A Strange But Familiar Place

Obsidian and I arrive as Twilight is about to leave the show Trixie is putting on. She starts to gallop in a hurry towards our direction and I hold out my arms and stop her before she gains any speed. She looks up at me and smiles happily.

"They let you leave? Wow, you look much better Devan! I'm sorry I wasn't able to visit, I was just going to honestly... But then.." Twilight says while looking behind her at Trixie.

Well, I have a plan for this to make things go smoother but I don't want to change much.. It should still end the same way though.

I lean down and whisper in Twilight's ear. "Perhaps you should show that you can do more, after all... What would happen if she tried proving she COULD do something great and it ends up destroying Ponyville? Just show enough to make her realize that she can't do everything she thinks she can."

Twilight's ear twitches slightly and she looks down in thinking, then proceeds to nod in understanding.

"I challenge you, Trixie, to a magic duel!" Twilight says in confidence.

A chorus of gasps and 'OOOOOOOs' ring out into the air as Trixie looks at Twilight in some shock, but then puts on a showy smile.

"I, The Great and Powerful Trixie, accept your challenge." she replies in a confident tone.

I believe Faust said she went to the gifted unicorn school too.. I wonder if she's strong as well. What does a magic duel consist of I wonder?

They move multiple paces away from each other and then turn around.

I see Rarity close by watching the duel, even with her hair staying green and messy. "Hey, uhm.. What are the rules of a magic duel?" I ask her in a whisper.

"The rules are simple actually. No lethal spells or spell combinations, when somepony surrenders then the duel is over and finally hurting others that are not involved isn't allowed as well." Rarity says in a graceful and hushed voice.

It does sound simple.

I turn away from Rarity to continue watching Twilight and Trixie. I see both of their magic auras flair to life. Twilight having a bigger, stronger one but Trixie having a smaller, somewhat smoother one. Twilight shoots what seems like a simple blast from her horn and Trixie dodges it instantly. A bigger aura builds around Trixie's horn and then it's released. Around twelve more Trixie's appear but have aura around each of them.

She made clones?! I mean.... I guess she'd be good with illusions given her job but... This much and this soon? I wonder what Twilight will do.

Twilight looks at each clone in surprise as they start walking to her and then begins to launch a blast at each, watching as they go through every one she shoots at. She continues to do this until she hits the last one. It goes through the Trixie clone without issues. Twilight then begins to panic slightly and looks around in some desperation. I notice a faint aura behind Twilight that is light blue in nature. I also notice it's in the form of a pony, specifically Trixie.

"Twilight behind you!" I yell out.

Rarity didn't say HELPING the ponies in battle was against the rules. Then again, only people that can see aura's can really do much help that they couldn't do themselves.

Twilight looks at me quickly and then behind her while releasing a cone-like blast from her horn, completely pushing Trixie out of her invisibility and flying away from Twilight. Trixie doesn't get up for a second or two.

"I surrender" I hear weakly from Trixie's body as she sighs and gets up slowly.

Ouch, that must have hurt... I hope she's alright. I didn't get to watch the most recent season but I hear that she comes back and turns good? I think...

I walk over to Trixie as everyone else walks to Twilight, congratulating her. Twilight looks concerned for Trixie but can't get through the crowd. I smile at her and she smiles back knowingly.

"Hello 'Great and Powerful' Trixie. Are you alright?" I ask with sincerity.

"The Great and Powerful Trixie is fine.... But Trixie is wondering, how did you see me? Whatever you are." Trixie asks while putting her iconic hat back on.

Right, need a fake explanation...

"I saw a shimmer of a tail behind Twilight and assumed you were behind her somehow." I said in reply.

She looks at me while squinting her eyes in suspicion. "The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't believe you, but will accept that answer for now."

Phew.... Good thing she doesn't have that lie detecting spell or whatever.

"Are you doing alright? That seemed like it hurt a bit." I say, and then give her a smile.

She looks at me strangely. "The Great and Powerful Trixie is fine and doesn't need Devan's help with anything." she says with a huff.

Huh, she got my name just from that conversation with Twilight? Smarter than she looks, that's for sure.

"Alright, alright. But if you ever want someone to talk to or perhaps want to hang out, I'll be your friend if you want. I see you have a mobile home there of some kind, and you might not be around here a lot. Whenever you are, I'll gladly make time for you. I will be at the northern part of town in the slightly overgrown house." I say with a genuine smile and hope that she will accept this.

Trixie looks at me surprised for a second and then stares off into space for a minute. She then nods quickly and makes her way back to her home and starts to pack it up.

Well, that went better than expected. I suppose I will have to make time for her... Probably tomorrow or tonight even considering the fact she moved quickly back to her home.. thing... God why can't I remember what those are called right now? Oh well, I'll ask Rarity or something. Now, time to see how life has been the past few days with the others.

I look at Obsidian behind me, she is seemingly glowing with pride and happiness.

"What?"