Author's Note

Hey guys, sorry for the wait, hope you enjoy.

Moments

Dragon Mouth's Cave Entrance, Canterlot Castle.

The day carried on as it always had, only once the duties of the courts came to a close, did it speed up. It was a strange feeling, being so close to home, yet so far away. Chalking it up to being tired, Celestia hummed to herself and waited. In the distance, under the moonlit sky zoomed the shape of a figure with blinding speed. As erratic upon its arrival, did it stop and hover for a moment, scanning diligently.

''That's it, keep looking,'' Celestia muttered to herself, bringing a glow of light to her horn. The wind whistled, almost threatening to uplift the princess from her spot. A moment later, and Celestia found herself face to face with a pony she knew of reputation, and none of it inherently good. ''Took you long enough.''

Scoffing to herself, Trixie lowered herself to the ground, dismissing her magical wings as they fell apart in a shimmer of mist. ''Celestia.'' Trixie already knew this would be was going to be an interaction.

Her first mistake. ''That's Princess to you, Trixie. Or did you forget?'' Celestia's eyes narrowed at Trixie who fixed her hat and gave her a glance somewhat resembling respect. ''I need not remind you that it was I alone who saved you from your failures, and trust me, I have been keeping track.''

And of course, the hag would pull that card out of her flank; it was the only one she could pull without razing a quarter of Canterlot just to prove a point. Having to be indebted to a regular pony was a simple enough task.

The Princess of Equestria? Or at least the one that actually mattered some? Different story. And not one that Trixie would be so willing to tell others, should the chance present itself. ''Little birdie told me a few things, you know.'' Trixie's voice may as well have been pure venom to the deity, who wanted nothing more than to turn her bones to mush. ''And it involves your student, Twilight.''

Celestia seethed, pointing a hoof in Trixie's direction, causing her eyes to rise in surprise. ''Ex-student; from the way that things are progressing. She. . .no; The Element Bearers have been corrupted. With the worst kind of plague. I dare not even speak its name before I do something I regret.''

Oh, Trixie was enjoying this. Sitting down at the base of the cave's entrance and waiting for Celestia to do the same, one could only imagine the lengths a ruler such as herself would subject herself, and her subjects to in order to achieve whatever hair-brained scheme that found its way into her mind. ''A Human, perhaps?'' Celestia's pointed look made her raise her hooves nonchalantly. ''Little birdie, nothing more.''

''Hmmph. And were you also told of how it got here? And how it now has absconded with my sister? Celestia asked, her ears folded back and form slumped over as she lost herself in the moment of confusion; trying her very best to understand what sort of trickery would force her sister to so easily dragged into the clutches of one of those vile monstrosities. Her front hooves stomped the ground in defense, kicking up dirt and dust right in Trixie's face, who sat there waiting.

No need to poke a bear in its home.

''All of Equestria is at risk with my sister doubting her loyalties and where they lie, The Element of Harmony's bearers nearly following the same example, and the embodiment of evil traipsing about my lands, trying to manipulate my little ponies to his side!'' Celestia exclaimed.

Trixie tilted her head, rubbing her chin with a hoof. The information she was told suggested otherwise. While Celestia was busy having her self-monologue of despair, an old, tattered piece of parchment was unraveled from her cloak. ''Mmm, seems about right,'' Trixie muttered to herself. Unrolling it a bit further must have caught Celestia's attention as her magic soon enveloped the ancient paper and was brought to her squinted eyes. After a few moments of reading, the look that barely resembled composure broke. ''Uh, Princess?''

The faint chirping of crickets in the background, the sound of her own heartbeat, and the not-so-restrained breathing from Celestia were all that it took for Trixie to feel a bit uncomfortable in such a small space.

With her also having nearly caved The Human's chest while barely aware failed to make the present moment better.

''Hahahaha! So that's what he hopes to achieve! It's no wonder he was as scared as he was before! Oh, goodness!'' Celestia cackled so loud, that Trixie's ears started to hurt. Her entire body shook with joy, at times prancing around like a filly and nearly smacking Trixie in the face with her mane or tail. When it seemed to reach a point of no return, Celestia stopped entirely; as if her mind hadn't split at the seams for a solid 5 minutes. ''If he can find them.''

''You of all ponies should know what they're capable of when determined. Otherwise-'' Trixie felt herself putting her hoof in her mouth with this, but she had a job to do and money to make, or else why be here? ''I can leave.''

''And go where exactly? I own you. Or do you not remember having to lick your wounds after Twilight and friends humiliated you so on your climb up, oh 'Great and Powerful Trixie?' Or did the gift I bestowed upon you mean nothing now that you have a taste of what it means to be on the winning side for once?'' Trixie's smug look slowly began to fade with the more intense of look that she was given. ''You move when I say; jump as high as I say, and eliminate who I tell you to if you want your greatest wish to come true. All things-''

''-can be achieved through you,'' Trixie finished the statement almost on instinct. Again she tried to assert herself, only to get shot down again. ''What is my mission?''

''Better.'' Celestia said. ''While Starlight is busy in Ponyville fixing the mess my student and her friends made, you can buy her time by stalling my sister and that wretched thing. All will be in place for my plans.''

Trixie frowned, nearly voicing her own opinion as to why her. . .employer chose not to take the literal easy road in getting rid of her problem. She was more than powerful enough to squash a bug like a Human, but she wanted to be theatrical, over the top, and careful. For a prey that was by itself with no others to help it, sure. But should Celestia give her enemy time to group up, and with even more of his kind, and there couldn't be enough bits to offer to pay for a job that grand. ''And I still don't see why I am needed in particular for this. This sounds like something that Starlight could handle easily enough, given enough time.''

At times, Celestia wanted to be so oblivious to the truths of this world, but then nothing would be down and get fixed. Knowing that Trixie knew of so little held its advantages. ''For once, I will indulge you, just so you will have no further doubts in your mind as to who to follow. Why do you think that I called you here?'' Trixie shrugged, Celestia, rolling her eyes and gesturing for her to follow further into the cave. The subtle orange glow of a fire ongoing from the dragon-shaped braiser burning illuminated the various carvings on the cave walls.

Figures standing upright, holding spears and torches in a group across from the different pony tribes. ''This is one of the few places where you can see the true history of. . .Humans. In the beginning; as us ponies began to flourish and create a peaceful existence,'' Celestia's eyes closed as her tone seemed for the moment seemed to suggest happier times for all involved. ''It changed one day, in what would later be known as The Everfree Forest,'' Trixie watched as a glow of her magic on the cave walls showed the ponies of old exploring, until coming upon an abnormally sized hole at the base of a cavern. From that cavern, Trixie's eyes widened seeing the shape resembling water produce the shape of Humans.

''They came from there?'' Trixie asked, wondering where in class she was taught differently. Her face contorted into a frown. ''I always thought they were just monkeys that suddenly got smarter.''

Celestia nodded, the claim making the most sense bar none. At least for the common ponyfolk. Not even she knew the true explanation as to why; just that it was the result of time and what Celestia considered to be luck. ''When the Humans first came to these lands, it was a bit of time before Luna and I took our reign. But the accounts of those who bore witness and took notes showed that the Humans of old were very resourceful and knowledgeable in providing assistance, and life was good.'' more images of Humans bringing music, song, dance, hunting, medicine, and technology which ponies took in stride.

The fire began to rage, the intense heat not bothering Celestia while Trixie covered a hoof in front of her face. In the middle of the flames showed the visage of what looked to be more modern times, and the Humans in much more detail, and even what seemed to be. . .Princess Luna? ''She was friends with Humans?''

''Indeed. And it seemed to work the most in our favor and for that of the council of Humans who took to maintaining relations.'' Celestia almost began to think back on all of the good times and experiences she had the chance to live through with her sister in a land so filled with potential. A Celestia of a few decades would probably be more willing to accept and believe that versus the one in the current moment. ''For some reason, the Humans always did seem to adore my sister more, and were so enraptured with her stories of visiting the Dream Realm.''

''From this, it sounds like Humans didn't do anything wrong.'' Trixie remained a tad bit unconvinced.

''After the end of a particularly harsh winter, it happened. The Humans began an uprising, claiming that the gifts and wonders they were able to provide were taken for granted; and that as a whole, us as ponies saw them as lesser beings. My sister and I attempted to quell the unrest, to help find a more peaceful solution, but it was never enough, now that I look back on the entire experience.'' Celestia said, the depiction of Humans taking up arms with more sophisticated weaponry, far eclipsing anything of the past. ''And as unfortunate as the event was, we had to either let ourselves be destroyed or fight back and defend.'' Trixie watched Celestia's ear flick back and forth, seeing the stern grimace she cast to the brasier. ''And what do you think I chose?''

Before Trixie could get another word out, the flames showed a depiction of Celestia herself casting what she only assumed was one of the most powerful magics along with The Elements of Harmony to force the Humans out of Equestria after the height of a bloody war between both sides. ''That day, I made a promise to myself. To seal off the Mirror Lake. A promise that I would never allow harm to come to our great land as long as I continued to draw breath. And a promise to cast Humans as far away as possible from us. Allowing the Humans to come in the first place was a grave mistake, and I paid the price for being open.'' a few tears began to fall down Celestia's face as the flames calmed back down. ''Now you see why Humans are the worst; always taking and taking, but never giving back, never grateful, never content.''

To Trixie, it was one thing to know about Humans, it was a completely different can of worms to hear first-hoof accounts from the very pony herself who made a choice others could not. Upon hearing that, her employer's hatred nearly became her own. ''Then what can we do to make sure he doesn't find more of his kind?'''

''Only together can we solve this problem. Starlight, you, and soon; Twilight and her friends. We must be a united front if we are to survive and protect Equestria,'' Celestia laid a comforting hoof on Trixie's shoulder, the warm, motherly glow in her eyes calming Trixie's nerves. ''Dealing with Humans is tricky, especially given the unfortunate side effects of Humans being unaffected by most magics, so I shall bestow upon you another gift.'' Trixie's heart would have sunk further if possible. Another gift meant deeper into the rabbit hole. ''Disappoint me, and you will not live long enough to regret it.''