Chapter 8-Magic Mare

Magic Mare:

In the City of Canterlot, royal capital of the Empire of Equestria lived a true goddess in every sense of the word. Princess Celestia, ruler of the day and warden of the night was the de facto leader of an entire nation and through her guidance and direction the ponies of Equestria had prospered and flourished. Yet she had not done this through abject cruelty or force of arms, but rather through diplomacy, peace, and the magic of friendship. The Princess of the Sun had created an empire where ponies were free to live their lives in peace without strict rules or threat of force and she had done so through benevolence. It was no small wonder why every pony in the entire kingdom though of her as a second mother, a protecting and nurturing figure that would never let them down. However despite how revered and respected she was by her ponies they barely knew anything personal about their Princess other than common public knowledge.

That is few ponies aside from Twilight Sparkle.

Though she had only known her for ten short years compared to her more than one thousand year span and the princes had a place in her heart for every single pony in her kingdom, her heart burned for Twilight. Not out of a base lust (though even Celestia had to admit that Twilight sparkle was a very cute mare) but out of an overwhelming love that transcends boundaries of age or gender or species. Celestia adored Twilight sparkle in a way only a mother might, supporting her, helping her and loving her to the best of her abilities. The mare could almost believe that the sun rose and set on her young apprentice, if it was not for the fact that she rose and set the sun itself. Therefore in the depths of her private chambers while going over a countless reports from her agents all over Equestria scrambling to find pieces of the Red Stones it is no surprise that she stopped and actually took the time to read over Twilight’s reports over the past few days and weeks. She chuckled at the antics of Pinkie Pie, she grinned at Applejack’s southernisms and Rainbow Dash’s headstrong nature, she mentally approved of her handling of Lyra Heartstrings and her deal with the gem hunter Rarity and genuinely glowed in pride at the mention that her student had finally gained her stand. Finally finishing the last of Twilight’s many reports Celestia removes her reading glasses chuckling gently at what she has just read.

“Well it’s finally good to hear some good news. Twilight herself is doing very well, and I am very happy for her. She had rarely ever spent time with other ponies other than me Zecora and her brother, it is amazing that she was able to make such good friends in a short time period.” The solar monarch removes her eyes from many of twilight’s reports to look at a cluttered board on her wall. Sighing heavily the solar mare rises “However for now I must turn my attention to the dangers at hoof.”

Pacing up to a board filled to the brim, Celestia begins to pin up countless pieces of information and reports to a large board, all of it from her best and brightest agents. “All in all the collection of the stones is going slowly, many of my stand users in cities and towns across Equestria are encountering unexpected resistance from new stand users.” The Solar monarch continues to pace as she computes the facts “But even more frightening, rouge stand users are beginning to appear from the shadows, ponies who have much more experience in using their powers and seem to possess much darker ambitions. Even Shining Armor and Spitfire had their own troubles in acquiring pieces of the corpse….”

The mare tacks more reports to her board as she tries to make a connection. “Though many do not possess adequate knowledge on the nature of the stones the simple fact that I am looking for them seems to draw them like moths to a flame. It is as though a malicious force from the shadows is guiding these foes out into the light, as predators drawn by the scent of fresh blood. Our enemy has sensed opportunity and they have attacked quickly and cohesively at the points at which we are weakest.”

Celestia stops looking as she spies a report with a very specific name on it. Starlight Glimmer a pony as twisted and sick as she was notorious, could she be responsible for this sudden resistance? Goddess only knows what the former head of the RSD is up to and how she was handling this new development, and how she is using it to bolster her ‘research’. A chill descends over the mare as the she shudders in the way a pony might if a spider decided to crawl around inside their body. No, Starlight is probably taking advantage of this situation, have no doubt, but the inside knowledge points to a traitor within their own ranks not a loose cannon like her. And with the head magister hot on her trail, there is little chance she is behind the sudden attacks on her troops.

The attacks indicate another hoof, somepony meticulous but interested only in reports of the Red Stones, the complete opposite of Starlight Glimmer’s signature. Her guard would find large supplies of Red Stones, they would report it and almost instantly they would be attacked by well-coordinated stand users. This points to somepony with intimate knowledge of Equestria Royal guards as well as their movements, not a scientist, but a shrewd tactician and merciless enforcer. Starlight would gain nothing from these attacks that she did not already possess. When she had left she had already stolen a lifetime supply of Red Stones, unless she was after ‘IT’ which was unlikely as she spent half her time in the RSD trying to discredit its very existence.

Therefore, Celestia concludes, there is a new enemy who has recently surfaced who is planning these attacks. Somepony who knows the inner mysteries of ‘IT’, somepony with a grudge against the solar throne.

Somepony like Luna.

Celestia ceases her pacing, looking up at the moon as she walks to the comfort of her royal balcony. As if lured she opens the glass doors to her chambers letting the cool night air into her warm abode. Her mind previously so focused seems to wander to matters closer to her heart and more personal than any pony would know “And what of you Luna, where are you sister? Are you still so angry with me that you hide your presence even now? Or are you still possessed, a slave to the darkness within you?” Celestia stops to look at a single large shard of the Red stone of Aja on her desk being used as a paperweight as she thinks back to the night of the ritual. “The circle seemed to have done its job, despite the loss of the Red Stone of Aja, as I felt all the dark magic corrupting her dissipate, but then why does she hide from me?” a single tear graces the monarch’s face “And despite all my information I still can’t find her.”

Looking at the moon with a nostalgic glint in her eyes Celestia recounts the days of her youth. Long ago before she was a monarch, before her ascension, before nations and day court, before Discord.  Days filled with childish things and playful moments with her best friend and closest relative. “Luna, you were always far better at hide and seek than I was, I could never find you when you wanted to be found. You would only come out from wherever you were when I would bake those cookies you loved so much.” Celestia stops “But I fear even if I prepared a mountain of baked goods it would not repair the rift between us.”

Looking at the moon once again Celestia begins to right herself emotionally and mentally shaking off her private doubts and fears. “No. thinking of the past will not change the future. it will not repair our relationship to dwell on the past. Wherever Luna is, ever since that night she has taken over the raising and setting of the moon. She has taken back her duty as princess of the night, and she has even lowered the moon to set way for the day, something that the nightmare would never do.” Hope fills Celestia’s face “Wherever my sister is, she is still there in spirit, and she is still my little sister. She angry and afraid, but that is nothing I cannot address.” Celestia walks back into her room closing the door behind her with a gentle glow of magic. “I will find her again, all I have to do then is find some way to apologize to her some way to convey how important she is to me, and how important the Red Stone of Aja is to Equestria. But For now I must turn my focus to the task at hoof, the stones.”

Celestia looks back at Twilight’s letter reading between the lines. A thousand years of wisdom and intimate knowledge painting a vivid picture of the writer’s state of mind. “Twilight is obviously hiding something from me and that troubles me even more than my sister. Could she begin to suspect the true nature of the Red Stones, could she already understand their true power and significance?”

Celestia looks at the letter even more intently as if a secret that she has kept for more than a thousand years threatens to reveal itself in the most damaging way. “If she were to discover their true purpose, I still feel she would still take my side, Twilight would understand how important its existence is to this nation’s survival. However what if I am wrong? What if this deception is just enough to turn Twilight and her friends to the enemy’s side?” The monarch stops in her tracks “Should I tell her first?”

Celestia stares at the board in front of her the myriad information and countless reports meaningless in helping her decide upon a course of action. Closing her eyes and filtering out all unnecessary information Celestia thinks back to all the times and wonderful memories that she has shared with Twilight over the years. She remembers her thirteenth birthday party, her first teleport, and all the hours she slaved working and sharpening the Arcanum to purify her sister. “No.” Celestia opens her eyes a fire of resolve beginning to fill the void of logic. “I cannot allow such secrets to endanger her life in any way. The less Twilight knows the better. When all the pieces are gathered and Luna is safe then I can begin to make her understand.”

Her mind made up Celestia begins to gaze upon the board in front of her “For now Twilight is gathering the pieces of the stone that is what is most important. However I am still worried for her, she had recovered so many pieces and that could attract the enemy. If only there were some way to protect her physically and shield her from the truth while at the same time ascertaining what she is hiding.” Celestia stops her pacing with a moment of dawning comprehension. “Of course it is so simple!”

With a simple conjuration Celestia rings a bell created by her pure golden magic causing the belle to ring in a tone that resonates through the room. No sooner than the ringing ceases a familiar figure opens the door to the room closing it behind her. The royal secretary to the princess Zecora, straightens her white coat as she adjusts the clipboard in front of her “yes Princess? Is there a cause for me being called at this hour? And using a spirit chime no less? I thought that Cool Breeze was to take over for the night shift?”

“Sorry Zecora, but this cannot wait.” The solar monarch apologizes. “There is something troubling me and I need some assistance on a certain matter.”

Zecora’s eyes widen. “Is this about our magister? I assure you that despite the breach in security that the leeks have been apprehended and……..”

“Has her condition changed?!” Celestia snaps her face suddenly filled with worry. “There hasn’t been another attempt on her life? Has a deeper plot been revealed that threatens her in some way?!”

Backed against the door by Celestia’s sudden advance the Zebra quickly regains her footing. “No your majesty! Please calm down there have been no more attacks, the thieves are in custody and the magister is still fine.”

Suddenly realizing that she has nearly pushed her secretary against the wall Celestia immediately calms down realizing how silly she is acting. When she had heard news that an attempt had made on the magister’s life Celestia had originally been terrified. Not only was it an attack against somepony close to her but it might be signaling a rash of political assassinations. However in the end it had been revealed to be a ruse by Melodia to recover Red Stones transported to Canterlot, and the magister just so happened to catch wind of it. Even though the issue was resolved the concern and fear was still fresh in her mind “And you are sure she’s fine?” Celestia asks again just to be sure. “She’s not in anymore danger?”

The secretary nods “She assures you Princess that her life is in no danger. In fact.” Zecora chuckles “I think that she is more sore about being confined to bed rest than the actual attack, you know how much she hates being coddled.”

Celestia couldn’t help but chuckle at this. When she had heard that her head magister had been attacked she had originally feared the worst. Dropping everything she was doing she raced over to the hospital only to find her giving the doctors a run for their money insisting despite her profuse injuries she was completely fine. It had taken a royal decree to force her to rest and take it easy for a few days and even then she had insisted using the time to catch up on her paperwork. She really was an incurable workaholic, small wonder who she got that from.

Zecora clears her throat as she peels back her clipboard to look at a certain paper. “I am pleased to report that her condition remains stable, despite her extensive injuries she is recovering nicely and the assassin is still in our custody. The magister says she will be able to return to her post within the week.”

Celestia sighs knowing that it would be impossible to convince her to stay away from her job any longer and take a vacation for once in her life. “Sometimes I forget how strong willed she can be sometimes it’s just....” Celestia takes a deep breath as she turns off to glance at a small picture on her desk. “I worry for her; I almost lost her once I don’t want that to happen again.” Realizing the burden she had inadvertently placed on her secretary Celestia turns back to face Zecora. “Once again sorry to bother you Zecora I know you already have a lot on your plate but…”

Zecora bows “No, forgive my rude remark; I answered rudely, rashly and too stark. I know that truly, it is no walk in the park. But to serve you is my task.” Zecora rises from her bow looking directly at her monarch. “Now what would you ask?”

“Thank you.” Celestia turns back to the board with gusto eager to put her previous worries behind her. “Zecora, I remember reading a report recently about stand inspector number 7 being in the area of canterlot outskirts not a day from here, would that be correct?”

Looking down at the reports Zecora nods her head curtly “yes Celestia Inspector number 7, aka Magic Mare, has just finished dropping off her supplies of Red Stones that she has been hunting after as well as two stand using criminals from the organization Melodia. She is currently on her way to Neigh Orleans to assist the local law enforcement there.”

“That will not be necessary, tell her that I have a special task for her.” With a quick tug of telekinesis Celestia picks up a nearby file placing it in Zecora’s hooves “she is to take a file detailing methods of stand control to several new stand users that have appeared in a certain town nearby. These stand users are new to their powers and could be a great asset to us.”

Zecora takes one look at the file and then looks back to her monarch with a quizzical look “Babysitting? Forgive me for inquiring but does that not seem like a waste of her talents? She is one of our best investigators not a nursemaid.”

Celestia looks out the window towards the small town of Ponyville her thoughts racing a mile a minute “that is only a cover story. Her real objective is to monitor the princess representative there, and protect her at all costs while secretly reporting her movements to me.”

Zecora nearly drops her file at this looking up at Celestia with suspicion. “You want her to spy on Twilight sparkle? Why?” Zecora looks back an forth as if in danger of being overheard as she whispers to Celestia “Do you suspect that she is the one who is giving away out movements? That’s she’s the traitor in our ranks? Because if you do…….”

“No I would never believe Twilight would be capable of betraying her country, or me, without a just cause.” Celestia’s thoughts suddenly turn dark as she thinks of what Twilight might do if she discovered what her real goals were. Shaking her head she dispels such images of Twilight betraying her “No. I feel that she is beginning to suspect the true nature of the Red Stones. But more importantly I feel that she is in great danger, despite her new friends, and allies”

Celestia turns to the zebra in front of her giving Zecora, her undivided attention “That is why I am sending Agent number seven there, she has never failed in her missions and she is as dedicated as they come, even if she is a bit…… unpleasant at first. I do this not because I fear Twilight,” Celestia assures the Zebra “but because I fear for her. Tell Inspector seven to set out for ponyville first thing in the morning; that will be all Zecora.”

…………The next morning in the town of Ponyville…………

Harnessing years of intense magical training Twilight channels her magic on the stone in front of her. Her horn flickering with the purest spark of energy the mare concentrates as she attempts to filter her magic through the stone in an attempt to harness its unpredictable power. With the library closed till noon on Sundays the center room of the building is the perfect size and shape for the proper wards of protection as Twilight pours more magic through the stone resting on the pedestal in the center.

Ever since the stone had granted Rarity a stand power almost a week ago, they had been silent and inert reacting to none of Dash’s pleading wishes to be the best flier in Equestria. In fact other than a faint glowing Twilight could barely get any of the strange stones to react at all. Her best guess is that using their power had depleted the stone’s power somehow, yet that defied all her logic. Whenever a red stone was used up it crumbled into base dust, if the strange stones were truly depleted of magic they should have crumbled apart like the others. Instead the stones seemed to be regaining their power slowly as a living being would when tired. Therefore Twilight’s experiment today was to try and replenish the stone’s power artificially by attempting a magical transfer. Once the stones were back to full power, then she could resume her tests to determine what exactly they were. And to Twilight’s great joy it seemed to be working as the stones regained more and more of their brilliant white glow.

“Almost done…. Almost…..” suddenly in a flash of green smoke a letter appears directly in front of her causing her steady beam of magic to explode outwards burning a nearby book to ashes. “Son of a…” the purple unicorn yells at the top of her lungs “who in their right mind would be stupid enough to interrupt me in the middle of such an important…..” Twilight picks up the letter with her magic looking at the sender “…oh my mistake it’s from Princess Celestia!”

Tearing open the letter Twilight begins to read over the content passage by passage as if there would be a test on it the moment that she finished. Pouring over every detail Twilight commits to memory the passages as her subconscious begins to interpret  the letter. Twilight’s eyes grow as wide as dinner plates just as pinkie pie bursts into the room “Twilight you’re never going to believe what my pinkie sense just told me!”

Twilight still caught up in the letter, barely notices the pink pony bouncing around her, which considering it was Pinkie was quite a feat. The pink pony not used to being ignored begins knocking on Twilight’s head “Equestria to Twilight! Any pony home?”

“Gwah!” the frightened unicorn falls on her back finally looking up at the pink party pony “oh Pinkie you startled me… I was…. It’s not important… the princess just sent me a letter….”

“…. Telling you that she sent somepony to help?” Pinkie finishes

Twilight gets back up on her hooves “…...telling me that she sent some pony to monitor and…..” Twilight blinks as she tries to comprehend the immensity of what Pinkie just said “Pinkie… how did you…. Pinkie don’t do that! Guessing what a pony is going to say is my thing!”

Pinkie begins to giggle “Sorry Twilight but the readers are getting tired of these longer chapters so we’re going to have to speed this up!”

“What are you…..” Twilight shakes her head as she mentally reminds herself not to combine Pinkie pie with reason “Never mind, according to the letter that I just got from Princess Celestia she’s worried about me confronting so many stand users, and given how many Red Stones I’ve sent to Canterlot she’s sent an agent to help with reserving the Red Stones.”

Pinkie gasps heavily “Another new pony?! I’ll break out my welcome wagon! That’s wonderful news…..”

Pinkie is about to bounce off to tell all her friends when Twilight levels a gaze that stops the pink mare in her tracks “…..or not?”

Twilight groans “Pinkie it’s stand agent!”

Pinkie’s head tilts in confusion “…..and that’s bad?”

“Well… maybe.” Twilight begins to pace “See when a bad pony gets ahold of a red stone and uses to gain a stand power a stand agent will bring them to justice. They’re like a stand police force, traveling the land and using their power to stop rogue stand users.”

Twilight stops pointing directly at the pink Pony “You found a red stone at a young age and using it you gained a stand power, so stand agents search for rumors of strange things happening or unsolved crimes and track down ponies who might be stand users. You were relatively safe due to the fact that you grew up in a small town but if you committed a crime or drew the attention of the law you would have been tracked down by a stand agent.”

Pinkie’s head tilts in confusion “…..and that’s bad?”

Twilight groans even louder like a teacher attempting to explain calculus to a ten year old. “That means that she’s here to asses whether ponies who have just gained a stand without the knowledge or consent of the government are a danger to society, that means every pony, you Applejack, Dash, Lyra, every pony is under her judgment! And if she thinks that they are a danger to society and to others than they’ll be shipped off to……. Gulp…….. an RSD holding cell……. where only the most dangerous and life threatening stand users go! Where they are kept in maximum security cells until the day they die!” Twilight grabs the pink mare with her two hooves crushing her face “do you KNOW what that means!?”

Suddenly pinkie looks deathly serious as Twilight frees her from her grasp. Her mane, though still puffy freezes as the pink mare considers the implications. Couching the pink mare opens her mouth to say a word of wisdom in a dark time.

And promptly makes a fart noise “Ppppppppppffffftttttttttt! Come on Twilight you’re being all crazy again! I’m certain that she’s not going to do that!” Pinkie waves her hoof dismissively I mean she’s throwing a party in the middle of the town square! What kind of bad pony would do that?!”

Twilight continues to pace “……and to top it off I have no idea who this agent is going to be! She could be any pony and come from anywhere! Celestia didn’t even tell me anything about the agent other than the fact that she would be ‘easy to spot’! And to top it off….”

Twilight’s paranoia is immediately cut off by a loud explosion coming from outside snapping her out of her rant. “What the…..” Twilight looks out the window of her library just in time to see another barrage of fireworks erupt in the sky filling the town with their bright red blue and green lights. “That came from the center of town…. But who….”

Pinkie flings open the door to the library “that’s the new pony Twilight! My Pinkie Sense told me she would be coming and even better that she would be throwing a party!” The pink mare rushes over to Twilight and before she can resist the lavender unicorn is dragged to the door “Come on Twilight this is a chance to get outside and meet new friends! I’m sure the standing agent won’t be that scary!”

Pinkie runs off leaving twilight’s mind reeling “Wait…. The stand agent is there…. How did you……”

“…..SECRET PONY MONITORING SYSTEM!” The pink mare shouts “NOW COME ON TWILIGHT! YOU’LL HAVE TO RUN FASTER THAN THAT IF YOU WANT TO CATCH UP!”

Looking at the retreating pink mare in the distance and seeing the fireworks Twilight groans as she charges her horn “Walking’s for suckers anyways….” And in a flash of light Twilight disappears.

……………….

Okay there, you can do this, no pressure.

Others are a hindrance but they are not your enemy. Ponies may get in your way but your true enemy is your own fear, your hesitation in the face of the unknown.

It’s your past demons, it’s your fear of failure that weighs you down and threatens your destiny.

But more than anything it’s your own doubt that cripples you, that prevents you from succeeding.

You doubt yourself, you are driven onwards by fear, however even when that fear takes hold you harness it like a mighty wind to propel yourself to greatness.

You are a master of fear, constantly subject to it, but not allowing it to dominate you.

The shadows of the past or shades of the future may scare you, but they can’t stop you nor can they deny you what is rightfully yours.

Fame

Justice

And superiority to a certain lavender mare.

All these things are within your power to seize, all you have to do is reach out and grab it. RIGHT NOW!

After all, you are the Great and Powerful Trixie, the greatest magi since Starswirl the bearded, and you will not be denied your destiny.

After all, when it comes magical ability, was there ever any doubt?

In the middle of ponyville square a traveler’s cart suddenly explodes outward in a flurry of light in sound, smoke filling the square as a giant stage appears where there was not one before. The backdrop sparkles and flashes as blue smoke fills the stage and ponies gather around to see the festive spectacle. Emerging from out of the smoke is a light blue mare with a silvery mane and a confident gaze that could put a Dryad’s charisma to shame. Decked out in full performance gear, namely a grey purple well-tailored magician’s hat and cape the, blue mare rises on her hooves signaling a cascade of fireworks and sparklers from the back of her trailer. And to no surprise her cutie mark is that of a wand and a light crescent moon symbolizing her love of showmanship and dramatic flair. The mare’s glare tells the rest of her tale, a face filled to the brim with levels of confidence (and arrogance) that would outclass Rainbow Dash on her best day.

With a loud sage pony voice the mare addresses the entire audience at once drawing them all in in body and mind as she enraptured their minds with promise of spectacular feats. “WELCOME ONE AND ALL TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE GREAT AND POWERFUL TRIXIE!!” the mare shouts “I HOPE THAT YOU CAME TO SEE THE GREATEST AND THE BEST PERFORMER IN EQUESTRIA, BECAUSE I ASSURE YOU THAT YOU SHALL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED.”

The blue mare clears her throat as she magics up an official looking board “Now I charge by the trick so if you want to see a show, listen up and pay in the box. Small tricks are listed below and cost five bits each medium ten bits and large are twenty bits. You can pool your bits or pay for your own trick but payment is upfront and if you are all nice and applaud the Great and Powerful Trixie might have be generous and perform additional tricks. But like I said payment. In. advance. Now don’t miss out! Step lively now to the front and have the Great and Powerful Trixie perform for you!”

In a flash of light Twilight reappears a distance from the square, a little tired from the sudden jump but knowing that she will be fine in a few minutes when her manna fully regenerates, nine minutes and thirty six seconds to be precise. “Well. Celestia’s agent…. A show mare…. That’s surprising….”

Suddenly a pink blur pops out of nowhere knocking Twilight down and pinning her to the ground “….. Though not surprising as some pony I know.” The lavender mare rolls her eyes.

“Oh! I know this one! Is it rainbow Dash?” Pinkie asks as Twilight shakes her head “Rarity?” Twilight shakes her head again “Applejack?!”

“No Pinkie… the pony is you!”

“What? Really? I’m the most surprising pony you know?!” Twilight nods yes “YEAH!” the pink mare jumps off Twilight throwing a cloud of glitter around her as she begins to dance the chicken dance in celebration.

Eager to get back to some sense of normalcy Twilight quickly scans around for any pony she knows and is surprised to find that Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash have already arrived on the scene. The three mares are watching the showmare in front of them with a mixture of boredom and disgust as the showmare saws a pony in half. Leaving Pinkie dancing around in circles Twilight rushes over to her friends “hey Guys what’s up! Who’s this?”

Rarity rolls her eyes “apparently she’s the great and powerful Trixie, a bragging show mare with a garish costume.”

Applejack nods “yeah, ah mean that ah appreciate a good show as much as the next pony but with the rate this mare’s charging and the boasts she’s just being a nuisance!”

“Yeah!” Dash shouts “and worse of all she’s just tricking these ponies out of their money.”

Twilight looks at the rainbow mare with a skeptical look “Dash a magic show IS tricking other ponies, you can’t just blame her for doing her job. Plus Celestia might have sent her to help us…”

“What?” Dash exclaims again “that show off?! She’s just a loudmouth…..”

“……most uncouth…” Rarity finishes

“Yeah she’s just usin her stand ta make fools of ponies!” Applejack points to the stage “She’s just showing it off like a school filly with fancy new ribbons.”

Looking onstage Twilight narrows her gaze as she watches the blue stage mare holding a triad of rings. Suddenly a ghostly image appears behind the stage mare that Twilight immediately recognizes as a stand. It’s star like appearance similar to her own except it’s silvery white stars contrast with its blue white coat, upon its neck is a similar blue and star spangled coat that the mare is wearing as well as the stand’s blue and white magician’ hat. All the stars are connected across its body giving the stand the appearance of being covered in the most beautiful constellations. Its body is lithely and dressed on a smart star spangled tuxedo with Trixie’s cutie mark emblazoned over its heart.  The stand touches the rings and in an instant they come apart stupefying the audience who is ignorant that a stand power is at work.

“Using a stand for profit….” Twilight thinks over “maybe you guys are right…. Perhaps she isn’t the liaison….”

“You think?” Dash almost yells “Seriously Twi, we don’t need some pony pretending to be better than everypony else!” Dash strikes a pose as she fluffs her ego “Especially when you have me to be better than every pony!”

This earns the blue speedster a sharp glare from every pony in the group “What?” Dash asks “is it something that I said?”

However Applejack’s potential lecture is cut off by a booming voice “Who dares Disturb the Show of the Great and powerful Trixie?! Who would attempt to cause a ruckus when I am Trying to Perform!?” the showmare shouts at the top of her lungs. The others shrink back slightly as the mare stares at the rainbow mare as it appears that Dash’s loud grating voice did not go unnoticed by a certain Blue showmare.  “Does one of the poor plebeians in the audience have a problem with my magical powers? Then step forward rather than hiding in the audience and state your grievance. Trixie promises to be merciful.”

“Do I have a problem? You bet I have a problem!” Without a second’s notice the rainbow mare flies up to within a hoof’s “SO great and powerful Trixie” Dash asks in her most mocking tone “what makes you think that you’re so awesome anyways?!”

Trixie merely tips her hat laughing at the ignorance of the rainbow mare “why only the great and powerful Trixie would have magic strong enough to vanquish her adversaries in their own respective talents!”

“Say what now?” Dash tilts her head in midflight.

Trixie scoffs “Did the Great and Powerful Trixie Stutter? It is simple, though you are obviously unimpressed by the skills of the Great and powerful Trixie this is not the first time this has happened.” The blue mare narrows her hat further down on her face. “If a pony is foolish enough to believe that their miniscule talents are better than the great and powerful Trixie than prove it! I hereby challenge you bolivians. Anything that you can do Trixie can do better!”

The mare’s sudden boast earns a host of silent murmurs from the crowd “Any takers? Anyone? How about you?” the showmare points to Dash “Do you have the gall to suggest that your skills are superior to Trixie’s?”

Shaking off the show mare’s boasts as easily as water off a duck’s back Dash lands on the stage “Heck yeah! You may talk a good game but I’m captain of the weather patrol for a reason! I could send you packing before you could pull a bunny out of your hat!”

“Well……” the showmare gives pause “you seem to think that you can compete on the level of the great and powerful Trixie? Even seeing what I can do?”

“Yeah! There’s no need to go need to go strutting around and showing off like that!” the rainbow mare smirks “that’s my job!”

Trixie narrows her eyes “is that a threat? The great and powerful Trixie does not take kindly to hecklers who believe their skills are better than hers are.”

“Believe nothing! They don’t call me Rainbow and Dash for nothing!” Dash flies right up in the show mare’s face “I’ll show you! This’ll be over in ten seconds flat!”

…………….Ten minutes later………………

Dash lies on the ground her eyes spinning in her head like a pinball machine her coat covered in mud as a bound and gagged Applejack tries to free herself from her own rope and a mentally unstable Rarity brushes her hair repeatedly muttering something about a green mane.  The ponies of Ponyville having had enough of laughing at their misfortune have retired to their homes and places of business causing Trixie to pack up her stage and leave to camp in the park for the night just as Rainbow Dash slowly picks herself off the ground.

Pinkie bounces up to the rainbow mare “Wowie Dashie!” You really showed her!”

“….Shut up Pinkie….”

“Okie Dokie Lokie!”

Cutting Applejack out of her bounds the farmer finally is able to spit out the apple in her mouth out letting loose a string of silent obscenities as the newly arrived Fluttershy calms the fashionista down. “Ok, now I’m convinced…” Dash brushes herself off “…..Not only is this Trixie not the ‘contact’ or whoever the princess thought that it would be a good idea to send us, she’s a huge jerk. I say we run her out of town!”

Always the voice of reason Twilight intervenes “now hold on there Dash, Trixie may not have the best manners but you can’t just run a pony out of town because you don’t like them. Besides she hasn’t really broken any laws.”

“Hasn’t broken any Laws?!” Dash yells “She spent me spinning in the dust!”

“She dang near hog tied me Twi!” Applejack yells

“…Green….. Mane……” Rarity mutters

“Welllllllllll……” the lavender mare looks at her friends “I suppose that it was pretty nasty…..”

“And funny!” Pinkie interrupts

“…..and funny.” Twilight snickers at the memory of her friend’s embarrassment “But she did give us this card…” Twilight flips up a card scrawled with a single line ‘come to my trailer after the show’ “she managed to slip it under my hoof without me even noticing, and that does seem like something that a professional stand agent would do.” Twilight turns her head off into the distance looking at the show mare’s abode on the horizon “…… and despite how rude she was I think that if she is the agent and we should meet her.”

“….Well…..” Rarity finally is able to speak “I find the whole idea of meeting….. that mare…. Most troublesome… but if she is who you say she is, it would be rude and foolish to just ignore her… so we’ll trust your instincts on this one Twilight.”

The rest of the group nods in agreement saving Dash who groans heavily “fine I’ll come along too, but only cause if she isn’t this stand agent or whatever, I can kick her to the curb the moment that she tries something.”

In less than five minutes of trotting the entire group makes it to the park proper and the caravan of none other than the great and powerful Trixie. The entire grounds are littered in various magical supplies and props that would be too large to fit inside the normal trailer, Large boxes various dummies, and props for almost every occasion. The group stands in hesitation before the front door of the caravan proper, remembering the embarrassment suffered the last time some pony decided to try and make a fool of the blue mare. Twilight gulps heavily and looks to her friends for support, all of them urging her on with backhanded waves of her hooves. Looking at the door with worry in her eyes Twilight slowly walks up the steps to the door and extends her hoof to knock, only to be bowled over as the door opens in her face. The force of the door and the surprise of the lavender mare causes Twilight to tumble head over hooves down the steps landing on her flank with a loud thud. Raising her eyes to the top of the steps Twilight sees for the first time up close the fire in the blue mare’s eyes, not only a powerful drive, but a profound anger that extends beyond simple spite. Twilight sees in the eyes of Trixie a gaze of wrath that finds itself focused squarely on her.

“So….” Trixie jumps off the entire flight of stairs in a single jump landing directly in front of the startled Lavender mare “…. My nemesis has decided to show herself. I take it by your appearance that you have accepted the Great and Powerful Trixie’s challenge then? I commend you for not running away in fear of the great and powerful Trixie’s abilities and that you have decided to face her like a mare but courage will do you little good against the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

Before a startled Twilight can even speak Rainbow dash pipes up flying right up in the show mare’s face “you bet your fancy magic tricks that I wouldn’t run away from a creep like you! And I don’t know why you would think that you could be a jerk to me and get away with it but you're way too pathetic to even consider being my rival! Besides Applejack kinda already has that…….”

“Not you! You rainbow manned fool!” Trixie points her hoof towards Twilight sparkle “I was talking to Twilight Snarkle there!”

Twilight looks around as if the showmare could possibly be addressing any other mare called Twilight sparkle, before pointing to her own chest “…..me?”

“Yes You! Do you see any other mares named Twilight Sparkle around!?” the showmare backs off taking a deep breath before resuming “when Celestia herself gave me orders to randevu with you, I took it as a divine sign! That now after all these years! After the humiliation I have endured at your hands, I the Great and Powerful Trixie would have her revenge!”

“…….. annnnnnd dddddddd, revenge for what exactly?”

The great and powerful Trixie stares at Twilight mouth agape with enough surprise and shock to suggest that she was struck in the face with a lightning bolt. It was as if one pony had walked up to another and asked who Princess Celestia was, or who raised the sun and moon, it was such an unbelievable occurrence for the blue unicorn that for the first time in her life she found herself speechless “…..you….. You don’t remember my embarrassment? My defeat?”

Gaining the courage to stand again in the face of Trixie’s faltering Twilight gets to her hooves “actually I don’t believe we’ve ever met before today…….. Wait a second! You said that Celestia sent you? That makes you the stand agent that we’ve…..”

“YOU DON'T REMEMBER ME!?!?” Trixie roars grabbing the bleu mare's’ coat only to throw her back. “After everything I’ve been through!? After all my hardships at your hooves!? You went ahead and forgot me?!? YOU WENT AHEAD AND FORGOT ALL ABOUT HOW YOU RUINED MY LIFE?!!”

Twilight flinches from Trixie’s outburst as the blue mare simmers down in her rage. Suddenly as if the blue mare could not be any more disconcerting Trixie breaks out laughing “Oh…. I get it now Twilight! You’re playing dumb in the hopes that it would fool the great and powerful Trixie! A clever ruse that might have fooled a lesser opponent, but not the great and powerful Trixie!”

“…..um what?”

“Well it’s obvious that you are playing dumb Twilight Snarkle!” Trixie brushes her mane off to the side “No pony could forget the show stopping charisma of Trixie! And not even you could be dumb enough to forget a pony whose life you have ruined so thoroughly.”

“…… um sure….. Let’s go with that…..”

Trixie smirks in joy elated that she has indeed guessed right “what? are you really expecting the Great and Powerful Trixie to believe that you do not remember the way you sabotaged her, the day that you prevented her from joining the magical academy, your little ‘transformation accident’?”

“Oh…..” Twilight eyes widen in horror as she subsequently remembers the most shameful and most proud day of her life the day that she became Celestia’s private student “you were the pony that I accidently…”

“……Yes, you Twilight sparkle intentionally sabotaged your rival.” Stroking her ego with every word Trixie paints herself as the most tragic of heroes, deprived of her place in the dun by an evil villain. “Yes! You Twilight Sparkle were fearful of my superior magical talents and therefore you prevented me from attempting my routine which would have assuredly earned me my spot as Princess Celestia’s prized student with your little magical ‘accident’.”

“But… but…..That was a magical surge!” Twilight stutters “I had no control over what happened to you Trixie!”

“LIAR!” Trixie yells in denial “It was all an act! A clever act on your part but an act none the less! Thanks to you, Trixie was sent home early before she even got the chance to attempt the final test before the princess.”

“….um forgive me for asking Twilight darling…” Rarity interrupts “but is there any truth in what this Trixie is saying? What is this ‘Accident’ she’s talking about?”

Twilight taps her fore hooves together rapidly almost too ashamed to even speak “Well……. You see….” The purple mare stutters looking more like Fluttershy by the second “well when I first became Celestia’s student I had to audition for the magical academy and I had a little….. tiny…. Itty bitty magical surge that ….”

“Don’t you finish that sentence Twilight or so help me….”

“…..turned Trixie, and my parents, and the proctors…….into a trees…..” Twilight finishes as she flinches from the memory.

Dash looks back and forth between Trixie and Twilight “Trixie got turned into a tree…..”

“…. Like an apple tree and all that?” Applejack tilts her head trying to imagine it.

“I’d like to be a tree.” Fluttershy chirps happily.

Twilight taps her hooves nervously “Welllllll it was more like a spruce…… But it was an accident I swear!”

Every pony in the group aside from Twilight and Trixie looks at each other with an unreadable expression trying to decide how everypony else is feeling. Finally they start to giggle, which quickly evolves into chuckling, and then, full blown laughter as everypony begins to laugh at the blue mare’s misfortunes. Both of the two unicorns blush furiously at the memory. Finally after what seems like hours later the laughter dies down as the ponies around begins to calm themselves down after their fit of laughter.

Trixie now thoroughly embarrassed begins to clear her throat “now that that’s out of the way….”

The blue mare looks straight at Twilight sparkle the force of her gaze enough to dispel any traces of humor still left in the situation “Twilight! You may have embarrassed me before by this time it’s different! After ten years of Training I have honed my magic to its highest potential!” the mare smirks “…and not only that, but as a stand agent, I have traveled across Equestria honing my talents in life or death battles! Trixie has something a bookworm like you could never possess….. and that’s real combat experience!”

Trixie takes a step towards the lavender mare “I’ve trained my entire life for this moment Twilight Snarkle, and the Great and powerful Trixie will not be denied!” Trixie draws her breath causing the tension in the air to thicken to the point it could be cut with a knife “I Trixie Lulamoon challenge one Twilight Sparkle…. To a magical duel!” The entire yard grows silent as Twilight and Rarity gasp heavily at the implications.

“You’re on Trixie!” Dash blurts out “Twilight will beat you with one hoof tied behind her back!” Dash crosses her arms in satisfaction “…. By the way what’s a magical duel?”

Twilight face hooves “First, Dash please let me speak for myself, and second a magical duel is a combative contest of magic that usually goes either to the death or until an opponent cannot continue or decides to give up. It’s a very dangerous contest of magical school.”

“What’s the matter Twibright?” Trixie sneers “Afraid of…..”

“HOW DID YOU KNOW!?!” Twilight asks eyes filled with fear “Has word spread even to Canterlot? Does the Princess know? I told everypony that was only one time! I was dead tired when I filled out that nametag I swear!”

“Nametag?” Trixie asks “What nametag, what are you talking about Twibright?”

“You know exactly what I’m talking about Trixie!” Twilight gapless the showmare shaking her erratically. “I’ll only ask once more, WHO ELSE KNOWS?!”

“Stunned by the formally sheepish mare’s sudden brazen display of power Trixie struggles to formulate words as she is shaken every witch way by the unicorns’ strong arms. “T-Trix-x-xie Dos-s-sen’t k-k-kno-o-w-w wh-h-ha-at yo-o-oe’re t-t-talk-k-king a-a-about!!”

Twilight immediately ceases her hold on Trixie. “So…. It was just an accident? You just made up ‘Twibright’ on the spot?” Twilight breathes out a sigh in relief “Whew then that’s good, for a minute there I though everypony knew about ‘it’ but nopony else knows.” Twilight growls to herself “they can never know……”

“We all know Twibright!” Pinkie chuckles as her group of friends can’t help but break out in collective snickering.

“That’s because you told everypony in the Tri-State area about the name tag incident!” Twilight shouts

Twilight grates her teeth both from her nickname and the collective response of Trixie’s heckling “All right look Trixie, I understand you want to fight me Trixie. But I just said that it was an accident! There’s nothing to gain from us beating each other to a pulp like this.”

“This isn’t about the past any more twilight!” Trixie stomps her hoof with enough force to cause a dent in the ground “Like you said the past is in the past and cannot be changed, and the Great and powerful Trixie is not so petty that she would hold a grudge, even if you did ruin her life!”

“I didn’t….” Twilight breathes, out realizing that arguing will get her nowhere against this mare “Fine Trixie then why? Why risk your life and safety…..”

Trixie laughs as if her foe can’t understand a simple joke “why that’s simple Twilight! The Great and Powerful Trixie wants to prove herself by besting you! Let’s face it Twibright! If you hadn’t sabotaged me in the preemptive tests than I would have been the one to get to the princess before you!”

“Stop calling me Twibright!” Twilight snaps.

“…..And we all know what caused you to demonstrate your extraordinary powers in front of the princess….” Twilight’s eyes grow wide as she remembers the single incident that caused her to finally bring her magical surge under control, in front of the princess no less. That single phenomenon that she had failed to pin down despite all her years of study “….. That’s right Twilight I heard what gave your cutie mark in the first place….. The legendary Rainboom! If I had been there in your place I would have been the Princess’s student, not you!”

Trixie looks at her hooves as if picturing an opportunity slipping from her grasp. “And even though you stole my golden opportunity, I’m not resentful. Getting angry over the past won’t change anything. In fact in a way I’m grateful. Because of your ineptitude I’ve only gotten stronger! Now I’m more than a match for you and I intend to prove it.” Trixie grins “So how about it? Are you a mare enough to accept?”

Twilight considers Trixie’s view; it is true that she might have intentional or otherwise ruined Trixie’s life from one perspective but a life or death struggle? “And why should I accept? I understand what you want to prove Trixie but a magical duel? Surely there can be a better way to settle this than….”

“A magical duel is the best way to settle this Twibright!” Trixie Stares down her rival “I intend to prove that my practical and battle honed magics are superior to your shoddy bookworm magics, and a real magical duel and not some kind of test is the best way to prove that.”

Trixie looks around at Twilight’s friends around her a devilish glint in her eye “but I can see that you need some more incentive. Very well Twilight if you are successful in beating me not only will I assist you in your hunt for the red stones, but I won’t report your friend’s irresponsible stand use to the Red Stone Group’s police force, my superiors. Despite the fact that most of them are emotionally unstable.”

“Hey!” Dash yells “I’m not emotionally unstable, and you don’t have any right to……”

“The Great and powerful Trixie has every right Rainbow Crash!” The blue unicorn counters “that’s what being a stand agent is all about. I determine whether a stand user is a threat to themselves and others and biased on my reports I could be cleared to take you to a secure location, for your own safety of course…” the blue mare grins sadistically “….until you learn to responsibly and safely control your stands!”

“Yawl….” Applejack gulps heavily “Yawl can’t do that! Ya can’t just drag me away from amah farm like a common criminal! Right Twi?”

Applejack, indeed the entire group looks to Twilight for assurance, but only find worry on her face “Technically if a stand user is a threat to themselves and others than Trixie is authorized to apprehend them until they can use their power safely….. But I have a lot of authority as a princess Representative…”

“…..That does not supersede my precedence in all matters stand related!” Trixie finishes for her “So if you win no matter how repulsive your friends are I will take no actions against them as long as they aren’t killing ponies in the streets. In fact I’ll even help you with your little red stone hunt as well!”

Twilight thinks over Trixie’s offer “…. And if I lose?”

Trixie grins “Well then.… if I win I assure you Trixie won’t act maliciously towards your friends.” The showmare chuckles “That is, more maliciously than is required of Trixie’s job. But betting without a prize is very ‘uncool’ as Rainbow Crash would say.” Trixie taps her chin for a few seconds “how about this? If Trixie wins then not only must you admit how superior Trixie is to you, but you must become Trixie’s slave for a week!”

Twilight lowers her head deep in thought, her mind considering every option before her before finally offering a curt nod. “Fine Trixie. I agree.”

“What?!” the group yells at the same time. Dash visibly upset rushes up to Twilight “Twi I know Trixie’s a jerk and all but this isn’t the way to shut her up! Think of what will happen if you lose!”

“I’m not finished!” Twilight yells causing her friends to quiet down “I’ll agree to your duel Trixie, but only on the condition that you won’t report my friends for being themselves. I know their hearts and their minds they’re no threat to any innocent ponies, so promise that you won’t abuse your position and take out your frustrations on them.”

Trixie cocks her eyebrow at Twilight’s sudden defiance “you’re suddenly cheeky now aren’t you Twilight? Good, Trixie likes that.” The blue showmare nods “Very well it’s agreed! A duel it is!” The blue mare lights her horn and in an instant appears behind the entire group arriving safely outside. With a quick nod the mare gestures to a prepared wooden platform standing not a two dozen hoof lengths from her house “Follow me, I’ve already prepared the stage for our little match.”

Twilight is about to quickly follow the Blue mare when she is stopped by the hoof of an orange farm mare “are ya sure bout this Twi? I have a hunch Trixie’s not gonna play fair. An yawl can’t afford ta lose! I’m sure that if ya just tell the princess…”

“That’s not all that this is about Applejack…..” Twilight looks back to the blue mare before her, her confident pose the way she carries herself on full display as she jumps up on stage “even if it wasn’t intentional I did ruin Trixie’s big chance, at least according to her. And besides if I backed down now how would I be able to call myself a student of Princess Celestia?” Twilight tears herself from Applejack’s hoof “besides I’m not a fowl you know I can handle myself!”

As Twilight walks towards the stage leaping up on it Applejack looks upon her find in worry as a thought from before creeps her way into her mind. Eager to rid herself of her worries Applejack turns to best friend, the unicorn Rarity beside her. “Hey Rares…” Applejack asks

“Humh yes Applejack?”

“You remember what Trixie called that thing that gave Twi the ability to control her magic all like that? The Rainboom er somthin?”

“You mean the sonic Rainboom?” Rainbow dash buts in “the sonic Rainboom is a mythical aerial technique that….”

“Yeah yeah thanks Dash…” Applejack ignores the blue pegisi turning back to Rarity “anyways do yawl know when that happened cause I think that I saw somthin like that too, it just seemed so familiar…”

“Yes I know what you mean Applejack,” Rarity taps her chin “For some reason I can’t put my hoof on a rainbow flash of color across the sky seems to ring a bell for me.”

Dash groans “I know right well check this out that’s because I..…”

“YEAH you’re right!” Pinkie jumps in “and the day that I threw my first party I saw something like that! Mysterious aint it?”

“That’s because I’m the one…...”

“Ummm….” Fluttershy interrupts “I also…. I mean… I think that I also saw something like that… when I was a filly….”

“Will all of you shut up and listen to….”

“Dash!” Rarity yells “now I know that you think that you have something important to say… but that is no excuse for telling Fluttershy to shut up! Honestly when will you grow up and learn to use some manners?”

“But… but….I…”

“No buts there missy!” Applejack scowls at Rainbow Dash “Now Rare’s right! There’s no cause fer your behavior like that now apologize to Fluttershy! She deserves better than that!”

“But… but…..” The stares of both Rarity and Applejack cut her off letting her know in no small words what will happen to her if she doesn’t apologies to the sensitive Fluttershy. Dash sighs realizing that this is a fight that she cannot possibly win “I’m sorry Fluttershy…”

Both of the responsible mares hold their breaths as they wait for Fluttershy’s reaction. Thankfully Fluttershy’s face which looked close to sobbing slowly turns back to a gentle smile that defines the yellow mare “oh that’s all right Dash. I know how impatient that you can be sometimes. It’s quite all right. Just remember to wait your turn the next time…”

Dash groans so heavily that one might mistake her for a dying animal As Applejack and Rarity give thanks for the fact that Fluttershy took it so well. Applejack wipes the sweat off her brow “whew. See now aint that easy now? Now then Dash what’s so impatient now that yawl tried to interrupt Fluttershy here to say it?”

Dash beams finally grateful that it is her turn to tell her friend the most awesome thing she could ever tell them “Well! You guys know that amazing and awesome Sonic Rainboom! Well guess what! I’m the one who…”

“Hey Guys! Look!” Pinkie yells at the top of her lungs “Twilight and Trixie are about to begin their fighting! Let’s watch!”

Suddenly all attention in the group turns away from Dash at the group prepares to watch the epic showdown of rivals, much to the dismay of a rainbow maned mare “but….. but……… but………… UUUUUURRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!” the mare screams at the top of her lungs.

“Now dash! What did Fluttershy just finish telling you?” Rarity levels her most accusatory gaze at the blue Pegasus “If you have something important to say than wait your turn! There is no cause for yelling like a banshee!” Rarity turns back to the showdown at hoof “all right I’m back, did anything happen darlings?”

“Nope Rarity, yawl didn’t miss anything.” Applejack assures her “just them setting some ground rules and….. do yawl hear a thumping sound?”

BAM   BAM   BAM   BAM   BAM   BAM   BAM

“Nope and who cares?!” Pinkie screams with as much enthusiasm she can muster “this is the showdown of the century! You’d have to be banging your head against a wood pole like Dash is doing to miss this!” Pinkie pulls out a huge assortment of snacks treats and Twilight teamed merchandise “and I’m the exclusive vendor! He he! I’m going to make a fortune………”

Twilight and Trixie stare each other down each one paws their hoof on the stage, mentally psyching each other up for the inevitable confrontation. Sparks fly from each unicorn’s horn as they build up magical charge and their bodies coil to strike.

“So….” Trixie begins “I’ve chosen the stage, so it only seems fair that the loser would decide the specifics. Does that seem fair to you Snarkle?”

Ignoring Trixie’s jest Twilight addresses the whole audience equally “We will go by Crystal North rules, the first one to give up or become unable to continue loses, no lethal force, Dark or Chaos magic, no pre-prepared magics. Is that fine by you…..Twixie?”

Trixie flinches from the insult “Twilight that was….. that was….”

“Ha! You see I can sling insults just as well as I sling spells!” Twilight smirks with her victory

“…..really Really lame. It sounds like the name of a bad romance genre…..” The showmare finishes “I mean….. You should obviously leave the quips to somepony else….”

“That’s what I said!” Pinkie yells from the sidelines.

“And I certainly hope that you DON’T sling insults as well as you sling spells!” Trixie smirks “otherwise this will be a very short fight! I hope that you are prepared to face the Wrath of the Great and powerful Trixie!” a barrage of sparklers go off behind her as she stands on her back hooves making an intimidating appearance that surprises every mare in the arena.

All except one of course, a lavender mare who rolls her eyes in exhaustion “…..Can we fight now?”

“Son of a…. yes!”

With sudden speed and precision the blue mare launches a bolt of magic directly at the head of the lavender mare who weaves to the side avoiding the blast. Taking advantage of Twilight’s opening Trixie charges towards the startled Lavender mare who is unprepared for the sudden rush. Yet at the last second Twilight launches a blast of her own hitting Trixie’s barrel straight on with a blast of eldritch force. However the moment that the spell collides with the showmare, the blue pony disappears into a cloud of smoke surrounding Twilight and cutting off her field of vision to almost zero. Trying to back out of the mist, Twilight is shocked to find her field of vision is already blocked by the dark blue smoke completely cutting off her sense of sight.

‘It’s obvious that Trixie is an illusionist type magic user, if I let her gain the upper hand or close the distance I’m a goner.’ Twilight thinks her eyes searching through the mist for any sign of movement ‘If I’m going to win I have to keep the distance between me and her otherwise she’ll be able to interrupt my spells with hoof to hoof combat. And if I’m able to take her by surprise……’

With a sudden gust of magical wind Twilight quickly blows away the smokescreen, and scans around to locate the troublesome blue mare before she can play another trick on her. Yet the moment that the smokescreen vanishes, the Lavender mare is tackled from her blind side sending her tumbling to the ground.

Dojaaaaaaa….

Trixie recovers from the body blow almost instantly as she stands over Twilight the mare takes a step towards the prone mare. Basking in the fact that she was able to get the upper hoof on her rival in the first round Trixie strokes her mane “Had enough Snarkle?”

Twilight grins as she rises to her hooves “please Twixie, I’m just getting started!”

“Stop trying to make that work you…” Trixie is cut off by another explosion as Twilight releases a purple smoke cloud of her own around herself giving herself almost total concealment from Trixie. Trixie readies herself as she faces the cloud, aware that an attack could come from any direction at any time. Then with a flash of light Twilight teleports at point blank range in front of the blue mare who is only able to backpedal once in terror as Twilight hits her with a powerful right cross.

Yet once again her hoof passes harmlessly through the showmare, as the illusion dissipates into nothing. “An illusion?” Twilight recoils  “But how?! I never saw her ignite her…”  Twilight’s words are cut off as the purple mare is once again tackled from her blind side sending her skidding to the ground. Appearing from behind the purple mare Trixie grins at another successful attack

Dojyaaa…..

This time the purple mare rises to her hooves almost instantly as the blue mare smirks in front of her “well that was a surprise,  little bookworm knows how to throw a punch and it looks like you can take a punch as well…….” Trixie remarks with a pleased tone in her voice.

Twilight smirks back “the boxing compendium’ chapters four and six, the straight cross and the half step. Both essential moves for any close quarters fighters.”

“Don’t get cocky Snarkle, your punch is still lacking compared to the Great and Powerful Trixie! If you want to win against me…..” Trixie’s horn glows bright “..…You’ll have to turn up the heat!”

With a flick of her horn a wall of flame materializes around the purple mare its flames rising high enough in a second to completely obscure the mare from view. Twilight friends look on with no small amount of fear as the walls of scorching heat rise preventing them from knowing if Twilight Sparkle is alive or burnt to a crisp. The flames roar the fires burn and the heat is unbearable, yet not twenty seconds later the Lavender mare walks clean through the flames completely unharmed.

Twilight brushes her coat with her hoof as if brushing off any imaginary soot “Making an audible and visual illusion that incorporates Touch…… Not bad Trixie. But you’ll need more than petty tricks to get the upper hoof on me.” Twilight takes a step forward “Not that I’d expect anything less from a showmare. But if ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie’ expects to beat me with light shows she had better think again!”

Twilight takes a firm stance before the showmare as she stares her down. “I trained personally under some of the best minds in canterlot and played chess with an alicorn, so if you want to beat me you’ll have to think four moves ahead.”

The ground beneath Trixie’s hooves ignites in a sudden flash of light blinding the Blue Showmare “………because I’m playing three moves ahead of you.” Rushing at the blinded showmare, Twilight runs up and throws a powerful Cross knocking Trixie off her footing. “This one’s for the tackle.” Then with another blow Twilight flattens the showmare sending her falling to the ground as Twilight’s friends cheer from the sidelines. “And that was for calling me Twibright” Trixie slowly rises to her hooves with a look of resolution on her face and despite the bruise on her cheek she barely looks fazed by twilight’s full force blow.

Spitting out a dab of blood on the side of the stage the showmare rubs her bruised face as she turns back to face her opponent. “Please you call that a punch? Don’t make Trixie laugh. She’s fought fillies who could hit better than you.” Trixie takes delight in Twilight’s stunned expression as she paces around her foe “Don’t look so surprised Twibright, as a stand agent it has been Trixie’s job for the last six years to track down and bring to justice the most hardened criminals. If Trixie was so weak to succumb to a librarian’s punch she would have died ages ago.”

“And another thing..…” Trixie stops her pacing turning her supple body to face Twilight “….you talked about playing four moves ahead like this was some form of chess game, Don’t delude yourself Twilight sparkle, this is real combat., not some board game! It’s something that sheltered fillies like you would know nothing about.” Trixie raises her hoof revealing a long brown rope “Real combat is about reading your opponent’s moves, planning for them and luring them in for the kill, like what Trixie just did to you.”

With one solid yank with both her hooves the blue showmare pulls the rope tight the disguised chord now wrapping itself around Twilight’s legs. The lavender mare barely has time to yelp as the rope hogties her sending her crashing to the ground with a thud.  “Trixie let you hit her on purpose, to lure you in for one of my signature magic tricks. Trixie’s third trick: Magic Rope Trap.”

Twilight flails about her horn burning as she attempts to sever the rope with her magic “Don’t bother Twilight! The rope on your hooves is enchanted to resist all magics even my own, it’s why I had to set it up manually with my hooves while you were wasting your time with that little smokescreen!”

Twilight’s horn flares as she tries to grasp the rope with her telekinesis, burn it with fire or sever it with a cutting spell but to her great distress nothing works. Trixie grinning in victory walks up to the struggling mare and places her fore hoof firmly on her head. “Well it looks like I have won our little match Twibright! Be sure to show up bright and early tomorrow, after all a servant can’t be late for her master now can she?”

Twilight blushes furiously in embarrassment as Trixie yawns lazily “Now if you don’t mind, your stupidity has worn the Great and Powerful Trixie out so she is retiring for the night in her…..” Trixie’s eyes widen in terror as she looks back to see her home, her caravan burning down like a grass hut “….. Smoking ruins of her wagon?!”

The fire consuming Trixie’s home suddenly becomes as apparent to the group who was so entrenched in the fight that they could not see the flaming trailer behind them. Trixie turns on the mane six with malice in her eyes “YOU….. You just couldn’t stand the fact that your little friend was no match for the Great and powerful Trixie! Could you! So you destroyed her home?! I swear that you’ll pay for th…..”

“Don’t look at us!” Dash shouts “we weren’t the ones throwing around deadly lasers all over the place!”

 “WHAT!?” Trixie looks back between her house and her own horn “do… do you expect Trixie to believe that Trixie was responsible for this you…. You…..”

However the more she thinks about it the more Trixie comes to the horrible truth that deep down she is the one responsible. None of the others possess the means to create a fire with such intensity in such a short time while they were all watching Trixie’s fight. Which means the blast that was currently burning her home must have come from her or……

Trixie hears the sound of ropes snapping behind her to see the Twilight the ropes around her hooves badly burnt by an errant piece of flaming wood. Twilight breathes a sigh of relief “whew, those ropes were really resistant to magical fire. But luckily for me they weren’t so resistant to normal fire. It’s a good thing that there was a fire so close by…”

“YOU!” Trixie looks at the lavender mare stomping towards her with the force of an enraged titan “YOU BURNT DOWN MY HOME! It wasn’t enough to just embarrass the Great and Powerful Trixie and ruin her life now you have decided to destroy her home and livelihood as well!?”

“Your home?” Twilight tilts her head is obvious confusion toe the show mare’s allegations “I just got this piece of flaming wood from over….” Twilight looks over towards where she got the piece of flaming wood to see that the small fire she found has grown into a fire that is consuming the show mare’s home

“… Fire!! Don’t worry Trixie I’ll have this put out in a moment! Just let me….” Twilight concentrates her horn blazing with magical energy as a dark storm cloud forms over the Trixie’s wagon. The cloud crackles with magical energy as it explodes in a thunderous boom releasing a torrent of water down over the caravan, and extinguishing the fire. Looking at the charred and skeleton remains of the home Twilight looks back nervously at the blue showmare “S-S-See? As good as new!”

CRAAASSHH!!

As if waiting for the irony of the situation, the trailer falls to pieces leaving a pile of ashes and burnt wood where Trixie’s only permanent residence once stood. The showmare, witnessing her own home destroyed gapes for a minute or two with her mouth wide open at the scene of devastation before her. Her mind struggles to process both the suddenness and destructive after effects of losing her wagon, her vehicle of business, her home to a freak accident that leveled the entire building in less than a few minutes.

Slowly the Great and powerful Trixie takes a deep cleansing breath in stoking the flames of her rage with the ashes of her home. The showmare then turns to the librarian her face contorted into a face of cool rage, the kind of cold calculating anger that makes a pony’s hairs stand on end “Twilight…..you used your stand just now… didn’t you……”

Twilight backs up “Trixie… what are you talking about? I’m sorry about your home but it was…..”

“You used your stand just now.… to get that flaming branch, didn’t you….. I saw that your stand had the name FRIENDS on it….” Trixie manifests her own stand its star covered arms folded like a wrathful djinn of old, its cape billowing in a ethereal breeze as its anger filled eyes glint from under its wide brimmed hat. “Well if you wanted this to be a stand battle in the first place you should have just asked. Trixie can certainly oblige you Twilight, but she can assure you that by the time she is done with you you’ll be sipping your meals through a straw.”

Twilight shivers with cold terror as she is aware that Trixie is now completely serious. She has one chance and only one chance to explain herself before Trixie loses it “Trixie what happened to you house was a complete accident! There’s no reason to….”

“’it was an accident!’ ‘I’m sorry!’ ‘I’m a pathetic unicorn!’ blah blah blah!” Trixie screams in a nasally mocking voice “Don’t you get tired of saying the same thing over and over?!” Trixie shouts in her most snide voice as she takes a step closer.

“Now then since you are so insistent in taking this match further…” the showmare pulls out an assortment of knives seemingly from out of thin air with her stand “I can show you some of my most devastating magic! With the aid of my stand, MAGIC MARE!”

Twilight’s eyes widen as fear suddenly gives way to alertness, the active threat brought on by the presence of the knives drawing out her stand FRIENDS as Trixie stands ready to attack.

“Now take this! DOJYAAA!” Twilight’s eyes grow wide as the mare throws a barrage of knives directly at her, her stand reflexively defending against the attack. The knives scrape and bounce off Twilight’s FRIENDS causing several shallow cuts that fail to draw blood to appear on Twilight’s coat. Refusing to let up her attack Trixie throws another assortment of knives at blindingly fast speeds. This time Twilight quickly manifests a barrier that stops the knives, embedding them in a translucent purple shield.

“Not bad Twilight!” Trixie yells as she jumps into the air “Now try this!” Another barrage of knives are thrown and Twilight raises a stronger shield to block them, however this time the knives vanish in thin air the moment that they contact the shield, dissipating into mist as mysteriously as they appeared. Twilight withdraws her shield as Trixie lands on the ground again the purple mare keeping her eyes on the blue showmare for any sign of her usual tricks. However what Twilight sees in Trixie’s eyes scares her even more than her knives, he look of smug victory and a mare who knows something that doesn’t.

With a gesture filled with overwhelming confidence, Trixie points up to the sky with her hoof causing Twilight to follow her gaze upwards, just as she a razor sharp storm of knives falls all over her body. “Trixie’s fourth trick: Rain of Knives”

Twilight manifests her stand as fast as she possibly can attempting to swat away as many of the multitude of blades as possible. Yet despite her best efforts the blades countless blades manage to slip past her guard with sheer numbers as they fall on top of her, cutting her coat with their jagged edges. Eventually the mare realizes that there are far too many to and attempts to shield herself with her stand’s body as the storm continues to fall. Eventually the steel rain ceases and the storm ends leaving the purple unicorn standing in the middle of a pile of blades that glint in the last light of the fading sun. Twilight is now barely standing, her body now covered in countless scratches ranging from glancing blows to long cuts that cover her forearms and back. The purple mare pants heavily more from the pain than the blood loss as she channels her magic as rapidly as possible to heal the numerous wounds covering her body.

“TWILIGHT!” Fluttershy calls out as the other mares prepare to rush onto stage.

“TRIXIE! What were you thinking?! Are you trying to kill her!?!” Dash yells as she leaps up on the stage.

“Back off!” Trixie snaps at them in a tone that causes the mares to halt their attempts to save Twilight. “All of her wounds are superficial little more than scratches. I intentionally missed any of her vitals and slowed the speed of the knives, so it doesn’t count as lethal force. I broke no rules in this duel so none of you have any right to interfere!

“Besides…” Trixie looks over towards the lavender mare, a slight look of defiance hiding behind the Twilight’s pained expression “if she didn’t want to fight any more she wouldn’t have remained standing. Twilight hasn’t surrendered yet so that proves that she doesn’t want this fight to end either!”

Applejack unwilling to let her friend get so heavily injured in front of her stomps her hoof with enough force to crack the wood of the stage “No way! Ah’m putting my hoof down now! This little match of yours has gone too far an ah’m stopping it right….”

“Shut up!” Trixie yells at the top of her lungs, and with a wave of her horn throws the mares off the stage with raw magical force “this isn’t about the magic duel anymore! It’s about my honor as an illusionist and a mare. Twilight has taken everything from me, my Future, my past and now my present! But more unforgivably… But more unforgivably…” The blue mare shakes with rage as she tries to formulate a response that justifies exactly how she feels about the mare in front of her.

Twilight, exhausted and breathing heavily manages to raise her head towards Trixie and her stand the librarian’s eyes regaining their focus as she looks upon the star spangled image in front of her. Suddenly Twilight’s eyes light up with a flash of inspiration. Her mind clicks as she finally understands the depth of Trixie’s deceptions “Trixie…” Twilight points her hoof at the showmare “your next line… it’s going to be…”

 “……..Twilight spit on the Pride of the Great and Powerful Trixie! And now she must pay for it!” Both mares yell at the same time. Trixie audibly gasps at this putting her hoof over her mouth “wha… What!?!”

Twilight grins “and your next line is ‘no pony sees through the Great and powerful Trixie’s tricks! It’s impossible!’”

“No pony sees through the Great and powerful Trixie’s tricks! It’s impossible…… WHAT?!” The blue showmare seethes completely flabbergasted by Twilight’s sudden surge of confidence and her well timed trick. “How.. how did you…. You couldn’t have…” Trixie stutters.

Twilight beams in pride as she takes a step forward “yes Trixie I did! I saw through your tricks! I know how you’ve been getting the drop on other ponies with your illusions, like how you managed to disappear at will and make knives appear out of thin air! It’s your stand!”

Twilight points to Trixie’s stand with her hoof causing the showmare to flinch and look at the star caped figure behind her. “I was confused because I never saw your horn ignite when you seemed to disappear and reappear, so I thought it was some form of sleight of hoof and not your magic! But you were using your magic, just not your unicorn magic!”

Twilight manifests her own stand causing it to pick up one of the remaining knives in her hooves “that’s how you managed to make the knives appear out of thin air and you seemed to disappear at will! Your stand can probably cause anything it touches, to vanish into thin air and create an exact illusionary double in its place. When you threw those illusionary knives at me you threw the real knives into the air so that I would try and block the illusions and miss the real attack.”

Trixie begins to sweat bullets, her tricks unraveling before her eyes as Twilight fiddles with one of Trixie’s knives in her telekinetic field. “From how I figure it, it works like the spell ‘mislead’. You mask the real object in invisibility and create an exact illusion of it at the same time. Then you use the illusion as a distraction while the cloaked object hits your opponent from a blind spot.”

Twilight throws the knives off the stage as she clears the distance between her and the showmare “in fact…. That’s probably how you managed to vanish and reappear behind me all those times and hide a rope where I couldn’t see it! My stand was able to hold the rope so stand powers work on it. You’ve been cheating from the beginning Trixie! You were using your stand the entire time!”

“So what if I was?!” Trixie snaps at Twilight as she takes a step forward “in a life or death battle anything goes! Besides you decided that this would be a magical duel, and stands are a form of magic!” Trixie manifests her own stand inching closer to attack “if you’re so sore about me using my stand you should use your own!”

The blue show mare tilts her head in confusion “So come on! Hit me with your stand power! You haven’t used it once since this battle began. Have you been holding back on me? Or is it that your stand is so weak and pathetic you didn’t bother to use it Twibright?”

Twilight gulps heavily ‘Trixie’s right!’ she thinks ‘my stand has no offensive power! And by itself it can’ do anything! It can only form connections!’ Twilight shakes her head as she pushed the doubts out of her head ‘but I can’t let Trixie know that! And I doubt that I can form a stable connection with Trixie given how much she hates me.’

An idea enters Twilight’s head as she manifests her stand causing the blue showmare to back off in caution. ‘Maybe if I attack her with my stand, I can create an opening to finish her with my magic! That’s my best option now, if I keep her in the dark about my abilities I can get the drop on her.’

“Alright Trixie…” Twilight’s FRIENDS strikes a threatening pose as it raises its hooves to attack. “You want me to attack with my stand! You’ve got it!” With surprising speed Twilight attacks with her stand as Trixie moves to block with her stand Magic Mare. FRIENDS rushes forward It’s hooves attacking with such speed and suddenness that Twilight’s feint soars clean past Trixie’s’ hastily constructed guard connecting squarely with Trixie’s face.

 “ORA…..” the stand says as it pulls back its hoof from the face of the blue mare, the same mare who is blinking in confusion.

Twilight’s freezes as Trixie looks at the stand then back to Twilight, then back to the stand before laughing out loud. “BWA HA HA HA! Was that your best attack Snarkle?! That must have been a fluke! Come on and Try again, the Great and Powerful Trixie will let you! Ha HA”

‘Oh no!’ twilight thinks ‘she knows that my stand can’t do anything! Now I have to…’

“ORA!!!!” as if obeying the orders of the blue mare, the stand FRIENDS lashes out again with much more force, yet just as before the blow produces no signs of physical damage on the Trixie’s face.

“Well it seems as if that wasn’t a fluke.” Trixie remarks snidely “I thought that it was strange that you didn’t use your stand to attack… but if this is all it can do….”

“ORA! ORA!” the stand attacks twice at Trixie’s Magic Mare landing clean blows but with no visible damage as Trixie glares at the stand in frustration.

“Once might have been funny, and twice maybe, but now it’s just getting annoying…. Gruah….” Trixie rubs her horn “your little antics have given Trixie a headache…. But now it’s time to end this! Take this! DOJYAAA!”

‘Hunh?’ Twilight thinks to herself ‘a headache… didn’t Lyra complain of the same thing?’ Twilight jumps to the side avoiding Magic Mare’s slow punch as her mind races; The pained expression of the showmare causing Twilight’s mind to race in overdrive as weaves in and out avoiding the pained stand’s movements. ‘Why? Why did my stand attack all on its own? Why doesn’t’ it do any physical damage? Can Why does it make ponies heads hurt when I can’t mind link with them? …….Wait a moment!’

A crazy idea enters Twilight’s mind as she parries one of Trixie’s blows with her own stand glancing at her astral projection before her in a new light ‘What was it that I said to Applejack?! About what happens if a mental link fails?! Could it be? It doesn’t inflict physical damage because it actually inflicts……?’

Cutting off Twilights’ train of thought, a large black box appears around the lavender mare trapping her body inside the prison as her stand is trapped outside without its owner. Trixie’s horn flares and her stand holds up a collection of swords as the black wooden box is surrounded by solid iron chains that quickly seal off the black box from any chance of escape. “It’s over Twilight sparkle! Trixie’s First trick, the best in my arsenal…..” the large straight swords disappear from Magic mare’s hooves only to reappear around the black box suspended in Trixie’s magical aura. “…..Magical cutting boxes!”

Like a scientist testing a new hypothesis or an athlete testing a new limit of their abilities Twilight is filled with excitement and rising terror knowing if her hypothesis is faulty then it will mean the end of her. Glancing through one of the sword holes the mare maneuvers her stand FRIENDS directly in front of Trixie as it readies its’ hooves to attack the now exposed blue showmare.  ‘This is it! If this fails there will be no second chance! I’ll have to hit her with everything I’ve got in one shot!’

As FRIENDS stands ready to attack however, Trixie barely pays it any mind, knowing how powerless its blows truly are. “Why won’t you just give up Twibright!” Trixie shouts to the librarian as she lifts the black box in the air for the finishing blow.  “It would take a thousand of these little fowl punches to beat…..”

ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! ORA! OOOOOOOOOOOOOOO AAAAAAAA!!!!!

Twilight’s stand FRIENDS throws one punch after another each one hitting the blue mare square in the muzzle like a volley from a Gatling gun, each blow followed instantly by another just like it. Suddenly the black box around twilight falls to pieces, the chains dissipating into mist as Trixie falls to the ground groaning in pain.

With her concentration breaking apart the suspended swords fall to the ground with a loud clatter as the blue mare clutches her head in agony, shielding herself from FRIENDS’s numerous blows. “My…. My head…… hurts so bad….. What did you…?”

Twilight smirks “It’s my power Trixie. I have the power to form mind links with other ponies and boost their powers….” Twilight looks at her stand with a now look of pride on her face “… and I thought that because of that, that I had to rely on others in combat and couldn’t protect myself. “

Now free from the box Twilight begins to trot over to the prone Blue showmare as she raises her stand’s fore hooves. “However I forgot that if a pony isn’t willing to perform a mind link, that the mental feedback creates intense mental strain. In other words it creates mental damage not physical damage. Normally it wouldn’t be noticeable from one attempt because the initial feedback creates only mild headaches”

Twilight raises her stand’s hooves smashing them together in a thunderous clap. “But a mild headache can blossom into intense migraines, dizziness, confusion and eventually unconsciousness if its effects multiply. Meaning my stand can inflict concussions just by assaulting your mind, you can block a punch but you can’t protect your mind!”

“D-D-Defeat T-Trixie?!” The showmare rises shakily to her hooves as she stands manages to manifest her stand. “Y-You must be joking! T-Trixie’s power is invincible…… Y-You can’t……”

With a single blow Twilight pours the last of her strength into her stand’s powerful left cross, hitting Trixie square on as her stand’s hoof smashes itself into the Magic Mare’s face. For a second the two mares stand completely as the two stands stand motionless and with one last gasp the blue mare falls to the ground completely unconscious.

Twilight’s friends look on as Twilight remains standing the sole victor in a fight of rivals, many times they feared for her safety but only now do their souls brim with pride and happiness as the lavender mare stands over her enemy. However Twilight does not share in their joy. Her body frozen in fear, the Lavender mare stares at Trixie with a haunted expression in her eyes, her face contorting itself in rising horror like a pony coming face to face with a ghost.

Just as Applejack is about to ask if Twilight is all right, the lavender mare lets out an ear piercing scream as if she was the witness to a crime of horrific proportions. Her voice echoes over the field with a piercing cry of pain just as the mare falls to the ground in a dead faint, both the victor and the loser lying on top of the other as their minds drift and dream.

………………..

“uuuuuggggghhhhhhhh….. my head….. what…. What happened?” Twilight sparkle mare extraordinaire pulls herself off the ground, her head throbbing with new information as she pulls herself upright, quickly helped up by the familiar face of one of her friends.

“Who there…. Take it easy Twi…..” Applejack says “yawl were pretty pooped after that there fight and pinkie had ta give y each a red stone to perk ya up. Otherwise yawl might have been out fer longer than an hour.”

“An… an hour….” Twilight rubs her head “That’s right! I was fighting Trixie?! What happened who won?” The mare frantically asks “Do I have to be Trixie’s slave? Because I really really….”

Dash lands by the lavender unicorn “relax there Egghead, you totally….”

“It was a tie!” a familiar voice yells and every eye in the group turns to face the arrogant and self-obsessed face of Trixie “the match was a tie, it was a great and equal draw! The perfect ending to a great and powerful duel!”

Dash glares at Trixie “Uh….. earth to loser, you fell down first that means you lost…”

“Ridiculous! I heard the details from the yellow Pegasus! Who is much kinder and has better manners than a brute like you!”

Dash turns to Fluttershy who blushes nervously “…well um…..” The butter yellow pegasus shuffles her hooves “…..she did ask what happened….. and she kind of deserved to know…. I didn’t want to be rude…”

Trixie nods politely “yes and Trixie thanks you for being courteous and telling the truth. Thank you Fluttershy.” The entire group stands dumfounded that the Great and powerful Trixie would thank any pony as the blue mare turns to Twilight “And from what I heard Twilight collapsed exactly five seconds after I did. And according to magical duel rules a contestant has to stay alive or conscious for ten seconds or the match is a tie.”

The great and powerful Trixie magics her hat hack onto her head with poof of smoke “Besides Trixie woke up first!”

“……however.” Trixie continues “since it was a fair duel and Trixie did fall first I will honor my word and attempt no actions against you plebeians.” The mare tilts her hat obscuring her eyes “Trixie is a mare of her words if nothing else. Is not Trixie great and generous?”

Twilight surprised at the blue mare’s sudden shift in behavior trots over to the showmare, extending her hoof in friendship “wow Trixie that’s…… really kind of you. tha….”

Trixie swats the hoof out of her face “Don’t get all chummy with Trixie, Twibright! I still hate you; I’m just following orders to help you out. I was commanded by Celestia to watch over you and your little friends, that is all there is!”

The entire group looks at Trixie with disdain in their eyes “Wait a second!” Dash shouts “If you were commanded to protect Twilight why did you try and kill her with that magic cutting box thing?”

“And those flyin knives!” Applejack says

“And that garish outfit!?” Rarity finishes. The entire group looks at the fashionista “what? Her outfit is a danger to everypony who gazes upon it! Why I don’t know how you all can put up with it!”

“This outfit is traditional magician’s garb!” Trixie shouts “And Trixie wasn’t trying to kill her! She was just going to defeat her to prove to Celestia how much more superior Trixie is! It would then be obvious to her who the better apprentice would have been and who she can really trust in this backwater town.”

Trixie lowers her head as if in shame “And for that The Great and Powerful Trixie apologizes. She was so sure that she would beat you easily; you see it often in those pompous nobles in canterlot. They think they know everything about using magic but most can’t even fight their way out of a paper bag.”

Trixie raises her head looking directly in the eyes of the lavender mare “However it is obvious now that you are different Twilight Sparkle. You are obviously not even a quarter as talented as the great and powerful Trixie…….. but you have the right stuff. The great and powerful Trixie was wise in choosing you as her eternal rival.”

“Wow…. Thanks Trixie.” Twilight states with surprise “… I guess. And I know that you will be a great asset to us here in ponyville, and my friends are more than happy to have your help too, right?”

The entire group (other than Pinkie Pie and Fluttershy) grumbles to themselves revealing their great disagreement with Twilight sentiments.

“RIGHT?” Twilight stares them down causing the entire group to mutter positive conformation.

Pinkie giggles “this is great! A new pony who loves to party! This is going to be the best welcome to Ponyville party ever! That is aside from the Party we threw Twilight…… and the party for the mayor’s reelection …. And that one time this really strange guy came to ponyville and started stealing all my songs……and that one time….”

As pinkie babbles on Rainbow Dash turns to Fluttershy “I don’t know about you, but I still don’t trust her. Call it a hunch but I think that that mare is hiding something. What do you think flutters?”

“Well….. um I don’t know…” Fluttershy mutters “I think that having Trixie around could be….. nice….”

“NICE?!” Dash yells “NICE?! Trixie is the complete opposite of nice!”

“Well… um… she complimented me…. So I think that she isn’t all bad…..”

“NOT THAT BAD? Let me tell you something Flutters…..”

The group continues to debate and talk with each other Pinkie about her parties Rainbow listing the reasons not to always look on ponies bright side and Rarity remarking on Trixie’s ‘fashionable’ cape and hat. Between Twilight trying to restore order and the group’s rambunctiousness nopony notices as Trixie walks towards the smoking rubble of her home. With a gentle glow of Trixie’s horn she pulls a magic protected suitcase out of the ashes walking back over towards the group. “Well Now that Trixie is homeless again, she needs a place to stay until this is all over, do any of you plebeians have a place luxurious enough for the great and powerful Trixie to stay?”

Dash’s eyes grow wide as she imagines what would happen if Trixie decided to start living in her house “Not IT!” in a flash of rainbow color Dash flies away as if chased by Discord himself.

“…. Well that excludes Rainbow Crash….” Trixie turns to the rest of the ponies “do any of you ponies have a decent place to stay? What about you Twilight?”

Twilight taps her chin “well…. The library does have a guest room that I can lease out. It’s the least that I can do considering it is partially my fault that you lost your home….”

“…..and my cottage has a spare room too!” Fluttershy shouts with suddenness that causes the entire group to looks at the yellow mare. Realizing her outburst the yellow mare blushes furiously “that is…. I don’t mean to intrude…. And it is pretty far from town……That is…. If you needed a room that badly……”

The showmare looks between the two mares “two very tempting offers Trixie is sure….. However Trixie believes despite her resentment towards a certain purple mare for destroying her home, she will stay in the library. From Twibright’s reports it is closer to town and the center of all your operations.”

Trixie’s eyes stop on the butter yellow mare the look of disappointment on her face readily apparent “however Trixie would be more than happy to meet up with a mare as polite as you at another time perhaps for tea…….Considering you seem to be the only pony in this town with any degree of civility.”

The butter yellow Pegasus immediately perks up as Twilight picks up Trixie’s suitcase in her magic “then it’s settled!” Twilight looks at Trixie “Trixie will stay with me in the library for the time being. We’ll meet again at the same time tomorrow!” with that the entire group disperses as the ponies make their way to their own prospective homes.

………………….

Twilight the pack mule carries the burdensome load of Trixie’s magical props and luggage on her back. Struggling under the immense weight of Trixie’s worldly possessions the librarian struggles up the stairs at the blue mare taps her hoof impatiently. “Come on Snarkle! It’s just a couple more steps! Keep up the pace.”

The mare groans under the immense weight of the bleu mare’s pack placing it down on the halfway point on the stairs. “And why, oh great and powerful Trixie, am I the one who has to carry your things?”

Trixie taps her chin “Trixie does not know Twilight. Why did Twilight destroy Trixie’s home?”

“……touché Trixie….” Finally with a monumental heave of magic the lavender mare finally places the cumbersome items on the top of the stairs breathing freely for the first time in what feels like hours.

Trixie raises her nose at the purple mare “so the little bookworm couldn’t even carry the baggage the rest of the way….. Well that’s fine since Trixie is so generous she will carry her baggage the rest of the way.” With a gentle glow of magic the blue mare slowly picks up the baggage managing to shove the enormous pack through the door into Twilight’s guest room.

Twilight shuffles her hooves as she watches the blue mare move her possessions. Finally the lavender mare can take it no longer and clears her throat “Um… Trixie…”

 The showmare stops removing a specific package causing it to hang in midair as she turns to face the lavender mare “Yes Twibright, is there a problem? If this is about going back on giving me this room you are far too late as Trixie has already had to turn down Fluttershy and move all her things here.”

“Trixie…” Twilight continues her words as if stepping on broken glass “who is the bandaged pony…..”

The package falls to the floor with a loud thump as the Blue mare looks at Twilight her face pale and her eyes wide “How…… how did you….. know about…… THAT?”

Twilight shuffles on her hooves as she looks Trixie in the eyes “I didn’t want to say anything since my friends were there but when I hit you that last time I saw…… I saw that memory……. Of your parents…… and that stand…..” Twilight gulps heavily “and all that BLOOD”

At this the lavender mare has Trixie’s complete and utter attention “I don’t mean to pry into anything or make you talk about anything that you wouldn’t want to talk about……. Just…. Just what was that?”

Trixie turns her face from Twilight resting her head on the door frame “so…………you saw that.” Suddenly Trixie turns back to Twilight her face resolute and grim. “Well if you saw that then there is no point in keeping it a secret now is there?”

Twilight is about to speak up but a simple raised hoof from Trixie stops her cold. The showmare breathes in and out with an uneven breath. “When Trixie was a filly…. Long before she ever met you, or took that magic exam her parents were murdered, about thirteen years ago, by a stand user. Trixie remembers little of that day before she blacked out just a dark pony with a stand covered in bandages gripping my parents corpses in a vice.”

Trixie breathes out the weight of revealing such a monumental secret bringing her both relief and apprehension. “That’s the reason Trixie joined the stand agents and the reason that she travels across Equestria. Since I never found out the user’s identity, I have searched town after town for years of my life searching for that one stand. Since every stand is unique Trixie would know when she found the pony who murdered her parents.”

Trixie’s eyes glow with a dark fire of hatred as she looks off in the distance as if seeing the stand with her naked eyes “that is the primary motivation for Trixie. To find the pony who took her parents from her so cruelly and end them.” The mare closes her eyes as her demeanor returns to normal “Your motivations are naive Twilight…. However if you are truly intent on preventing rouge stand users from hurting innocent ponies…. Then Trixie is with you.” Trixie smiles ever so slightly as she extends her hoof towards the purple mare.

Twilight looks down in shock at Trixie’s outstretched hoof, before suddenly grasping it firmly “Trixie I think that this is the start of a beautiful Friendship….”

Trixie’s’ grin suddenly returns to its normal cocky nature “Friendship… HA! As if Trixie could ever consider the mare that ruined her life to be a friend! Friends are weakness that Trixie cannot afford, you are only a tool for my own revenge, so don’t let our collaboration get to your head Twibright!”

Twilight can’t help but chuckle “Whatever you say Great and Powerful Trixie, whatever you say……”