Reflections of a Magician and a Dragon

by BudCharles

Rating: everyone
Tags: Trixie, Spike, Twilight Sparkle, Slice of Life, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 1661

Trixie and Spike find themselves having a quiet conversation, and they turn out to have more in common than either of them thought.

(Don't need to read the prequel to understand it, it's really just backstory)

Trixie has become Twilight's student and a famous performer, Spike has become king of dragons, but remains Twilight's loyal and lifelong friend. The two of them end up having a picnic together, and find that their deepest secrets are actually pretty similar.

Published 2015-12-14 03:40:02 UTC
Last updated 2015-12-14 03:40:02 UTC

A Casual Conversation

“So then Twilight said, ‘what’s an egg doing in a kettle’” Spike explained, attempting his best Twilight impression.

Trixie giggled in response, she’d given up on trying to act like she didn’t care several minutes ago.

“So Trixie,” Spike asked, shifting his position on the picnic rug, “how come you decided to be Twilight’s student anyway?

“That’s easy, Trixie wanted to become even more great and powerful!” Trixie said with an unconvincing smile.

“Is that the whole reason?

Trixie sighed, before giving her reply. “Okay, that wasn’t the only reason - but don’t tell anypony!”

“My lips are sealed,” Spike assured, before adding “figuratively speaking, you know, still gotta breathe and such.”

Trixie rolled her eyes slightly before continuing. “Well, the way Twilight forgave Trixie, back before she became a princess… Trixie had never really been treated that kindly before. Trixie wanted to be around somepony who wouldn’t boo her off the stage if she got something wrong. If that makes sense?”

Spike smiled, “yeah, Twilight is pretty awesome huh? I’ve really missed her, being away in the Dragon Kingdom and such. I miss the way she used to read me stories, the way she’d totally geek out and tell me straight away about some new fact she discovered - and the way she was always there to talk to when I doubted myself. I know most other ponies just saw her bossing me around, but she also cared for me, more than anypony else.”

The pony and the dragon sat quietly for a moment, contemplating what had just been said and having a staring contest with the ground, before Trixie spoke up.

“Let’s stop being so sappy! Trixie is too amazing to be emotional!” Trixie declared half-jokingly.

“Heh, alright,” Spike said, blasting fire to scare off a nearby fly before continuing with his sentence. “Why don’t we talk about comics? Comics are awesome! Although, you probably wouldn’t know of any, considering how busy you are performing shows and learning about magic, huh?”

Trixie thought for a moment before continuing - she’d dug herself such a deep hole already she might as well tell the truth.

“Well uh - actually - Trixie does… sometimes… read comics,” she admitted, “but only ones worthy of being read by the Great and Powerful Trixie!”

“Any examples of ‘worthy’ comics?” Spike asked, giggling on the inside.

“Well um, possibly, mumble mumble.”

“Didn’t quite get that.”

“Mumble mumble.”

“Come on Trixie, what is it, I won’t make fun of you!”

“Power Ponies.”

“Oh my GOSH!” Spike squeaked, leaping into the air above the picnic rug and scaring away several trees worth of nearby birds, “I LOVE THAT SERIES!”

“Okay, okay, calm your tail!” Trixie said, magically levitating Spike back down to the ground, “Trixie approves of it as well.”

“So who’s best hero?” Spike answered, only slightly less manic than before.

“That’s hard to say, they’re all almost as great as Trixie, that’s a big achievement!”

Spike gave Trixie an unimpressed expression.

“Almost? Really? I thought you’d gotten over this whole showing-off thing!”

“Trixie has gotten over being evil, she has not gotten over being fabulous!” the show mare responded, lifting her snout in the air in the most proud and elegant pose possible, before tripping over her own cape and tumbling into the nearby grass.

Spike giggled and snorted, trying to hold back a full-on laughter attack.

“It’s not funny!” Trixie protested, using her magic to send Spike flying into the grass as well, before both of them began giggling hysterically, once again scaring off the nearby bird life.

Once the two of them finished their several minute-long laughing fit, Trixie lifted herself back onto all fours and shook the grass out of her fur like a dog shaking off water, sending half of it flying into Spike’s face as he tried to get up.

Suddenly, Spike had an evil thought.

“Hey Trixie?” he asked.

“Yes?”

“Have you ever had a crush?”

“Well - uh - umm - you see -” Trixie started.

“I’ll take that as a yes,” Spike continued, “who is it?”

“Mumble.”

“What was that?”

“Mumble.”

“Come on!”

Trixie sighed, she wasn’t going to get out of this without saying something.

“Well… uh…”

No, wait, she didn’t have to answer at all, she was Trixie, she could do whatever she wanted.

“Tell me your crush first!” Trixie asked.

No, no, no! That’s not what she wanted to ask at all! She wanted to change the topic! Right? She didn’t actually want to discuss this did she? Of course not!

“Well, if you promise to tell me yours afterwards” Spike said, blushing.

“Alright.”

WHAT WAS SHE THINKING?!

“Well uh, I - I kinda have a crush on Rarity.” Spike admitted, now blushing so furiously that his glowing cheeks almost scared the birds away a third time. “But uh - enough about that, who’s yours?”

Sigh, here it comes.

“The Great and Powerful Trixie has a crush on - on - sigh. Trixie has a crush on Twilight! There! Trixie said it! Happy?” she snapped.

“Wait, really?” Spike replied in surprise. He wasn’t sure what answer he expected, but he knew it wasn’t this one.

“Yes, really,” Trixie sighed, “but don’t even think about telling her!”

“Heh, only if you don’t tell Rarity.”

“Deal, Trixie agrees!” the relieved pony called out. “Now can we please move on to something else?”

“So what is it you like about -“

“Trixie said, can we move on to something else?”

“Right, sorry” Spike replied. “I did get a bit carried away with my curiosity there.”

“You are forgiven by the Wise and Merciful Trixie.”

Spike couldn’t help but giggle again, “glad to know my forgiveness in in good hooves”.

“So, um -”, Trixie began - now it was her turn to ask the personal question. “You don’t have to answer, but have you ever felt - left out?”

“What do you mean?” Spike asked, sitting up straight and listening intently.

“You know, have you ever felt like nopony else understands you, nopony knows you for who you really are?”

“Well, yeah, I think everypony feels like that sometimes.”

“But - do you feel like that a lot of the time?”

“Well…” Spike started, before letting out a sad sigh. “Well, yeah, being a dragon raised by ponies can be a bit difficult at times. I sometimes feel like no one cares, or understands. But I always have friends to cheer me up! Why do you ask?”

“Well, Trixie often feels that way too.”

“Really? You’re super famous - and talented - and you know exactly what your talent is! Why would you feel left out?”

It was Trixie’s turn to sigh sadly. She made sure she did it as dramatically as possible.

“That’s true, but that’s all most ponies know about Trixie. Some famous show mare who only cares about herself and how great she is. That’s not really true. Don’t tell anypony - but, well - that’s only an act.

Back in Celestia’s school, the year before Twilight arrived actually, Trixie was doing really well. She got straight As in magic, physics and creative writing. Then her family ran out of money and she had no choice but to drop out - she had to spend what used to be her study time working, to make enough money to keep the family going.

In her new school, the fillies made fun of Trixie, for being poor, for being a dropout, for being weak and dorky. So Trixie tried to act as if she was better than everypony else - and, well, she never stopped.”

“Wow,” Spike started, being pausing for a moment’s though, “that was actually really brave of you, to tell me all that.”

“Or stupid,” Trixie replied with a slight smile.

“So, I’m guessing from now on, you’re gonna stop acting like you’re better than everypony?”

“Pffft!, Of course not! It’s fun!” Trixie replied. “The Great and Powerful Trixie isn’t going to stop being amazing just so she can be ‘reformed’ or some nonsense like that!”

“But - you need to be true to yourself, right? That’s what Discord did - and Moondancer - and Ra-Ra.”

“Trixie knows it doesn’t make sense - but she feels that she really is being true to herself.”

“But you just said -”

“Trixie knows what she said. And it’s true, it is an act, but - well - Trixie likes acting! And even though most ponies don’t understand that Trixie really does care about others - some do. Like you, and Twilight.”

“Well I’m not a pony, I’m actually a dra-”

Trixie placed her hoof over Spike’s mouth and continued.

“As long as Trixie has friends like the two of you, she’ll never feel left out.” Trixie finished before lifting her hoof away from Spike.

Spike attempted to say something, but Trixie spoke over the top of him.

“Of course, being so incredibly talented and powerful, it’s only natural Trixie would have such amazing friends.”

Spike rolled his eyes.

“You’re welcome” he said sarcastically.

“Oh, right,” Trixie added. “Thank you.”

Spike smiled and gave Trixie a hug.

“So much for not being sappy, huh?” Trixie said, tears welling up in her eyes.

“Yeah, so much for that idea,” Spike sniffed.

“Hey you two!” Twilight Sparkle called out and she came trotting down a nearby pathway obliviously. “I found out a new fact about 2nd-Level Pegasus magic!”

Spike released Trixie from the hug, and the two of them followed Twilight as she excitedly made her way home.

Trixie almost understood this whole friendship thing.

Almost.

Author's Note

This actually ended up being completely different to what I was planning, but I actually think it turned out better. Instead of being some crazy action-packed mess, it just focuses on the main idea. I'll have to wait and see if you guys like it but personally, I think it turned out pretty well :moustache: