Common Ground
A silhouetted figure walked through the blackened night. The light from her horn radiated brightly against her light pink coat. Her head hung low, as if deep in thought. It was only a few weeks since Princess Twilight had taken Starlight Glimmer in as her new student. The large cavernous castle had been getting to the young unicorn and she decided a brisk walk might help her clear her head. So with assurance that not a single soul would move for the entirety of the night, she headed out of town.
She did not know how long she had been walking but estimated it must have been a few hours. The constant movement was a little strenuous on her hooves, but not enough to make her stop. A gust of wind blew a few loose strands of hair onto her face, causing Starlight to sigh.
I know Rarity said a new mane-due would help me meet ponies, she thought. But does it constantly have to get in my eyes.
With a swift movement of her hoof, she brushed the strands aside until they fell evenly on the side of her face.
But something else bothered her, that word… friendship. Was it friendship or pity? Did the Mane Six really want to be her friend or did they just feel sorry for her after hearing what she’d been through. No doubt, Twilight had told her friends the reason Starlight hated cutie marks. It was because of that incident that caused her to invent a whole philosophy based on equality in the first place. In fact, now that she thought about it, Twilight didn’t even try to reach out to Starlight until after she was shown the day Sunburst left for Magic School.
The unicorn’s hooves stopped. She was far from Ponyville now. All she could see was tall grassy fields, not a building in sight. She couldn’t even hear the faint sounds of a train pulling out of the station, which she passed a few miles back. Then she noticed something in the distance. After careful inspection, she realized it was a stage. Curiously, she made her way over to the wooden platform, her ears perking up when she heard a voice coming from the other side.
“Gather round pony civilians and witness the spectacular of the Great and Powerful Trixie!”
Quietly, she snuck around the back and peaked her head from behind the curtain. To her surprise, there weren’t hundreds of ponies gathered in front of the stage, rather a selection of dolls and stuffed animals lined up neatly on the floor. A blue mare dressed in a sparkly cape and hat was waving her hooves as if she were conjuring up a spell, her horn glowing brightly as she did so. She cast a wave of light into the air, which soon burst into an array of fireworks. Then she levitated three small white feathers out of her hat.
“And now watch in awe,” the mare continued, “as the Great and Powerful Trixie transforms these feathers back into birds.”
Starlight’s eyes lit up as the magician got ready to perform her trick. Using her magic, Trixie levitated the feathers into the air. Then she opened up her cape to prove there was nothing inside. All at once, the feathers blasted with light and she waved her cape in front of them. When she opened it again, a flock of birds flew out, filling the stage.
Starlight’s mouth was agape the entire time. She would’ve clapped her hooves had she not been trying to remain inconspicuous. Trixie gave several regal bows to the line of toys, which were just as still and lifeless as they were at the start of the show.
“Thank you! Thank you! The Great and Powerful Trixie applauds your generous praises.”
Suddenly, the smile on the mare's face vanished and she fell back on her haunches staring down at the floor. A small tear slipped from her eye and Starlight's heart instantly sank. Apparently she wasn’t the only one who felt alone that night.
“Excuse me,” Starlight quietly asked.
Trixie’s head fiercely snapped around, facing the pony who just addressed her.
“What are you doing here!?” she hollered. “You are trespassing on Trixie’s private property.”
“I’m sorry, I just wanted–”
“Out! Out! Trixie doesn’t want you here. Trixie is very busy.”
“Given shows to a bunch of dolls...”
Trixie’s eyes widened. She had just completely humiliated herself in front of a stranger, another regret to add onto her list.
“Look.” Starlight sighed. “I was wondering if you'd like some company. You seem kinda lonely.”
“What?! Do you think Trixie is so desperate for companionship she’d take in the first pony she saw on the street? I assure you Trixie has plenty of friends and she doesn’t need ANYPONY’S CHARITY!”
Starlight's ears fell back and she lowered her head in defeat. “Oh… Okay. Sorry for intruding.”
With her head hung low, she turned on hoof and began to walk away.
Trixie guiltily watched the pony start to leave before calling out,“Wait!”
Starlight slowly turned her head back, scared of what else the unicorn wanted to yell at her about.
“I suppose Trixie could use a little company.”
Trixie clapped her hooves together and the stage folded into a small wagon. Once again, Starlight’s jaw dropped.
She opened the back door and held out her hoof. “Come on in.”
Starlight smiled and followed the unicorn inside.
Trixie showed Starlight several of her tricks. Even though Starlight could already do far more advanced spells, she still gazed in awe and disbelief at each one performed. After several minutes of performing, Trixie offered to get tea for the both of them. She fetched a kettle from the iron stove while Starlight found a seat in the corner.
Starlight shifted uneasily in her chair as Trixie prepared their drinks. She was still thinking about everything that happened since she had tried to stop the rainboom. It was all happening so fast. Trixie pushed a cup over to Starlight, who held it shakily in her hooves and slowly sipped. She bit her lip, wondering if she should say anything. After a few awkward seconds of silence, she eventually spoke.
“Trixie?” she asked. “Could I ask you something…personal?” She knew it was crazy to bring up sensitive topics with someone she just met but she desperately needed to talk to somepony.
“Well, Trixie’s not one for sincere and sentimental conversations… but I guess she could make an exception.”
“I just… feel so lost. Recently I’ve done some things, things I’d rather not talk about. Everypony forgave me and accepted me as their friend but no matter what, I just don't have that close bond they do with each other. I know I should be grateful that someone is willing to forgive me after...” Starlight bit her lip, remembering her horrible mistake. “What I did, but sometimes I wonder, did they really want to be my friend or are they just trying to stop me from causing another horrible disaster?”
Starlight solemnly bowed her head. Trixie just stared at her as if not sure how to respond. Seeing Trixie’s reaction, Starlight immediately regretted saying anything at all.
“Oh, that probably sounds stupid, doesn't it?” She muttered, averting her gaze away.
“Actually, Trixie understands exactly how you feel.”
Starlight lifted her head. “You do?”
She leaned in closer and rested her hooves on the table, intent on hearing Trixie’s story. Trixie took a sip from her cup and sighed.
“A while back Trixie may have become… in possession of the Alicorn Amulet.” Even thinking about that object caused her to cringe.
“The Alicorn Amulet? But I thought that artifact was lost in the Great Sand Storm of Saddle Arabia,” Starlight replied, recollecting hearing such a legend when she was a filly.
“Well Trixie found it and used its magic to enslave an entire town. She wanted to get revenge on a certain pony who showed her up at one of her shows: Twilight Sparkle.”
Starlight’s violet eyes widened. “Twilight Sparkle?”
Trixie nodded. “You would not believe the Great and Powerful Trixie could be capable of something so evil, but…” Trixie closed her eyes and folded her ears back. “It consumed me. The longer I wore it, the more my lust for vengeance grew. Eventually, I had become obsessed until the only thing that mattered was proving I was the best.”
Starlight raised an eyebrow at the sudden change in point of view, but proceeded to listen.
“After I took off the amulet, I realized what I had become- a monster. But it was already too late. Everypony knew what I had done and they would never forget it. If it weren’t for Twilight, I might have never realized it myself.”
“Twilight defeated me too,” Starlight added.
Trixie smiled. “Well then, we have more in common than Trixie realized. She claimed to forgive me but ever since then, no pony tried reached out to me, not that I would blame them. I was horrible.
“I was worse than you were and they welcomed me with open hooves.”
“I guess that means no one wants Trixie” Trixie slunk off her chair and walked over to the window.
That’s not true,” Starlight quickly said. “Listen I don’t know if those girls and I will ever be friends in the same way they see each other, but I do know at least I have one true friend that I can always count on.”
Trixie’s eyes widened. “You mean me?”
“Trixie, you’re the only one who truly accepted me and opened up to me before I told you what I did. I’m taking friendship lessons from Twilight and if you’d let me, I would love to share with you what I’ve learned. Maybe we can help each other get past these mistakes and start anew. Whadda ya say?”
Trixie felt her eyes fog up with tears. She sprung forward and threw her hooves around Starlight. The unicorn was taken off guard and just stood limp in Trixie’s hooves. Instantly she regretted her behavior and backed off nervously.
“Oh, Trixie’s apologizes for her…”
Starlight smirked at how nervous the unicorn was acting and leaned forward, gently kissing her on the cheek. Trixie gazed for a second in confusion and bewilderment before looking at the unicorn who committed the act. Starlight smiled in response, causing her to blush.
“Well, I better go,” Starlight said. “Princess Twilight will probably freak out if she can’t find me anywhere in the castle.” She headed over to the wagon entrance. “See ya!” she called before opening the door.
“Starlight.” Trixie said quickly.
Starlight looked back.
“Thanks.”
The pink unicorn smiled.
Trixie joined in before stepping back on her pedestal. “The Great and Powerful Trixie graciously accepts your friendship," she said in her proud announcer voice.
Starlight giggled at her arrogant new friend before waving her hoof and dashing away.
Author's Note
Note: This was written before "Crystalling" and "No Second Prances." Any similarities between these two are just coincidences.
Shortly after the season 5 finale, I found this vector of Starlight and Trixie.
http://geometrymathalgebra.deviantart.com/art/GlimmerTrix-529241172
I started thinking about it and I realized how much Starlight and Trixie had in common. They both enslaved ponies, felt constant regret over what they did, plotted revenge against Twilight Sparkle, and we're both forgiven. Never imagined they'd actually pair these two in the show, though.
Nothing spectacular. Just a cute, simple story.
