Cycle of Darkness

by Razor Blade the Unicron

Rating: teen
Tags: My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic, Dark, Alternate Universe, Main 6, Drama, Trixie, Twilight Sparkle, Random
Length: 3234

Trixie has gotten stuck in a time loop. She arrives in Ponyville everyday with the Alicorn Amulet around her neck, and banishes Twilight. Will she ever be able to overtake the evil in the Amulet?

Trixie has gotten stuck in a time loop. She arrives in Ponyville everyday with the Alicorn Amulet around her neck, and banishes Twilight. Will she be able to overtake the evil in the Amulet? Or will Trixie be doomed to repeat that same horrible moment in her life forever?

Note: The Dark tag is for the darkness that Trixie faces within the Alicorn Amulet.

Published 2017-03-21 03:20:01 UTC
Last updated 2017-03-22 16:33:10 UTC

The Great and Relieved Trixie

Trixie tripped as she ran off from Ponyville and Twilight Sparkle, but simply got back up and kept running. Unlike last time, she wasn't run in shame and humiliation, but with joy and relief in her heart. Twilight Sparkle had tricked her into taking off the Alicorn Amulet, so she was no longer being corrupted by it. The freedom from the dark magic was unlike anything she had ever felt before.

Thank you, Twilight Sparkle. thought Trixie as she ran. If it weren't for you, I would still be corrupted by that Amulet. I'll return some day when I can properly thank you for what you've done for me.

Trixie stopped running, and sat down to catch her breath. The stars were shining brightly in the sky, specifically the Northern Star. She could make out the constellations of the Big Dipper, Orion, and Ursa Major. That one made her blush in embarrassment. Her "fight" with the Ursa Minor after her lies had been one of her most humiliating moments, but even the Great and Powerful Trixie couldn't let her ego grow too much.

Stop thinking about the past. Think about the future. It's all behind you now.

Trixie couldn't help but lay down and continue to look up at the stars. She saw Leo, Hydra, Gemini, and Pisces. Though she wasn't that great at many things, Trixie did know her constellations. The night sky had always been something that fascinated her, with its peaceful beauty and slightly changing look. Plus, the stars didn't judge her for past mistakes.

The Northern Star is so bright tonight. I've never seen it like this before.

The Northern Star very slowly began to shift in color, which Trixie didn't even notice until she realized that the star had gone from yellow to orange.

That's odd... I've never seen any star do something like that...

It slowly faded from orange to a dark red that was extremely similar to a certain jewel that Trixie had seen very recently.

Why is the Northern Star the same color as the Alicorn Amulet? Am I seeing things?

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

And at that, the Northern Star flashed down a beam of light to Trixie, and everything went dark for the exhausted and scared unicorn.

...

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Rainbow Dash flew around unbalanced and Snips and Snails ran around trying to get unstuck.

"You and I have some unfinished business." said Trixie as the wind gently blew on her mane. "My magic's gotten better since I was here last." Since the Ursa Major. "And I'm going to prove it! Me and you, a magic duel. Winner stays, loser leaves Ponyville," her eyes flashed with magic, "Forever!"

"Forget it!" snapped Twilight Sparkle, stamping her hoof on the ground. "I'd never make a deal like that!" She turned her back to Trixie, who smiled unapologetically.

"Hmph. Your choice."

Trixie's horn flared up with magic, and she grabbed Spike with it. She levitated him up into the air, and very carefully squashed him into a perfect sphere, which she then bounced up and down on the ground.

"Trixie, put time down!" yelled Twilight Sparkle angrily.

Sparkle, do you always say that when I hold one of your friends in my magic? Wait, why am I even thinking this?

Trixie bounced Spike on the ground, and then into a basketball net that she made with her magic. As Rainbow Dash nearly crashed into the ground, Rarity cried about how awful she looked, Snips and Snails still ran around, and Spike bounced, Twilight Sparkle turned to face Trixie.

"Why are you doing this?" she asked.

"Why?" asked Trixie angrily; Twilight should have already known! "Because you humiliated me!" The magic on her horn flared brightly. "After you showed me up with that Ursa Minor, I became a laughingstock! Everywhere I went, I was laughed at and ostracized! I even had to take a job on a rock farm just to earn a living! A rock farm!"

"Hey!" cried Pinkie Pie indignantly. "You're lucky a rock farm would accept the likes of you!"

Trixie's horn flared up once more, and a red glow surrounded Pinkie Pie.

Don't remove her mouth, that's too cruel.

She disrespected you. Teach her a lesson.

Then just the mouth but not the nose.

Nopony had seemed to notice that Trixie had paused to think. Her horn flared once more, and Pinkie Pie's mouth vanished from off her face. However, her nose still remained, and Pinkie Pie let out a hum of surprise.

"Now I want revenge." said Trixie with a grin. "And I'll keep on casting spells until you agree."

Trixie's horn flared up once more.

Wait a second, didn't I already do this?

Books fell out of Twilight Sparkle's now upside-down library.

Of course you did not, fool! If you had already challenged Twilight Sparkle, you would have already won!

"Alright, Trixie." said Twilight Sparkle, turning back to face her. "Let's duel."

Was I just talking? I don't remember just talking...

In a flash of light, everything was returned to normal, except for Pinkie's mouth.

Just continue on with the plan.

An apple cart went flying through the air.

Just I could have sworn that this all feels so familiar to me...

The ground became covered in snow.

Well it isn't. So shut up.

Twilight Sparkle failed to do an age spell.

Am I arguing with myself?

Trixie threw Twilight Sparkle outside of Ponyville.

...

Trixie cracked a whip above Snips and Snails as they pulled her wheel-less cart.

This has happened before! I just know it!

"-but I guess you'll never see the totally awesome magic from beyond the Everfree Forest!" called Twilight Sparkle tauntingly.

Yesterday! All of this happened yesterday! What's going on?

"Hey!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Trixie grabbed her Amulet with her magic. "Give it back!"

But why?

"I also knew that the only pony who could get the Amulet off your neck was you." finished Twilight Sparkle.

"But... what about the pony with the ten instruments?" asked Trixie.

"That's not magic! That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie nodded, and then froze in place as her eyes widened.

Did I just relive that entire day over again?

"Trixie?" asked Twilight Sparkle. "Are you okay?

"Twilight Sparkle..." said Trixie nervously. "Have you ever relived an entire day-"

There was a flash of red light, and everything went dark.

....

-with no idea of how it could have happened?

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Rainbow Dash flew around unbalanced and Snips and Snails ran around trying to get unstuck.

"You and I have some unfinished business." said Trixie as the wind gently blew on her mane. "My magic's gotten better since I was here last." Since the Ursa Major. "And I'm going to prove it! Me and you, a magic duel. Winner stays, loser leaves Ponyville," her eyes flashed with magic, "Forever!"

"Forget it!" snapped Twilight Sparkle, stamping her hoof on the ground. "I'd never make a deal like that!" She turned her back to Trixie, who smiled unapologetically.

No... Again? Please tell me this isn't happening...

"Hmph." said Trixie. "Your choice."

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

The Great and Panicking Trixie

Why? thought Trixie as the events played out in front of her once more. Why is this happening again? This has all happened already! Twice! And why can't I do anything to change what's going on? I already know how this ends! I'd rather just take off the Amulet right now and be done with it!

Ah, but that would be so dull, now wouldn't it, Trixie?

Who are you?!?

I am you. Trixie, you know that you want to keep the Alicorn Amulet on.

Twilight Sparkle smiled as she did her duplication spell, but Trixie already knew how it worked.

No, I don't! I never want to wear this Amulet ever again!

"Hey!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Trixie grabbed her "amulet" off of her neck. "Give it back!"

But you do. Don't lie to yourself, Trixie

Shut up!

"But... what about the pony with the ten instruments?" asked Trixie.

"That's not magic!" said Twilight Sparkle with a smile. "That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Is it over?

Pinkie Pie happily danced around playing all of the instruments that she had. Trixie blinked as nothing happened, and then quickly turned towards Twilight.

"Twilight Sparkle, I need you-"

A flash of light.

.....

-to help me! I'm repeating the same... Day... Over again...

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Rainbow Dash flew around unbalanced and Snips and Snails ran around trying to get unstuck.

No! Please, not again!

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Shut up! I will not accept the Amulet!

"Forget it!" snapped Twilight Sparkle, stamping her hoof on the ground. "I'd never make a deal like that!"

Trixie, this can be easy. Just accept the power of the Alicorn Amulet, and you can be free. You already know what Twilight Sparkle is going to do.

And I'm not going to change that! She is going to save me from the Amulet, and I won't let that change!

Hmph. Your choice.

"Hmph." said Trixie. "Your choice."

GYAAAAAH!!!

"That's not magic!" said Twilight Sparkle. "That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie blinked in confusion. Hadn't she just been at the beginning of the duel?

"Twilight Sparkle..." Trixie paused. Was it going to start over once again? "...Thank you."

"Huh?"

The day hadn't restarted! Trixie had no idea why, but she wasn't about to complain! "For tricking me into taking the Amulet off. I shouldn't have put it on, but as soon as I did I never wanted to take it off again. You saved me from it."

"Then, I guess your welcome. I'm just glad that everypony is okay."

"..." Trixie didn't say anything. Was she already free of the loop? "Twilight Sparkle, I need to ask you about something. Are-"

Flash of light.

......

-time loops real?

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Rainbow Dash flew around unbalanced and Snips and Snails ran around trying to get unstuck.

N-no! The loop hadn't happened at the same point before, why did it change?

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

NO!!!

The duel was over even faster.

"That's not magic!" said Twilight Sparkle. "That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie vacantly nodded. She hadn't looped. What was different?

"Trixie?" asked Twilight Sparkle. "Is something wrong?

"It's nothing..." muttered Trixie. "Just go back to practicing levitating those animals, Twilight Sparkle."

"Wait, how did you know that?"

Still no loop. "Just go, I'm busy."

"But-"

"Twilight Sparkle, I am trying to deal with-"

Flash of light.

.......

-all this stuff that keeps repeating!

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!" cried Twilight Sparkle as Rainbow Dash flew around unbalanced and Snips and Snails ran around trying to get unstuck.

Why?!?

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Shut up! I've already told you, I'm not giving in!

Hmph. Your choice.

"Hmph. Your choice."

There has to be a pattern! If only I could talk with Twilight Sparkle about all these loops! Unless...

"That's not magic!" said Twilight Sparkle. "That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie quickly yelled out, "I'm stuck in-"

Flash.

........

-a time loop!

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Is it really this simple? I just need to not mentions the loops to anypony?

"That's not magic! That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie smiled. "Ah, that makes sense."

The rest of the day was quick. She added fireworks into Twilight Sparkle's performance just like the first time, and ran off. She didn't trip this time.

Freedom! I can't believe that it worked!

She looked up at the Northern Star, and her smile faded away. It was shining red.

No, no, no. Please don't-

Flash.

.........

-send me back again!

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

If she could change what was happening, Trixie would have collapsed in tears.

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Maybe if she called for help faster.

"That's not magic! That's just-"

"Time-"

Flash.

..........

-loop!

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

"That's not magic!" That's-"

"Everything is-"

Flash.

...........

-repeating!

Flash.

............

-time back to normal!

Flash.

.............

-I can't break free!

Flash.

..............

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

...............

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

................

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

.................

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

..................

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Flash.

...................

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Flash.

................

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Flash.

.....................

"That's not magic! That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Flash.

......................

"That's not magic! That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Flash.

.......................

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

........................

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

"That's not magic! That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Flash.

.........................

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

..........................

Oh, my dear. You're just starting to see.

Flash.

...........................

"Stop picking-"

Flash.

............................

Oh, my dear. You're-

Flash.

.............................

"That's not magic!"

Flash.

..............................

Oh, my dear.

Flash.

...............................

"-my friends!"

Flash.

................................

Oh-

Flash.

.................................

"That's just Pinkie Pie!"

Trixie cried out and collapsed on the ground in tears.

Oh, my dear. Do you finally see?

Flash.

The Great and Rehearsing Trixie

Another day it comes and goes
But not a day has passed since today
The same start, a slightly varying end
But it just keeps cycling through
And all I can hear is the ever growing temptation
The Amulet
The Amulet
Use its power
The Amulet
The Amulet
Become the winner
The Amulet
The Amulet
Just use it
Abuse it
Let it take control of you
You will take control of it
The Amulet
The Amulet
You can use it to be free from this
This endless torture
There is only one escape
And you know you want it
The Amulet
It calls to me
It says that I can be free
I just need to let it in
I know how to win against Twilight Sparkle
I just need to do it
Or I'll be forever trapped in this endless cycle
Then why have you not done so yet?
I will
Oh, my dear. Do you finally see?
...
Do you finally see?
But I will not yield to the darkness.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Twilight Sparkle..." said Trixie, holding back her tears. "Twilight... I..."

"Yes, Trixie?" asked Twilight, her voice still happy.

"I... Am... I want to learn how to teleport."

She had always wanted to teleport. A quick trick. A fun trick. But never enough time. But now... She had all the time in the world.

"To teleport?" asked Twilight. "Well, sure! It is a bit complicated so maybe we can wait until-"

"Right now."

"As in later today?"

"As in right now."

Twilight had six books on teleporting. Six books on basic teleporting to be precise. Trixie simply picked up one, and started to read it.

"Trixie, I do have notecards that you can use-"

"It's alright. I don't want to skip a single word. I have plenty of time."

Twilight was confused by this, but didn't question Trixie. The moon was shining brightly in the sky. Trixie had finished two of the books. The Northern Star shined bright red.

"I can't wait to read the other four."

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

She made it through two more, and had time to skim through the first two as review.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

She finished them.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Twilight, can you teach me to teleport?" asked Trixie. "I know the basic concept, but I've never tried to use my magic."

"I could show you tomorrow or-"

"Now." A breeze gently moved Trixie's mane.

Teleporting was hard. You needed to concentration. You needed focus. You needed to be patient and willing. Trixie was patient. She succeeded in moving her hoof a few centimetres to the right, before Twilight had to go preform.

Trixie smiled. "I'm stuck in a-"

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Then ten centimetres.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Her whole body one metre.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

She needed a new question. "Twilight Sparkle, will you help with my teleportation spell? I can't go farther than a metre."

"Well I could-"

"Now. As in at this moment." It was so predictable.

Trixie fainted after getting to five metres. It was a good thing that her magical exhaustion didn't carry over.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Trixie could teleport from the Golden Oaks Library to Sugarcube Corner. Twilight was shocked how well Trixie was doing after only one day.

"Trixie, how did you do that so easily?" asked Twilight. "I though you said you could barely teleport!"

"I've had time to practice. After all, I'm stuck in a-"

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Twilight, could you teach me how to teleport through walls? Right now. Not tomorrow or any other day."

She teleported from inside the library to inside Sugarcube Corner. The strawberry cupcake Pinkie gave her was delicious.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Twilight, can you teach me to teleport to places that you can't see? Today, please."

She made it from the library to Sweet Apple Acres before fainting.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

She didn't faint.

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

"Twilight, can you teach me to teleport to Canterlot?"

Turns out the answer to that one was no. So Trixie simply walked around Ponyville, memorizing every location. Bon-Bon's sweet shop had excellent candy. Quills and Sofas was very unique. Ponyville was fascinating.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Just what do you think you're doing?

She hadn't heard that voice in a while. Several loops without the voice she dubbed Lulamoon saying a word. It had been rather peaceful. Trixie was currently teleporting from Sweet Apple Acres, to the Golden Oaks Library, and Sugarcube Corner in a loop. She didn't answer Lulamoon.

Trixie, I know you can hear me. Why are you not using the Amulet? You have as many tries as you need.

"I'm stuck in a-"

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

Trixie memorized every move of the duel. Every spell that she used. She hadn't seen the full duel since the first one. It was rather interesting. In hindsight, the flashes of light that Twilight used to preform the fake spells were very obvious. As a showmare that used special effects in every performance, she should have noticed. Perhaps the Amulet not only corrupted her, but caused her to go rather insane.

She had been so cruel.

Banishing Twilight, taking over the town, forcing everypony to do her bidding. She had embarrassed them all. But was it her own doing or that of the Amulet?

"That was just-"

"Pinkie Pie." finished Trixie. "Wow, I was really mean to everypony, now that I've gone over everything."

"Uh..."

"Stuck in a-"

Flash.

∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞∞

That was enough.

"Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!"

This wasn't Trixie doing these things anymore.

"-a magic duel."

It was Lulamoon.

Oh, my d-

Enough. I don't want to hear your voice ever again. I'm tapping into the Amulet's power.

It looks like you finally see. Then go right ahead.

After this duel. I have something I need to memorize first. Then the Amulet's power.

Excellent.