried to do it yet. Princes Cadence levitated a pile of books.

"I can't levitate all that." Sprinklejinx said.

"We'll start off with one and then I'll gradually add more. Don't worry. Just do your best." Princess Cadence said.

Sprinklejinx’s horn flickered. She took a deep breath through her nostrils. Her horn glowed even brighter than before. The book slowly raised into midair. It teetered from side to side.

"I did it?!" She whispered.

"Sprinklejinx, focus." Princess Cadence whispered.

"Sorry." Sprinklejinx said looking back at the book. She added another one to the pile. The two books lowered for a split second and returned to its position. She regained the pattern of the breathing technique. The stress in her head is slightly relieved.

"Hmm..." Princes Cadence mumbled to herself. She added another book to the stack.

The weight was finally dragging her magic down.

"Stay up. Stay up. Stay up." She whispered closing her eyes tightly.

"In through the nose. Out through the mouth." Princess Cadence said calmly.

"Nice form." Princess Celestia said from behind Sprinklejinx. She panicked and all the books fall like rain. Princess Celestia levitated them before they hit the marble floor.

"Oops! I'm sorry." Sprinklejinx gasped.

"I didn't mean to interrupt. I just wanted to have a little word with Cadence and Luna alone." Princess Celestia said.

"Alright. Maybe Trixie and Sunset Shimmer can give you a couple pointers while you’re waiting." Princess Cadence said.

"She'll be right back." Princess Celestia said leading Princess Cadence out of the room. Trixie and Sunset Shimmer entered the room.

"You know what's going on, don't you?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"What do you mean?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"The princesses are having a meeting right after the final princess found her student." Sunset Shimmer said trying to give me a hint.

"So what?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"So they're probably picking the pony who will be the next princess." Sunset Shimmer said.

"Don't be ridiculous. They're not going to pick the princess now. We're too little to be given that much responsibility." Sprinklejinx said.

"If they are choosing one it's obvious that The Great and Powerful Trixie would be the most qualified." Trixie gloated.

"Of course." Sprinklejinx said dryly as she rolled my eyes.

"I have just as much of a chance of being the new princess as you." Sunset Shimmer protested.

"You? Well may I remind you who scored highest on the last test? That's right, The Great and Powerful Trixie." Trixie bragged.

"May I remind you who's teacher got banished to the moon?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"Maybe they'll make all of us princesses." Sprinklejinx suggested.

"You? A princess? Look at your flank. Now look at our cutie marks. What do you notice?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"They have similar symbols to Princess Celestia and Luna?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"Hmph! I guess you're not as stupid as you look." Trixie said.

"You have no cutie mark. You aren’t even full unicorn. Your father is an earth pony.” Sunset Shimmer said.

"Maybe we'll be the next ponies to raise the sun and the moon." Trixie added.

"Well they have to pick one of us sooner or later." Sunset Shimmer said.

"Which is why The Great and Powerful Trixie is going to prove to them that I'm better than the two of you combined." Trixie boasted.

"How are you going to do that?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"I'm going to take down an Ursa Major, of course." Trixie said confidently.

The worst part about it was that she looked dead serious. Sprinklejinx laughed hysterically.

"What's so funny, Sprinklejinx?" She asked.

"That thing would eat you in one bite. You wouldn't last ten seconds in that cage." Sprinklejinx said.

"You dare to belittle The Great and Powerful Trixie?" Trixie said.

"I'm not belittling any pony. I'm just stating a fact." Sprinklejinx said.

"I bet that Ursa Major would kick your sorry flank." Sunset Shimmer said.

"How much do you want to bet?" Trixie said.

"Whoever loses has to do whatever the winner says for a whole week." Sunset Shimmer said spitting on her hoof.

"It's a deal." Trixie said spitting on her hoof and pressing it against Sunset Shimmer's hoof.

"You're all crazy." Sprinklejinx said spitting on my hoof and joining in. The three filles went down into the dark dungeon.

"How are we going to get the key?" Sunset Shimmer whispered?

"I don't think this is a good idea." Sprinklejinx whispered.

"Relax, The Great and Powerful Trixie has this all under control. I'm going to take that key from the guard who comes in to feed the monsters." Trixie said pointing her hoof at a Pegasus stallion. He scooped up a pile of ground meat and dumped it into one of the cages. Since the Ursa Minor is the last cage in the dungeon that means he hasn't eaten since last night. So Trixie was about to go inside a cage with a hungry Ursa Minor inside. He had a key hooked onto his belt. Trixie's horn glowed brightly. The guard fell fast asleep on the floor.

"We're going to get in trouble." Sprinklejinx whispered.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie never backs away from a challenge." Trixie said.

"This isn't a challenge. It's suicide." Sprinklejinx said.

"The Ursa Major is no match for the most powerful unicorn in all of Equestria." Trixie said.

"You're not the most powerful unicorn! You're seven years old." Sprinklejinx snapped.

"Don't you want to see Trixie go head to head with an Ursa Major?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

Sprinklejinx really wanted to watch all the action happen. It would be really exciting to see Trixie get maimed by and Ursa Major, but this was dangerous.

"Give me the key." Trixie said to Sunset Shimmer.

"Here you go." Sunset Shimmer said levitating the key to Trixie.

"Wait! Stop!" Sprinklejinx shouted.

"What now, Jinx?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"If you open the cage the guard can get eaten. He's just laying there like a sitting duck." Sprinklejinx said.

"Hurry up and get him out of here." Trixie ordered. Sprinklejinx took the shovel out of his snoring mouth and tried to drag him up the stairs. He is nearly twice her size.

"This is taking too long." Sunset Shimmer said. Trixie unlocked the cage and closed herself inside. She put a spell on the ground to make it slippery. The glare of her horn woke up the beast. The Ursa Minor roared ferociously. He swatted at her with his giant claws. At the last second Trixie ducked. He knocked her hat right off her head. If she didn't duck her head would have came clean off. The Ursa Minor got up on his hind legs and bared his sharp teeth. Trixie shrieked and bolted out of the cage. The Ursa Minor slipped on the ground. Sunset Shimmer quickly slams shuts the door behind her.

"That was so close!" Trixie said hyperventilating a little bit. Her eyes were opened up as wide as her eyelids would allow.

"Are you okay?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"I think so." Trixie said.

"Are you crazy? You could have died." Sprinklejinx groaned.

"I told you you couldn't do it." Sunset Shimmer said.

Trixie ignored her scornful remark. Trixie was trembling like a leaf.

"Now is not the time for that, Shimmer. She almost got eaten alive by and Ursa Major." Sprinklejinx scolded. Trixie was cocky and deserved to be proven wrong,but that didn't justify Sunset Shimmer rubbing it in her face.

"So what are you going to do about your hat?" Sprinklejinx asked looking back at the cage.

"M-my hat?!" Trixie stuttered putting her hooves over her head.

"It's gone. What am I going to do?" Trixie said frantically.

"Who cares? Your parents can buy you a new hat." Sprinklejinx said. Trixie's parents, like most ponies in Canterlot, have more than enough money to get by.

"That's not the point. If the princesses see the hat they'll know she went in there." Sunset Shimmer worried.

"And if Luna finds out she'll get mad at me." Trixie said.

"She'll get over it. It's not like you did any serious damage." Sprinklejinx said.

"Do you know what happens when Luna gets angry?" Sunset Shimmer asked.

"She'll turn into Night Mare Moon and Princess Celestia will have to banish her into the moon for another thousand years!" Trixie said.

"Oh, no! We have to get that hat back." Sprinklejinx said.

"There's no way I'm going back in there." Trixie said.

"We have to." Sunset Shimmer said.

"Can't we just put the Ursa Major to sleep, walk in, and take the hat?" Sprinklejinx asked.

"He might be too powerful. But I'll give it a shot." Sunset Shimmer replied.

Her horn flashed. The Ursa Minor curled up into a ball and yawned. He closes his drowsy eyes.

"That should do it" Trixie whispered.

"Now all we have to do is levitate the hat." Sprinklejinx said.

"The glare from our horns might wake it up." Sunset Shimmer said.

Sprinklejinx and Trixie could hardly hear her over the beast's deep snoring. The cell door creaked open. Sprinklejinx cringed. The Ursa Minor didn't seem to stir. Sprinklejinx swallowed a lump in her throat and creeped slowly towards the hat. She held her breath and tried not to make a sound. She snatched the hat with my teeth. "Got it!" Jinx whispered to the two fillies behind her.

"Shhh!" Trixie said putting a hoof over her mouth.

As they crept back out of the cell, Sunset Shimmer's long wavy tail brushed up against the Ursa Minor's nose. He sneezed loudly startling the three of them. They all screamed in unison galloping out of the cage. The Ursa Minor came barreling after them.

"Hurry!" Sunset Shimmer screamed.

"Help us!" Trixie yelled. She skidded to a halt.

"I have an idea." Trixie said. Trixie teleported out of the room. Sunset Shimmer was about to do the same.

"Wait! I can't teleport!" Sprinlejinx pleaded. Sunset Shimmer looked back at her for a moment. Her horn lit up and then she disappeared leaving her to die. She tried to get out but the door wouldn’t budge. The Ursa Minor stood on its hind legs towering over her. Her ears drooped down to the sides of her head. The Ursa Minor roared and slammed his paw into Sprinklejinx’s side. His claws raked through her skin as she tumbled backward. As she tried to get back up she noticed the feeding shovel from across the room. It was in the mouth of the still sleeping guard. She used her breathing techniques and levitated it into the air. She heard hoof steps coming down the stairs. The Ursa Minor opened his jaws widely as he pounced at her. She swung the shovel at his snout. He recoiled for a moment and put his paw over his nose. Sprinklejinx struck him again. It just seemed to make him angrier. He picked her up with his slobbery mouth. His breath smelled like fish. She heard some pony coming down the stairs.

"What in Equestria is going on down their?" Princess Cadence asked as she burst through the doors. The Ursa Minor whirled around and growled. He was bearing his teeth. Princess Cadence stood still with a dumbfounded expression. The Ursa Minor threw Sprinklejinx head first against the wall. Her vision was blurred for a moment. After a few seconds of disorientation, Sprinklejinx saw the Ursa Minor lunging at Cadence. She was flying over to her. She staggered out of the pool of my own blood.

"You leave the princess alone!" Sprinkljinx shouted whacking The Ursa Minor in the face with the shovel again. This time a pointy tooth hit the floor. He licked the bloody gap in his mouth. She kept beating him over the head with the shovel. Beams of magic shoot out of Cadence's horn blinding him temporarily.

"What do we do?" Princess Luna asked.

"Get the Elements! Now!" Celestia commanded.

She begins hitting the Ursa Minor with sparks of magic as well. It seemed to be helping more than her shovel attacks. Luna quickly got all these magic necklaces and a magic tiara. They all made a rainbow vortex surround The Ursa Minor. Princess Cadence lifted me into the air before the Ursa Major fell on Sprinklejinx’s leg. The three princesses trapped the unconscious monster into his cage.

"We heard screaming and we got here as soon as we could." Princess Celestia said.

"Are you alright?" Luna asked.

"I don't know." Sprinklejinx said staring down at her red hoof prints.

"I should have kept a better eye on you. I don't think I'm ready to have a student yet. I'm sorry, Jinx." Princess Cadence sighed.

"I'll put a healing spell on you for now, but we need to take you to a hospital immediately." Celestia said. Her magic made some of the pain go away.