It was a couple days following Pinkie’s surprise birthday party, Twilight was in her quarters of the Golden Oak and was practicing spells on objects giving some form of life, namely brooms, mops, buckets, etc, all the things were moving and cleaning the place. While she attended to other things, Spike was keeping an eye on the items in question to let her know if things were starting to go a bit too far. The dragon was, however, very impressed with Twilight’s magic as she also had all her personal books levitate to be properly sorted (because Twilight has been reading a lot and often forgets to put her books back) back on the shelves. “You are really are a great mage.” Spike thought as he applauded and cheered not able to contain his excitement.
“I am still only an apprentice, Spike.” Twilight blushed a little in modesty then turned around to see that things she cast her spells for were more or less done.
“Yeah but you’re Princess Celestia’s personal apprentice.” Spike could not help but remind her with a smirk on his face causing Twilight to blush again.
“Oh stop it.” Twilight tried to brush it off. “Well, everything looks just fine.” She then looked at the clock in her room and hearing her and Spike’s stomachs growl. “Haha, looks like it’s lunchtime.” Spike then started to chirp as he jumped to the floor and ran as fast as his four lizard-like legs could carry him down the stairs. Twilight shook her head as she followed after. As Twilight got down she was about to head to the kitchen but before she could get to the fridge they were interrupted by the sound of the most boisterous of Twilight’s friends announcing her arrival.
“Hey, Twi, check this out,” Rainbow practically declared as she semi-barged into the library with some kind of rolled up paper in her hand, odds are it was a royal decree or flyer, while Twilight and Spike were just getting ready for lunch.
“This better be urgent, Rainbow,” Spike chirped with some mild irritation, “we just got done getting ready to eat.”
Rainbow just displayed the flyer which read ‘The Great and Powerful Trixie, the Greatest, Most Magnificent Entertainer Of All Time!’, on the poster was woman around at the age of Twilight and her friends, with a wizard’s cap and a cape adorned with stars on a purple field, she also wore blue gloves, a black dress with knee high boots, she also had light blue hair and purple eyes. Around her waist was a buckle shaped like a wand topped with a star and a cape with a series of stars. The background was arrayed with fairy fire spells going off and some fireworks. The woman wore her focusing gem on a brooch on her chest at the collar of her cape and shirt, not on her forehead like most Magicborn. “Well, this is different,” said Twilight, as she looked over the rest of the poster, “it doesn’t say where the show is going to be held.”
“Got that one covered, Twi,” said Rainbow, “there’s a magic powered portable entertainment cart, like from the olden days, on its way here. I took Pinkie and Rares to get a sky eye view along with Fluttershy and after they did some rough approximations they said it should be here sometime tomorrow, in fact,” she turned the flyer over to reveal back partially covered in some complex math, it had both the flare of Rarity and the atypical-ness of Pinkie Pie, “they wrote it all down for you to check their work.”
Twilight took the flyer, which caused Spike to give an exasperated sigh before leaving the table to retrieve a chalkboard and package of chalk for the violet wearing mage. To the small dragon, it looked like they’ed be having a late lunch. After the chalkboard was set up for her Twilight transferred the formula and started muttering to herself in a tone too low for most people to hear as she looked it over and made some minor adjustments to it as she looked it over in more detail. Rainbow gave Spike a look, the young dragon just shrugged.
“Well, at least they were able to guess within the field effectively enough,” said Twilight, “and based on these calculations, which I can only better adjust after seeing the item in question, I would say it will arrive somewhere around noon tomorrow.”
“Aw man,” Rainbow moaned getting the attention of Twilight and Spike. “I am going to end up missing it, I got some training at the Weather Management main branch for most of the day starting about two hours before then and won’t be back ‘til dusk. Well, catcha later” Rainbow Dash then left heading back to where ever she came from or elsewhere.
‘Well...that was… pointless.’ Spike chirped as he started to eat one of the sticks of chalk.
Twilight sighed, “I know those are high in calcium, particularly in a form you can digest more easily as Fluttershy informed me, but I use those.” She took the stick of chalk away from Spike. But before the dragon could chirp in protest, “Here, pure limestone from the Pie Rock Farm, courtesy of Pinkie.” Twilight placed a piece of limestone about five times the width of the stick of chalk on the table along with a bowl of small gems Rarity gave her, gems that were too small for Rarity to use. “And these are from Rarity. Try not to eat them all at once.” Spike, however, devoured his gems and limestone in about a minute. Twilight could only shake her head, her familiar had been rather ravenous lately. She noted that she really needed to research dragon biology beyond what she had already, as she watched Spike curl up on the table and started taking a nap after finishing his meal. After a sigh, “I should know better by now.”
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The following day Twilight, with Spike on her shoulder, exited the library after making sure her personal quarters were locked, as the library itself belonged to Magiville and its residents. She was, however, employed as the librarian on salary, not that she actually needed the money, but she was striving to not need either her parents or her master’s help financially. Luckily for her Magiville was for the most part surprisingly self-sufficient and costs were almost insultingly low. As she left she saw the school children run past her. “Cheerilee must have let them out early today for that magic show.” Spike looked and shrugged his shoulders in response. “Why not check it out, I can’t remember the last time I saw a magic show.”
Spike only huffed, but he couldn’t complain, he didn’t have to help with any other projects so why not catch the show. “Well, to be more accurate, you can’t remember a magic show that had the primary purpose of entertaining others, I practically see a magic show almost every day with your magic practices,” pointed out in his native tongue, electing to mess with Twilight in addition.
Twilight resisted the urge to roll her eyes, “That’s different, and you know it.” After the scolding. “Although, I will admit it has been quite some time since I witnessed magic used for entertainment purposes.”
“Hey Ms. Twi, yah going to catch the show?” Twilight recognized that voice. She looked to her left and saw the three young (mis)adventurers related to her friends.
“Please, you can just call me ‘Twilight...GIRlS!!!!” She screamed as Spike climbed off her shoulders and himself inside her clothes. As he continued to run along her back, “WOAH! SPIKE GET…” Spike stopped moving before she finished and was quivering in the small of her back. “Spike must not be over the whole Dragon Hunter thing.” As she turned back to the three approaching young mages, “Any plans beyond seeing the show?”
“Not really,” said Sweetie Belle, “we’re at an impasse on what to do for seeing what we have a talent for…”
“So, we figured watching the show might give us some ideas,” said Scootaloo.
“Okay, just remember to run any new ideas past Applejack, Rarity or me.” Twilight reminded the three. “We don’t want a repeat of southern field incident or the time you three almost jumped off a cliff that had no water at its base.”
The three gave embarrassed looks, “Ah didn’t think tha’ we would get so much tree sap on us,” commented Apple Bloom.
“Rarity wouldn’t let me into the boutique because of that one,” said Sweetie Belle, “thanks for offering to help me clean up so I could go home.”
“And I guess we were kinda sorta lucky Fluttershy was passing by,” said Scootaloo.
Spike then started to climb up Twilight’s back and popped his head out, not sensing a threat from the three, but still giving an intense stare in their direction. “I’m sure Spike would appreciate it too, he still hasn’t gotten over that time you did the ‘dragon hunter’ bit, and I can’t rightfully blame him.”
The three girls gave weak ‘teehee’s and then bolted towards the town square where the show was going to be held. Twilight shook her head and followed them. As they arrived she saw many people sitting down, some standing up and to the sides. In front of all of them, was a wagon like those used about three hundred years before, it had no horses and seemed to move on its own and its right side was facing the crowd. “Hey, where’s Applejack and Rarity?”
“Applejack and Big Mac are trainin’, Applejack is tryin’ to find a way to channel her Angel Shot spell and other spells throw her sword.”
“And Rarity got this new big name client, Saphire Something or other. The new client asked for a live model to see Rarity’s work and Fluttershy was there to check on her dress for the gala so she was asked to model.”
That made sense, Rarity could only earn so much from effectively being the town's tailor so she would capitalize the first chance to have a client like Sapphire Shore, one of the most well-known singers in Mystica, and Fluttershy would make a great model if she wanted to. As for Applejack, she was a paladin, and as Shining once told her, they have to be as good as any soldier in the ESM. While that addressed three of her friends and Rainbow was in Cumula for training at the weather management, so that left...
“We got popcorn with flavoring salts, pretzels, sparkling water, carbonated water…” Pinkie walked past the four mages and the young dragon as she had one of those portal refresher stands that are used by people selling food at a stadium as she listed off what she was selling. The portable stand looked like it had a few magic items designed for extra storage about it. To Twilight that was a bit of a surprise, mostly with how expensive pocket dimension type items were to buy and even rarer to find if you were an adventurer like the character Daring Do. Twilight and Spike looked at each other and shrugged their shoulders as Pinkie Pie continued to walk among the audience to sell the wares. “Get them now, do know it’s a sixty-forty split between Sugar Cube Corner and the performer. Oh, and the show’s about to start!”
The group then sat down as the right side dropped and an unfolded to make a stage. “Ladies and Gentlemen, Children of all Ages. Lo and Behold, the show is about to begin.” Just then a puff of smoke appeared in the center of the stage. “For The Great and Powerful Trrrixie has come to town.” The smoke cleared and there was the young woman that was depicted on the poster. Everyone save the CMC and Spike applauded.
“I’d give that entrance a 4 out of 10, although the drilling of the ‘r’ in her name does add some uniqueness, so 5.”
“Do the Great and Powerful Trixie’s ears deceive her?” Trixie placed her left hand to her left ear as she walked towards the edge of the stage and leaned forward. She then turned to face Twilight, Spike, and the CMC. “Why we must have a pseudodragon in the audience?” Trixie then threw something to the stage and was gone when the smoke cleared and she was right beside Twilight. “No, folks we have a real dragon and not just any dragon, a northern mountain dragon. The terror of all dragons.” Trixie then held out her right hand and blow some dust at Spike. In a flash and crackle, the hatchling was the size of two houses with wings. Trixie then used her cape to spin around her and vanished. Everyone screamed. “Fear not, Magivillians, for dragons are small fry compared to Stella Ursas, in particular, the Majors,” Trixie repeated as her hat floated from the sky. Trixie took another handful of dust and blow it at the dragon and Spike was once again his normal size. He fell to the ground, his eyes spinning around and around like he was hit on the head or something.
Everyone applauded, “Thank you, thank you. Your gratitude is too much.” Trixie then vanished in another puff of smoke and reappeared on the stage. “The Great and Powerful Trixie will have shows at meridiem, three post meridiem, six post meridiem, and nine post meridiem for the next three days. No two shows will be the same. So come one, come all! Come and witness the amazing magic of the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie then flung open her cape and fireworks went off. The audience oohed and applauded. She took off her hat and reached in and pulled herself out of it followed with a flash and smoke that left only the Trixie that was pulled from the hat. “Watch in awe as the Great and Powerful Trixie performs the most spectacular feats of magic ever witnessed!”
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Later that night, as Twilight was again practicing her spells, a little impressed with Trixie’s illusionary magic, a field of magic she wrote off as a child, as the Golden Oak’s door opened. Rarity stepped in with her hair covered completely by a cloth, with her was Rainbow Dash, who was soaking wet, and Applejack, who was tied up like from one of those…questionable... magazines with an apple being used as a gag, being helped by Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie to hop into the library. The CMC were behind them having a giggle bout at the three sister figures while also looking like they felt guilty about something, “What happened to you three?” Twilight was utterly taken aback.
“I don’t want to talk about it.” Rarity went straight to the bookshelf. “There must be some why to end this … abomination....”
As Twilight turned to Rainbow Dash, “Don’t ask. Come on Rares, I am going to get pumanuma”
“Mmif mmommsme…. Mumf mif.” Applejack tried to speak but gave up, as she hopped over to the couch and let herself fall onto it as she groaned.
“It’s kind of our fault...” Sweetie Belle started.
“Wah kinda went on an’ on about how great Trixie was…” Apple Bloom continued.
“So we kinda sorta got them to take us to another show and um…” Scootaloo stopped as she scratched the back of her head.
Seeing that Twilight was not going to get the information from the three, “You better do that thing, you know the thing that allows others to show the past.” Fluttershy said as she looked to Pinkie Pie before taking a stick and lighting in on a candle Twilight had burning, “Venti,” She said and a tiny fire elemental sparked to life. Offering the elemental to Rainbow Dash, “Hold her close to your heart, but not too close, her heat should help you warm up.”
Pinkie gasped in delight, “I haven’t done that since I showed Twilight when I got my itchy toe when she moved to town!” She hugged Fluttershy tightly. If anyone else hugged Fluttershy like that the druid’s back and rib cage would have broken. After ending the hug, Pinkie then reached up to the ceiling and pulled a white screen down. An old movie countdown played until it reached one.
Trixie had just performed a series of fairy fire spells that spelled her title after performing another illusion. “What boasting! And for cheap illusions!” Rarity exclaimed among herself and those closest to her, Applejack, Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy to her sides with the CMC in front of the four. The enchantress was clearly not impressed with the show.
Fluttershy tried to be diplomatic and avoid a fruitless confrontation. “But there's nothing wrong with being talented, is there?”
“Nothin' at all, 'cep'n when someone goes around showin' it off like a schoolgirl with fancy new ribbons.” Applejack commented. “Why am Ah here a’ain?”
“Also just because one has the ability to perform a lot of magic does not make one better than the rest of us.” Rarity continued.
“Especially when ya got me around being better than the rest of us.” Rainbow laughed high on herself. “Eh, I mean, yeah, uh, magic shmagic.” Rainbow then to face the stage and started to heckle Trixie. “Boo!”
This was not lost on Trixie, who continued to cast minor illusions while the three … her show. “Well, well, well, it seems we have some naysayers in the audience.” Trixie then had a spotlight start to scan the crowd. “Who is so ignorant as to challenge the magical ability of the Great and Powerful Trixie?” The light passed over the group but continued. “Do they not know that they're in the presence of the most magically endowed Magicborn in all of Mystica?”
Rarity blew raspberries in disgust, “Just who does she think she is?” Rarity asked Rainbow Dash.
“So, ‘Great and Powerful Trixie’ what makes you think you're so awesome, anyway?” Rainbow Dash continued to heckle as the spotlight hit her, Rarity and Applejack.
“Heh, why, only the Great and Powerful Trixie has magic strong enough to vanquish the dreaded Stella Ursa Major!” Trixie then summoned an image of a stylized Stella Ursa Major. The audience ahh-ed at the claim and the small showing of a stylized Trixie and the rendering of a bear in question, as it towered houses, with stars adorning its coat not far from another, slightly more advanced city. “When all hope was lost, the people of Hocuston had no one to turn to, but the Great and Powerful Trixie stepped in, and with her awesome magic, vanquished the Stella Ursa Major and sent it back to its cave deep within the Everfree Forest!” The audience awed at the claim, for star bears, as Stella Ursa were also known as, were feared by all but demigods and dragons, even more so as the images of Trixie and the Ursa fought and Trixie drove the Ursa away into the Everfree.
“Trixie truly is the most talented, the most magical, the most awesome Magicborn in Magiville.” Snails cheered as the images cleared.
“No, in all of Mystica!” Snips countered, giving Trixie even more praise.
Trixie laughed thanks to the praise from the boys. “It's true, my enthusiastic little admirers. Trixie is most certainly the best in Magiville.” No one responded to that claim. “Don't believe the Great and Powerful Trixie?” Trixie continued, even chuckling pulling her cape close to her torso “Well then, I hereby challenge you, Magivillians. Anything you can do, I can do better. Any takers? Anyone? Hmm? Or is Trixie destined to be the greatest human who has ever lived!?” Trixie then threw her cape open sending small fireworks to spin in the air spiraling, with dancing lights, off of which made Trixie much more imposing. “Well, how about it? Hm? Is there anything you can do that the Great and Powerful Trixie can't?” Trixie called to her heckler and her companions, “Well, little hayseed?” Specifically addressing Applejack.
Applejack has always been the wisest of her friends and herself, but she was also the most prideful and stubborn. Electing to show what she could do, Applejack got up and taking a fairly long length of rope with her got on the stage, declaring “That's it! Ah can't stand for no more of this!” As she made the rope into a lasso, “Can your magical powers do this?” The paladin started to perform an array of rope-tricks, simply making the rope encircle her and jumping through it were child’s play to the farming paladin as she had the loop make a figure eight, jumped through both loops, made the other end into another lasso and performed the same thing going through all four loops formed by the two figure eights. The audience whoo-ed and cheered as Applejack finished her ropework and bowed, some throwing money onto the stage. The paladin then turned to Trixie a smirk on her face. “Top that, missy.”
Trixie was far from impressed, “Oh ye of little talent.” she yawned in mockery as she prepared her own trick. “Watch and be amazed at the magic of Trixie!” Trixie then pulled a strange flute from her hat, Twilight recognized it as those used by the snake charmers in the distant lands beyond the seas she read about. As Trixie played the fluke using the same tune as those charmers and the rope started to move like a snake watching the flute. As Trixie played the rope started to wrap itself around Applejack much like in one of the magazines Shining made Twilight promise to never tell mom or Cadance he had.
“Whoa! Uh!” Applejack cried as she fell onto the stage and was then gagged with an apple as the audience laughed and cheered at the sight.
“Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie prevails.” Trixie gloated over her victory over the paladin.
Rainbow Dash then got up, and as she hovered to the stage, “There's no need to go struttin' around and showin' off like that.” she declared angrily and forcibly.
Trixie was taken aback, was the one who started the heckling “Oh?” she inquired.
“That's my job!” Rainbow said pointing to herself. She then jumped into the air and collected water at a high speed, leaving a small rainbow trailing her. She landed on the stage and had the clouds she collected to form two tiny showers connected by a rainbow that arched over Rainbow Dash. “They don't call me "Rainbow" and "Dash" for nothin'!” The audience cheered.
“That’s was a terrible line, what are you, seven?” Trixie deadpanned with a raised eyebrow.
“I am 19!” Rainbow Dash countered, her arms crossed in front of her.
“Well when Trixie is through, the only thing they'll call you is ‘loser’.” Trixie took a breath and then started to spin her hands. At the same time, the clouds and the rainbow next to Rainbow Dash started to spin around her forming a small tornado.
“Whoa! Whoa! Whoa-a-a-a!” Rainbow Dash cried as she was caught up in the tornado. She gulped as she tried to regain her balance. “I think I'm” Rainbow then gulped before she could continue, “gonna be sick.” Then to finish it all off the cloud form from the tornado poured down on the elementalist.
Trixie laughed at the dripping-wet Rainbow as she turned to the audience. “Seems like anybody with a dash of good sense would think twice before tussling with the Great and Powerful Trixie.” Lightning then came from the cloud and struck Rainbow Dash with thunder echoing.
“Ow!” Rainbow Dash rubbed her back, where the bolt hit her and then her arms as the audience laughed at the humiliated elementalist. “I am going to be sick achoo!” As Rainbow Dash helped the bond Applejack back to their seats when she had an idea. “What we -Achoo! need is an-achoo-other Magicborn to chall-Achoo-enge her. Someone with some mag-Achoo-ic of her own. A Magicborn to show this girl who's boss. A real Magicborn tussle. ACHOOO! Oh, buck me I can’t take another sick day for three months.”
Hearing this request from her friend.“Enough, I can take a hint, but I choose to be above such nonsense. You and Applejack may behave like ruffians, but I conduct myself with beauty and grace.” Rarity scoffed at the accepting Trixie’s challenge. She was not some uncouth tomboy itching to be one of the guys, no she was a proper lady and this was beneath her.
“Ooo, what's the matter?” Trixie mocked. “Afraid you'll get a hair out of place in that rat’s nest on your head?” It wasn’t beneath the enchantress anymore as Trixie crossed the line, questioning Rarity’s flawless fashion tastes, she had just secured being Sapphire Shores’ costume designer.
“Oh, it. Is. On!” Rarity took off her gloves and handed them to Sweetie Belle. “You may think you're tough with all of your so-called powers, but there's more to magic than your brutish ways. A Magicborn needs to be more than just muscle. A Magicborn needs to have style.” The audience oohed as Rarity enchanted some of the curtains on the stage to make a gown around Trixie, while it did look nice, it was clear Rarity was mocking her target. “A Magicborn is not a Magicborn without grace and beauty.” Trixie then dispelled the spell Rarity and then cast her responding spell. The audience gasped as Rarity’s purple hair was changed to green. Not seeing what happened to her Rarity started to panic as she looked at the faces of everyone else there. “Quick! I need a mirror! Get me a mirror! What did she do to my hair? I know she did something terrible to my hair!” The enchantress’s panic was not subsiding as she was not getting any answers.
“I never imaged that green wouldn’t actually look good on you. You should dye it that for Hearth’s Warming.” Everyone turned to see Pinkie Pie with a box of popcorn munching on it. “This has been the best show yet Trixie!”
Horror gripped Rarity as she heard the news, “Ugh, no. Green hair! Not green hair!” Rarity cried as she started to run out of the town square. “Such an awful, awful color!” Her cries continued as she ran into Carousel Boutique, passing Golden Harvest who was trying the look of green hair.
“Well, I never!” The farmer turned her nose up not hiding her indignation over the perceived insult.
Trixie laughed as her challengers were each bested “Ha! Once again, the Great and Powerful Trixie has proven herself to be the most amazing Magicborn in all of Mystica. Huh, was there ever any doubt? Now on with the show.”
Pinkie then made the screen go back into the ceiling. “And that’s how Mystica was made!” Pinkie Pie said with a smile on her face as she held her arms out.
“Um… Pinkie… that’s the… oh, forget it.” Rainbow was trying to dry herself off but she was sit soaking wet, with help from Fluttershy and Pinkie Pie, to no avail. “Why haven’t you found a spell yet, Rares!”
“Well Dashie Darling,” Rarity’s voice stung with anger as she looked from the book she was reading to Rainbow Dash. “Applejack is tied up at the moment. What’s your excuse?” Rarity then found the spell she was looking for. “Here it is, ‘dispel magic’.” Rarity cleared her throat and held her hand out to gesture to Rainbow Dash and Applejack. “Dies ist verboten!” Rarity called as Rainbow Dash dried off, the ropes that bound Applejack were undone and the apple that was used to gag her fell out of her mouth. Rarity took off the cloth hiding her hair and it was once again its natural purple. “Oh thank heaven.”
While Twilight was glad her friends were alright now, but she was taken aback with how they reacted to Trixie’s boasting. She was thinking about showing off her own skill, but now she was scared that they would react even worse to her and she might lose their friendship.
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The next day in class, “Well children I hope you all enjoyed the show yesterday.” Cheerilee said getting the attention of all the children. “Now today’s class we will be discussing focusing gems and why most Magicborn use them and where they are worn,”
“Like how the Great and Powerful Trixie wore her’s on her chest?” Snips asked.
“And why others, like Ms. Sparkle and Ms. Cumbers-Flank, wear theirs on their forehead,” Cheerilee said as she drew a blank human body on the chalkboard. “Now in several cultures around the world, there are beliefs in energy flow throughout the body....”
After the lesson during recess, the CMC were at one of the picnic tables trying to come up with their next adventure. “What haven’t we tried?” Scootaloo asked before she bit into her sandwich.
“Together or separate?” Sweetie Belle asked as she took a drink of her water.
Apple Bloom took out a long list. “Ah’d answer both, but wah’d have tah go back to class before Ah’m a quarter the way tah thah answer. But wah gotta lot of new things Sweetie can trah thanks tah Trixie’s show.”
“You mean the bestest magician ever.” Snips gloated as he and Snails joined the three with their luncheons.
“Please, Rarity can cast more real spells. Trixie’s a simple illusionist.” Sweetie Belle countered.
“But isn’t Rarity just a glorified tailor?” Snails asked confused.
“Don’t talk about my sister like that.” Sweetie Belle stared at the thin boy menacingly only to be stopped by Apple Bloom.
“Hey, you said it first.” Snips defended his friend. “But The Great and Powerful Trixie is still great and powerful. Did you see how she put Rarity, Applejack and Rainbow Dash in their places? It was awesome.”
“She's just a show-off. Now Twi -” Apple Bloom started
Snips cut her off there, “The Great and Powerful Trixie vanquished a Stella Ursa Major. Can your ‘Twilight’ claim that?” He held his head high confident in his choice as he was joined by Snails.
“Were you two there?” Scootaloo questioned knowing full well that the two had not seen the event they claimed Trixie performed and only have Trixie’s words to go with.
Snips started before he realized he was at a loss of words and that he lack an answer, “Well, eh, uh... no, but—”
Apple Bloom then cut him off there, “But nothin'. The proof is in the puddin’ and yah got none. At least Twi ‘as verifiable facts everyone can look over ta make their own judgments abou’, all Trixie really ‘as is a bunch o’ claims that have no real substance behin’ ‘em.”
Snails laughed at that last statement, “I like pudding.” He then looked down at his lunch. “Yay, pudding.” He started to eat it, causing the other four at the table to facepalm themselves and sigh in frustration.
Sweetie Belle then shook her head and spoke, “Look, unless a Stella Ursa Major comes waltzing down the street for Trixie to vanquish or you can provide proof that she actually has bested one like a news article from Hocuston describing or referencing the event, we have to reject that claim and so should you!”
“Reject that claim?” the four others asked befuddled with that statement.
“It’s a statistics thing. Rarity and Dad deal with a lot of them, Rarity because of her business and Dad because… well, he said being a statistician gives him the edge in his bets, never lost one bet he placed yet.”
“Statisticians!” Scootaloo shouted. “That’s the next thing we should try!” Scootaloo cheered.
“Cutie Mage Crusaders: Statisticians! YAY!” the three cheered and jobbed into the air.
Snips, however, turned to from the three to his best buddy and started to think, “Hm, an Ursa walkin' up the street, hey?” Noticing his typically vacant friend was thinking. “Snails! You thinkin' what I'm thinkin'?”
“Why is it they call it a flea market when they don't really sell fleas?”
Snips facepalmed himself, “Weah, uh... oh, come on! We’ll prove that The Great and Powerful Trixie is great and powerful…” after a second of thought. “After school.”
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After school the CMC entered the Golden Oak and read books on statistics, they were bored of it in less than fifteen minutes as they realized how dense the subject is and that numerologists were the ones that used them for magical reasons. “Maybe we should try this when we are older,” Scootaloo suggested.
“Ah have an idea,” Apple Bloom turn her attention to Twilight, “Say Miss Twi, would yah put the book down and hear us out?”
Twilight placed her book down but did not turn to face the three. “If this is about me showing my skills to prove I am a better mage than Trixie, the answer is no.” She then turned to face them, she looked a little scared, not like “Didn't you see how your sisters and Rainbow hated Trixie's bragging, girls? If I go out there and show off my magic, I run the risk of losing them as friends.”
“It's not the same thing, Twilight.” Scootaloo joined in Apple Bloom’s attempt to motivate Twilight. “You'll be using your magic to stand up for your friends!”
Twilight shook her head, “No, girls it's exactly the same, boasting is boasting, being able to back it up or not.”
Sweetie Belle found one of Twilight’s spell books opened. She picked it up and showed one page pointing to a series of advanced spells, “Come on, Twilight, any one of these would be enough to show up Trixie.”
Twilight used her magic to levitate the spell book in question away from Sweetie Belle to her the stack of her personal collection of books she had down with her. “I don't want to be seen as a bragger like Trixie.”
“But you're the best!” The three said in unison, “Um, don’t take that out of context.” The three tried to catch themselves.
Twilight groaned, she had enough of this badgering, “Uh. Please, girls, I said no!”
The trio sighed in defeat, “If that's the way you want to be, then fine.” The three girls left the library. Spike shook his head and started to clean up, putting the books the three left back where they belonged, what he wouldn’t give to be able to actually walk on his rear legs.
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About the same time, Snips and Snails were wandering along the edge of the Everfree, far from Fluttershy’s cottage to find a Stella Ursa Major. “We got to show them all the Trixie is great and powerful.” Snips said as he looked around.
Snails stopped for a second “But why are we looking for a Stella Ursa Major?”
Snips continued but went back to get his typically vacant friend. “So that Trixie can beat it and prove us right. We won’t be the laughing stock of class now.” As he looked around he spotted a cave. “In there that looks big enough for a Star Bear.”
“I thought we were looking for a Stella Ursa Major.” Snails peered into the cave after Snips.
“That’s another way to say it.” Snips then started into the cave with Snails following him. After a few minutes as the two walked deeper and deeper into the cave as it got darker and darker and the two didn’t bring any light. “Oh, how we gonna find a Star Bear when I can't even see my own hand in front of my face?”
“Hold on.” Snails started to grunt as he focused his magic in his hands as lights formed and lite the cavern.
Upon being able to see “This’s better.” Snips then looked at Snails as the later had the two lights dance in cavern lighting it even more. “That’s awesome Snails! No one else in class can use their magic like that. How do you do it?”
“I don’t think about it.”
“Cool!” The two cheered only to hear a low growl as if something big woke up. They turned to see a bear larger than a house, blue in fur with stars adorned his coat. It roared causing the two to scream and they bolted out of the cave as fast as they could, at a speed that rivaled an angry Pinkie, which to many was surprising.
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As Snips and Snails started running back to town, we find the CMC sitting on one of the benches trying to think of something. “Maybe motivational speakers isn’t what any of us are suppose to do?” Scootaloo spoke as she got off the bench and laid on the ground. “We stuck at getting Twilight to show her skills and we had Spike assisting us.”
“And wah really dropped the ball as statisticians.”
Just then the three girls saw Snips and Snails came running into town. “Where are you two going?” Sweetie Belle asked as the two stopped to catch their breaths.
Snips was the first of the two to actually collect his breath, “Can't talk now.”
As Snails’ breath slowed and was less heavy, “Got a major problem!”
“Yeah, a Stella Ursa Major, to be exact.” Snails clarified as he caught his breath. They all heard an ursine roar.
The three girls went “Huh?” before they turned as saw the titanic bear in question. It roared yet again fighting all five of the children.
Snips and Snails “Trixie!” as they ran to Trixie’s wagon.
The three also ran, but towards the Golden Oak. “Twilight!” the three cried.
Snips and Snails screamed “Trixie!” as they started to bang on the door at the back of the wagon.
Trixie opened one of the windows in the wagon on the left side. She looked out and called to the two boys, “Trixie thought she posted a sign and stated in her show that the Great and Powerful Trixie did not want to be disturbed until two hours before meridiem!” She scolded the two.
Snips started to laugh nervously,“We— We have a— a tiny problem.”
“Actually, it's a big one.” Snails corrected.
Trixie groaned as she shook her head at the contradiction between the two. “What is so important that you cannot wait until morning to disturb Trixie?” The three then heard the Star Bear roar, causing the three to scream, with the Star Bear roaring again in turn.
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Inside the Golden Oak, the CMC ran to where Twilight was practicing some of her spells, Spike was in his bed and getting what sleep he could. “Twilight! Yah've gotta come! Quick!” Apple Bloom pleaded breaking Twilight’s concentration and causing her to turn to them.
Twilight gave an exasperated sigh, “Girls, I already told you, I don't wanna show up Trixie!”
“No, you don't understand,” Sweetie Belle squeaked in a panic. “Its—” At that moment the oak shook as it was hit with the force of a large ursine’s roar.
Twilight’s spell all stopped as she turned from her open spell book and headed to a window, “Uh, is that what I think it is?”
“Majorly,” Scootaloo answered as the four then headed out slamming the door behind them.
Spike woke up and looked around the room. Upon seeing the mess, “OH COME ON !!!”
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Meanwhile, back outside Snips and Snails tried to get Trixie to confront the Ursa. “Great and Powerful Trixie, you've got to vanquish the Ursa.” Snips pleaded.
“Yeah, vanquish so we can watch.” Snails requested.
“It took a lot of trouble to get that thing here.” Snips added as Trixie looked at the giant bear.
Trixie froze and looked to the two boys, “Wait, you brought this here?” Trixie asked in horror. She gasped as she beheld the beast. “Are you out of your tiny minds?” She asked rhetorically absolutely dumbfounded that anyone would dare to lead a Stella Ursa Major into a populated area.
“But, you're the Great and Powerful Trixie.” Snips said as he and Snails watched.
“Yeah, remember? You defeated one of them before.” As if to punctuate the absurdity of Trixie’s claim, and seeming stupidity of Snails, as well as the denseness of Snips the roar of the Ursa was heard rattling the portion of the town the cart was stationed.
Trixie looked at the bear as it stomped its way into town. Unbeknownst to many as they ran around the town crying and screaming at the presence of the preserved monster, the bear actually avoided damaging property, not that anyone noticed in their panicked state. The illusionist gulped “Piece of cake.” Trixie then gave a weak laugh as she looked around for something to use. Laughing weakly she found nothing she could use.
“Come on, Trixie.” Snips called out not seeing Trixie doing anything beyond standing there.
“Yeah stop goofin' around and vanquish it, eh?” Snails added also annoyed at Trixie’s apparent inaction.
“Yeah, pfft, come on!” “Where's all the cool explosions and smoke and stuff like earlier? You know.” Snips added trying to mimic some of Trixie’s spells from her shows and failing. This was not unnoticed by the Ursa and it roared at the two. They screamed in turn and ran to hide behind the Golden Oak. Trixie, however, remained more or less frozen as she looked at Ursa. As many of townspeople still ran around in panic.
At that moment Twilight stepped out of The Golden Oak, “What's going on?”
“We brought a star bear to town.” Snips answered as he popped from around the Golden Oak, where he and Snails hid from the Ursa.
Twilight was just as horrified and befuddled as Trixie when the two told the illusionist, “You two what!?!”
Snails then popped out, “Don't worry, the Great and Powerful Trixie will vanquish it.”
Trixie was facing the bear closer to an open area in town. All the while everyone was running around in a panic. She fell to her knees, “I can't. I never have. No one can vanquish a Stella Ursa, especially not a Major. I made the whole story up to make me look better, it’s part of the show!”
Snips and Snails looked back to Trixie utterly confused, “What!? Made it up!?” Which further illustrated the slowness of Snails, and plain denseness of Snips.
Not wanting to be ignored, the titanic bear growled and roar. Everyone people gasped in horror at the bear as fear started to take hold and they started to run. Trixie closed up her wagon at the speed of light and started to drive it as fast as she could. She had to get out of the town, cut her losses. As she drove away, “Next town.” All the while hoping to get there faster than the news of her failure to best a Stella Ursa Major when part of her show was saying she confronted one. Unfortunately for her, she would not outpace gossip.
Yet one person had her head about her. Twilight looked at the towering beast, at first she was frightened at its sheer size but soon she steeled herself as she recalled what she had read and held her staff aloft. “Hush little baby don’t you cry.
Twilight’s gonna sing you a lullaby.” As Twilight sang, she conjured soothing music notes that manifested and entered one ear and exited the other, all the while bringing a smile to titanic bear. Twilight hummed with the tune she had the bear listen too and within seconds it was sound asleep and snoring. “Alright let’s get this baby home.”
“Baby!” everyone almost shouted in disbelief before being shushed.
“This is a Stella Ursa alright, but this is actually a Minor, a cub. We got to get this one home before its mother, the actual Major, wakes up and you don’t want to be caught between her and her Minor. You think normal bears are dangerous, an angry Stella Ursa Major looking her club can destroy cities. In fact, there’s a record of such an occurrence a few centuries back regarding one of the more unfortunate magical researchers in Mystica’s history, it was actually that researcher’s apprentice that recorded the event from a serendipitous location.”
About an hour later, after Snips and Snails guided Twilight to the cave, all the while Twilight levitated the sleeping cub, after filling the town water tower with milk from the surrounding farms and giving it to the cub to suck on like a bottle, with the assurance to mayor she would see about compensation. She levitated the cub into the cave. Just then they heard a roar from inside the cave only to be answered by the Minor calling back to its mother happily. “Okay, we better get out of here.” Twilight then ended her spell and everyone headed back to town as fast as they could. As they arrived back in town. Twilight grabbed Snips and Snails by their ears. “We are going to have a long talk with your parents.”
“Oh man,” the two boys moaned as Twilight started dragging them to their homes.
Watching that were Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack and the CMC. “Twilight was amazing!” Scootaloo exclaimed.
“Yah, she is. But she almost didn’t help,” Sweetie Belle commented.
“She didn’t want tah come off as a bragger.” Apple Bloom chimed. “Ah wonder why?
These comments struck Rarity, Rainbow Dash and Applejack, “It was us, or rather our reaction to Trixie’s show. We behaved deplorably and reprehensible.”
“Well tah be just, so was Trixie, with how she reacted to us.” Applejack then sighed and shook her head “Sugarcubes, Ah think wah owe Trixie an apology.”
“Next time she’s in town,” Rainbow said slightly defeated.
“I also suppose we could have worded it all better,” said Rarity, “our choice of words back then were easily misinterpreted by Twilight. Remember girls, it’s just as much what you say as how you say it.”
“Maybe yahall should write Princess Celestia?” Apple Bloom innocently suggested.
“Ah’ll get a quill and parchment.”
It was a couple days since Discord’s reformation started and he had left with Princess Celestia for their… prank off, as Twilight and Spike were returning from the Everfree back into town. “So, why were we visiting Zecora again?” Spike asked.
“She was the only one to know that potion that helped me recover from Princess Celestia’s…um…”
“I think the term is ‘trolling’,” Spike answered.
“There are at least 16 official definitions of the word ‘troll’, and none suggest bullying or messing with one’s psyche.”
“It’s a colloquialism. But all in all, you handled that whole event pretty…” Spike started but was cut short as.
Just then Rainbow Dash...dashed onto the scene tackling Twilight to the ground. “Twilight! Come quick! It's an emergency!” Rainbow said as she got back up, taking Twilight and Spike by the hand and bolted back to town.
Back in Magiville, the citizens were gathered around to see what was going on in the center of town. Everyone watched as a red light flashed around Rarity changing her gown to dress that had a dark brown, light green and light orange as the main colors.
Rarity looked at her new dress and gasped in horror. “You beast!” she exclaimed in anger, “This shade of brown should only be used for accents!” Rarity then fainted. Pinkie Pie then wrapped Rarity in a pink towel, trying to soothe the enchantress.
As Twilight Sparkle walked into the center of the circle, “What's going on here?” she looked around trying to understand what was going on.
“Well, well, well.” A woman in a black cloak and hood spoke. "If it isn't... Twilight Sparkle.” She then took off her hood revealing herself as Trixie. Everyone gasped, no one seemed to notice that her irises flashed red when she said ‘Twilight’ nor did they seem to notice the dark gray amulet she wore.
“Trixie!” Twilight’s tone matched Trixie’s, but while Trixie was looking for a fight Twilight was not too pleased to have the illusionist back in town.
Spike’s pupils became slits as he was about to hiss, “What's she doing here?
Rainbow Dash looked at Rarity as was bundling herself in the pink cloth that Pinkie fetched. “You call that great and powerful?” Trixie then sent a red stream of light that looked at lot like lightning at Rainbow Dash’s right leg and caused the ethereal wing to grew to ten times its normal size. Rainbow Dash yelped as she seemed to wobble in flight as she tried to fly.
Snips and Snails took a step forward as the crowd itself took a step back. “Oh! She's Rainbow Wobble, now!” Snips joked. Snails laughed as Rainbow Dash crashed next to Rarity yelping.
Snails then called out to Trixie praising her, “Good spell, oh Great and Powerful Trixie!
Trixie then turned her attention to the two boys, “You two! Quiet!” She shouted as she sent another red lightning bolt aimed at the two and had Snips upside down seemingly connected to him by an invisible force.
“Uh, hey! W— What happened?” Snips asked as he struggled to get down.
Snails was also not happy with the situation, “Get off of me! Brbrbr,” the taller of the two tried to get the smaller off of him.
“Let go!”
“Go this way!” Snails yelled until the two bumped into a wall.
Twilight Sparkle and everyone else looked at what happened, and while many of the children had a laugh at the two, none of the adults tolerated what happened. Twilight elected to be the spokesperson, “Stop picking on my friends, Trixie!”
Trixie chuckled at first, the thought of Twilight as friends with Snips and Snails before she addressed Twilight. “You, your friends and I have some unfinished business. Since I have already concluded my affairs with Rarity, Rainbow Dash, I heard of your Sonic Rainboom. A noteworthy feet, but I can do it better, on foot.” Trixie then took off the black cape took on the stance of competitive runner and bolted out of the town, as she exited it there was the distinctive boom of the sound barrier being shattered and in its wake was a circular form of Trixie’s Aura Mark, which was her belt buckle. As she returned she had with her four ropes. “Now Applejack about your multiple figure eights.” The ropes flashed red as they two ends of each were tired as lassos and Trixie began to spin them and somersault through the figure eights she made. Leaving everyone in utter awe. As she finished she let the ropes dropped. “So any more doubts about me doing what you and your friends’ did better than you, Applejack?” The paladin dipped her head knowing she was bested. Trixie laughed before she turned her attention to Twilight. “Now with all that out of the way, as I have just proven my magic's gotten better since I was here last. But there is still the matter of you and I. I am the better magician! And I'm going to prove it! Me and you, a magic duel. Winner stays, loser leaves Magiville forever!”
Twilight Sparkle turned up her nose and looked away as she closed her eyes, “Forget it! I'd never make a deal like that!”
Trixie was, however, not swayed, “Hm.” she hummed as she closed her eyes as well. “Your choice.” Trixie was calm for a second and then opened her eyes as her irises flash red. Shen sent a red bolt of lightning to Spike cause to the dragon to yelp as he was stretched and contorted into a ball. Trixie then used her magic to make Spike bounce around like a basketball.
Twilight Sparkle ran after Spike for a second or two, but Trixie was able to keep the familiar away. “Trixie!” Twilight roared, “put him down!” Trixie, however, continued to bounce the dragon ball. “Why are you doing this?”
Trixie conjured a basket and throw the dragon ball into it before she asked, “Why?” in turn and in anger. Trixie’s eyes flashed red before she continued, “Because you humiliated me!” Trixie then sent a bolt of red lightning into the ground and a screen large enough for the whole of Magiville grew forth. The screen flickered on as Trixie started to narrate, “After you showed me up with that Stella Ursa, I became a laughing stock!” The screen showed Trixie at another town being laughed off the stage while rotten fruits and vegetables were thrown at her. “Everywhere I went I was laughed at and ostracized.” While Trixie’s narration continued, the scene changes to show Trixie’s wagon vandalized. The screen changed to show Trixie using a pick-axe and cracking open a rock on the Pie’s Rock Farm, it was clear she was straining under all the physical labor. “I even had to take a job on a rock farm just to earn a living!” Trixie then vanished the screen in a puff of red smoke. “A rock farm!” Trixie finished in a shout of disgust over her most recent past.
“Hey!” Pinkie Pie jumped in angrily. “You're lucky a rock farm would take the likes of you!” Pinkie finished as she pointed at Trixie accusingly. Trixie conjured a stylized arrow and trash can. The arrow floated up to Pinkie Pie’s face and pulled her mouth off after clicking on it, leaving blank face from nose to chin. The arrow then dropped Pinkie Pie’s mouth into the can and both vanished in a puff of smoke.
Trixie turned back to Twilight, “Now, I want revenge!” Trixie’s irises flashed red as she spoke, “And I'll just keep casting spells 'til you agree. Well? What do you say?” All the while Snails, Snips, Pinkie, and Rainbow Dash grunted dealing with the effects of the spells cast on them.
Meanwhile, Spike was set free of the basket and Trixie started to bounce him again. “Whoooaah! Help... me!” Spike cried out.
That was it, Twilight realized that she was not going to avoid this duel. It was only a matter of time before Trixie used her magic on more people. She took a breath, “Alright, Trixie. Let's duel!”
Trixie gave a great smirked as she won. “Excellent.” Trixie’s irises flashed red as she started to dispelled the spells she cast, returning Rarity’s dress to normal, Snips and Snails were no longer connected by the force, Spike was normal and Rainbow’s wings were back to normal. However, Pinkie’s mouth was not returned. The jester refused to go unnoticed as she started making muffled noises trying to call attention to the injustice. Trixie simply brushed it off and turned her attention to Twilight, “If I lose, I won't set foot in Magiville again. But if you lose, you're the one banished from this one-horse town!” Trixie’s irises were solid red as she said ‘you’ and pointed at Twilight. Everyone gasped at that.
“Deal.” Twilight agreed to with what seemed to be no hesitation. Everyone again gasped. “It’s time to duel!”
Trixie’s irises flashed as she shouted, “Draw!” She conjured a cart and sent it at Twilight and to the audience. Twilight caught the cart and placed it down safely, grunting slightly.
After the cart was down on the ground she wiped her forehead and gave a “Phew.” Trixie then conjured a dozen pies and sent them flying at Twilight. Twilight quickly summoned instantly a parasprite which ate all the pies in one gulp. Before it could burp and beget more parasprites, Twilight sent it back to where she summoned it from. Trixie then conjured a snowfall that covered the town, despite being late spring. Twilight then started warming the area, melting the snow and returning everything back to normal. Twilight wiped her forehead again but saw that Trixie was more or less unphased.
Trixie, however, was actually shocked at all this. The Alicorn Amulet should have given her power to rival a demigod. But Twilight was matching her point for point. She needed something to prove her power. She looked at the two boys that were the root of her fall and had an idea. “Snips, Snails, step forward!” she shouted and the two stepped forward.
“Wh— what is it, oh Great and P— P— Powerful Trixie?” Snips asked as he and Snails laughed nervously. Then Trixie’s eyes flashed red and she sent a bolt of red lightning at the two. In the clearing of the smoke and Snips was an infant and started crying while Snails was an old man.
Twilight and everyone else was shocked at what they saw, Snips was a baby and crying while Snails was an old man. Twilight was baffled at that,“An age spell? But... how could you do an age spell? That's a spell only the most powerful of Magicborn with decades of research and practice can cast that!” Twilight had no idea how Trixie could have done that.
Trixie saw Twilight was at a loss and as she smirked, “Well, Twilight? Give up?” She challenged Twilight in an attempt to goad her on. Twilight sighed as she pooled her magic into her focusing gem and grunted as she tried to counter the spell. However, there was no effect on Snips and Snails. Snips continued to cry.
“Come on, Twilight, you can do it!” Spike said trying to encourage Twilight. Twilight strained again trying to counter the spell, but again no luck for her. Snails continued to cry and Snails spine was heard clicking.
Trixie’s eyes still had solid red irises, but the whites flashed lime-green. “Trixie is the most powerful of Magicborn!” Trixie then gave a deep evil laugh as it was clear she had won the magic duel, as Twilight dropped to her knees in defeat. “And now it's time for you to leave Magiville! FOREVER!”
At that moment Twilight friends surrounded Twilight, blocking her from Trixie.“That's enough, Trixie!”
Applejack shouted as she drew her sword took a mid-guard, as Rainbow Dash drew her bow and Pinkie Pie pulled one of her cartoonish size mallets out of her hair.
Rarity had enchanted rocks and such having them hover near her, “You proved your point, but you can't possibly expect Twilight to leave Magiville!” the enchantress exclaimed.
Trixie’s eyes remained red and again flashed lime-green. “You fools! She's already gone!” Trixie then held her hand out as if to pick Twilight out, which was done via her magic and threw Twilight out of Magiville proper.
As Twilight was thrown she yelped as she landed on the ground. All the while Twilight’s friends ran after her but they were stopped as a clear magical dome was conjured and was lowered trapping them and the whole town. Twilight got back up but was too late. She and Spike placed their hands on the dome which seemed to like glass. “It's okay, guys. I'll figure something out. Just take care of each other. And keep an eye on Trixie. There's something strange about her.” Twilight said, and while she was heard on the other side, it was slightly muffled. Twilight then dipped her head and started towards the Everfree.
“Twilight?” Spike asked as Twilight left. There really was no other option, but it still bothered him and everyone.
“And wah thought we owed Trixie an apology.” Applejack said mostly to Rarity and Rainbow Dash as they all saw Twilight disappear over a hill.
Twilight stopped and saw a flower that was still a bub. Twilight tried to cast an aging spell on the bud, but while it worked for less than a second, but it didn’t hold like Trixie’s spell on Snips and Snails “Ugh! It's impossible! How could Trixie know such advanced magic? Heck, she was able to cast it on two people and had them go to different ages. Nor is she evil, a bit of showboater but not evil. What do I do, you can ask for help?” She asked herself as she paced back and forth. “Without Spike, I can't get a message to Princess Celestia, Princess Luna’s sound asleep, Cadance is all the way in Krystalopolies and has to manage that.” She thought about what to do then she remembered, “Zecora!”
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Approximately twenty minutes later Twilight arrived at a small hut located in the Everfree. However, the hut was rather out of place in its architecture style as it didn't originate in Mystica. Twilight entered the hut. Inside was a vast array of masks, many depicting animals, even monsters like manticores, hydras, etc, of all sized from around the world, others were masks depicted members of the different tribes and people that populated not only Mythica but the other nations of the world, there were also masks that depicted the celestial bodies, other depicted the four elements and many others. Also in the hut was a woman about ten years Twilight’s senior. The woman’s skin was much darker than most of the people of Mystica. On her skin were tattooed white strips around her arms and legs, on her face were white finger-like tattoos on her checks. Her hair was in a mohawk. She wore large golden earrings, golden rings around her neck and left leg, she also had a necklace made of red ribbon made with four golden disks with spiral suns engraved on them. She also wore a loose simple blue dress that covered her chest and hip and lower, leaving her back and waist exposed. Also around her waist was a belt of zebra hide. She was at a table having tea when the door swung open. “ZECORA, I NEED YOUR HELP!” Twilight shouted as she entered almost causing the recently identified Zecora to spill her tea. Zecora gave a slight scowl and got a weak teehee.
About half an hour later after Twilight informed Zecora of the situation. “Your tale of woe upsets me so.” Zecora then took a sip of her tea as Twilight seemed to pace. “No wonder you're dour. It's an abuse of power!”
Twilight took a seat at the table and accepted a cup of tea and after taking a sip. “I don't know what to do, Zecora.” Twilight then drank move of her tea. She then sighed. “I feel like I've abandoned my friends. But I can't take Trixie on hand-to-hand.”
Zecora sipped more of her tea before she continued. “If you train with me, so good you'll be. I'll show you the way to make sure she won't stay.” She then returned to her tea.
Twilight knew she was gifted in magic, and that Zecora was a shaman to be respected, but she never considered seeing if learning shamanistic magic and if it might make her magic more powerful. “You'll train me in magic?” However, there was still the matter of how powerful Trixie was, “ But she was doing age spells, weather spells, you name it!” Twilight slammed her hands on the table.
Zecora lifted her cup from the table before Twilight slammed on the table. “When it comes to magic, it would be tragic if somebody licked me, especially Trixie.” She finished the tea as Twilight looked Zecora in the eye.
Twilight got up from the chair she used hoping that Zecora’s knowledge would rub off on her and would help her magic increase in power. “You really think I can beat her?”
Zecora nodded with a “Mm-hmm.” As she got up from her chair and lead Twilight out.
An hour later, Zecora and Twilight were at one of the many small ponds and such bodies of water. Twilight was standing on the surface of the water while also levitating three balls of water. As Twilight was focusing, Zecora was on the shore watching on. “Ah, no noise, no sound, no din, no fuss must interfere with your focus. Unlearn what you have learned. Only then can victory be earned.” Twilight Sparkle continued to grunt and strain as she tried to focus on what she was trying to do. As Twilight struggled to clear her mind, per Zecora’s instruction. Trixie’s voice then echoed in her mind. “Trixie is the most powerful of Magicborn!” followed by Trixie’s laughs. This break in focus caused Twilight release the orbs of water. While they splashed into the pond, Twilight yelped as she too fell into the water with a splash. Twilight groaned as she got to her feet and walked out of the pond. Zecora watched as Twilight tried to dry herself and her clothes off. “There is much, much that I can teach, but the answer you need may still be out of reach.”
Twilight sighed, “I'm sorry, Zecora. I'm trying my best, but…” Twilight sighed as she finished using her magic to dry herself and her clothes off. “I can't stop thinking about Trixie. There was something different about her. It's like she's gone from high and mighty to mean and nasty.”
Zecora held her chin in her right hand as if in thought, “Your thinking needs a readjust. Total concentration is a must.”
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Back in Magiville, inside the Golden Oak, Twilight’s friends, their sisters, pets, and Spike were looking through everything for anything about the amulet that Trixie was wearing. They had looked through almost every book in the library and in Twilight’s personal collection. Pinkie was getting nourishment via an IV drip, but they needed to get Pinkie’s mouth back as soon as possible. There was still like four dozen books for them to look through as Rainbow spoke up, “Anybody else starting to think this is a lost cause?”
“NO!” everyone but Pinkie shouted back, the jester glaring at the elementalist. Tank even hit Rainbow in the head with his shell as he went for another book.
“Ow. Okay okay.”
Fluttershy was reading a book on fables. She then found a picture that matched the amulet Trixie wore. “I found it!” Fluttershy yelled, almost uncharacteristically. Everyone turned to face the typically timid druid. “Um, you see, there this item called the Alicorn Amulet, no one knows who made it, according to the book there are two theories, King Bullion and King Sombra. According to the King Bullion theory, Bullion used it to unite the three main tribes in the first place, making him king. And the King Sombra theory is that it was used as means to be an equal to Celestia and Luna and take over Krystalopolies… Well, that’s not in the history books in Rainbow and I read back in school.” Fluttershy looked back at her schooling.
“That wasn’t in our history texts here in Magivillie.” Rarity commented.
“Must have changed because our textbooks have three whole chapters on Kry...Kryst… that crystal city.” Scootaloo had a hard time saying the name of the city, granted many still have difficulty pronouncing it correctly. “And we are planned to cover all next week.”
Applejack coughed, “Continue, Sugarcube.”
“The Alicorn Amulet gets its name from the most critical material used in its creation…” Fluttershy looked up from the book her face lost all its color and handed the book off unable to continue.
Rarity accepted it she muttered to herself until she reached the line, “used in its creation, the substance that makes up a unicorn’s horn, alicorn.” Looking up from the book, “If it’s made with alicorn then that means a unicorn had to be… oh, my… that’s just horrid.” Rarity was disgusted with that revelation.
“How?” Apple Bloom, Sweetie Belle, and Scootaloo asked not able to follow the enchantress.
“Yah see, Sugarcubes, the substance that makes up a unicorn’s horn is called alicorn…”
“Wah got that…” Apple Bloom interrupted.
“Let mah finish!” Applejack ordered slightly crossed. “In order to get alicorn yah have to remove a unicorn’s horn, yah following mah?”
“Yes…” Sweetie Belle answered for herself and her friends.
“Now in order tah get the horn from the unicorn, someone would have tah hunt a unicorn.”
“What do they do after they...?” Scootaloo was not able to finish the question.
“They kill the unicorn and cut out its horn from its skull!” Rainbow Dash shouted, “It’s like how some people poach for ivory! And they often leave the body to rot!”
“That’s…just…evil…” the three said as they started to tear up at the thought of such a majestic and good creature being used as such an atrocity, before actually crying.
“Way tah go, Sugarcube.” Applejack deadpanned as she hugged the three crying girls in an attempt to comfort them. “Ah was tryin’ to ease them into fir’urin’ it out for themselves.” Rainbow Dash gave a weak apologetic smile.
“With that… unpleasantry... dealt with,” Rarity continued. “The Alicorn Amulet allows any wearer to become powerful enough to rival a demigod. But it slowly corrupts the wearing with the worst aspects of the maker of the amulet, and the corruption’s rate increases with each use. Symptoms of corruption include but not limited to, the irises flashing and ultimately converting to red, the sclera… that’s the white area of the eye… flashing lime-green and ultimately converting to lime-green, purple smoke drifting from the corners of the eyes…” Rarity looked up. “Red irises in lime-green eyes, purple smoke… that’s point for point describes...”
“KING SOMBRA!” The others who were at Krystalopolies shouted as they remembered those features.
“We got to destroy that thing as soon as possible.” Rarity said as she returned to the text. “There is no known way to destroy it and only that wear can take it off.” Rarity looked from the book back to her friends, “It looks like we’ll have to convince Trixie to remove the amulet.”
“How do we do that?” Spike asked. “It’s not like we reach Twilight.”
“I have an idea,” Fluttershy said with a degree of almost uncharacteristic confidence, “Spike, you can send a letter to anyone right?”
“Yeah, I can… I’ll get writing.” Spike then walked over to a desk, shoved everything off of it took out a piece of parchment, an ink fountain, and a quill. “Dear Princess…” Spike started to write.
“No, send it to just Twilight and Zecora. Let's not involve the princesses if we can solve it ourselves.” Fluttershy ordered.
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Twilight looked over letter Spike sent via his dragon fire along with a copy of the entry in the book about the Alicorn Amulet. “I can't believe I didn't recognize the Alicorn Amulet!” Twilight groaned. Zecora simply drank her tea as Twilight tried to think about what she was to do. “But how am I supposed to beat that amulet? My magic isn't good enough!”
Zecora finished her tea and walked over and pulled out a piece of parchment, a dragon fire candle, an ink fountain and a quill from among her many items. “Twilight Sparkle, much work have you done. You learned all of my lessons; all but one. If Trixie's tricks have you in a fix, you must nix your magic and use the six.”
Twilight was confused with what Zecora just said, “Nix your magic, use the six…” She repeated as she tried to solve Zecora’s riddle. “Nix your magic, use the six…” then it dawned on her, she and her friends were a group of six. But how, the whole nixing her magic was something she didn’t understand, but then she looked at a school of magic she never really studied, slight of hand, illusionary magic. “Nix your magic! Use the six! That's it!” Twilight exclaimed as she hugged Zecora in gratitude. “Zecora, you're a genius!” Zecora smiled as Twilight sat at the table and started to write out her what she was planning. Zecora then lite the dragon fire candle.
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It was the following day, Trixie was on a golden throne on huge palanquin being carried by most of the men of Magiville, sans Big Mac, as they neared the barrier of the dome, not far from the Everfree Forest. Trixie moaned, “This better not be a false alarm, or the Great and Powerful Trixie will–” at the sight of Twilight and Zecora on the other side. Trixie gasped at the sight and as she yelled, “You!” she got off of the palanquin and walked up to the barrier. She was able to compose herself before she addressed Twilight. On the exterior of the barrier Twilight and Zecora heard the muffled voice of Trixie. “What's the matter, Twilight Sparkle? Not enjoying your exile?” Trixie asked.
Twilight took a breath before she spoke. “I know about the Alicorn Amulet. I know you cheated,” Twilight pointed at Trixie accusingly towards.
Trixie feigned hurt at the accusation, “Cheated? Moi?” she asked.
Twilight didn’t let up, “Yeah. And I thought you might wanna see what a real magical amulet looks like.” Twilight said as she pulled out a simple golden necklace with what looked like a green stone with a stylized star engraved on it. “Zecora gave it to me.” Twilight informed, “It's from deep with the Everfree Forest,” Twilight saw that Trixie start to walk away. “and it's way more powerful than your measly little Alicorn Amulet!” Trixie then stopped, Twilight knew she had Trixie hook, line, and sinker.
Trixie, however, tried to not show it as she turned back to face Twilight with her eyes closed, “Ha!” she laughed as she opened her eyes, the irises were as solid red and the whites were solid lime-green. “Nothing's more powerful than the Alicorn Amulet! And nobody's more powerful than the Great and Powerful Trixie!” Trixie declared as she held her nose up at the notion of another item could be more powerful than the amulet she wore.
Twilight knew she had to tactful with how to reel this catch in, “Care to put your amulet where your mouth is?” She asked her opponent trying to coax her in her trap, “How about another duel?”
Trixie was many things, an absolute idiot is not one of them, “Why should I?” Trixie asked knowing she had bested Twilight and really had nothing to gain from another duel, “I already beat you.”
“That's up to you!” Twilight said shrugging her shoulders. “But I guess we’ll never know which amulet is the more powerful and you'll never see the totally awesome magic from within the Everfree Forest.” Twilight closed her eyes and turned around and started to leave. “Come on, Zecora.”
As the two started to leave, “Wait!” Trixie yelled as she vanished the dome surrounding the town as she made a dash to catch up with the two. “Okay, okay, you're on! A second duel.” Twilight smirked before she turned around and the two shook hands.
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An hour later as Twilight and Trixie were in the center of town, everyone else was on the sideline. The sky was darkened with storm clouds as lightning cracked and thunder rumbled. Trixie put her best foot forward. “Let's start with a simple age spell, shall we?” She asked her opponent.
Twilight agreed with a “Let's,” as the two narrowed their eyes at each other.
Trixie saw Snips and Snails on the sidelines and sent a red lightning bolt at the two boys, turning them into babies in a poof. The two started to cry before they were turned back into their proper ages. “That’s an oldie, but a goodie, ha.” Trixie laughed as she turned to Twilight. “Now, let's see what your little charm can do.” Trixie waved her hand dismissively, a smirk on her face.
Twilight smiled unfazed, “No problem.” She turned to Applejack and Rarity, also in the audience with Rainbow Dash and Pinkie. “Applejack, Rarity, could you help me, pleases?” Applejack and Rarity nervously stepped forward to stand next to one of the statutes in town, giving a ‘huh’ when Twilight asked them. Twilight then send a purple lightning bolt at the two, betting a smoke cloud, as the cloud cleared Applejack and Rarity were still standing there but were ten years younger.
Trixie was shocked at first but rapidly feigned bemusement, “ Oh, ho-hum. So you can do an age spell, big deal.” Twilight then cast the spell again, returning her two friends back to their proper age and then cast it again, turning Rarity back into a ten-year-old but Applejack was an old woman. Twilight continued to repeat this mixing up the ages of her two friends, one-time Rarity was her normal age and Applejack was a girl, there were several other mixes of the ages of the two. Trixie’s mouth hung open in utter disbelief, “That's... That's impossible!” Twilight finished using the aging spells on Applejack and Rarity with them at their proper age.
“That's nothing!” Twilight said as she looked at Rainbow Dash she then sent another bolt of lightning at the elementalist causing smoke to appear as it cleared Rainbow Dash looked to her left and saw herself. The two Rainbow Dashs started to mirror each other not such if they were actually looking in a mirror. They then touched hands and both screamed. Twilight look from Rainbow Dash and her doppelganger to see Trixie absolutely stupefied. Twilight looked at her fingernails very dismissively, “Duplication spell.” she answered the unasked question. Twilight then sent another bolt and the doppelganger vanished in a puff of smoke. Twilight then walked up to Trixie and directed her attention to Pinkie Pie. “Ever see one person play ten instruments?” Twilight then sent another purple bolt, this time at the jester. As the smoke cleared the jester had an array of instruments on her and she started to play them like a one-man band, the most noted sound was the polka being played on the accordion in Pinkie’s hands.Trixie’s widen eyes and narrowed pupils showed that she could not fathom what was going on and how Twilight was able to do all that. Twilight knew she won, but she also knew she needed one more little tap. “Ooh, one more. I can turn a woman into a man.” Twilight turned back to Applejack.
As the lightning bolt was sent from Twilight’s hand, “NO!” Applejack shouted as she started to run away. But she was still hit and smoke appeared, as it cleared, Applejack was a towering man, as he got to his feet he covered his groin and chest. “Nope,” he said before he was zapped and surrounded by smoke. As the smoke cleared Applejack was a woman again, her eyes spinning a little. “Ah ain't consentin’ tah that again.”
Twilight closed her eyes and held her head high in triumphant, “Well, Trixie, looks like my amulet is more powerful than yours,” As Twilight spoke Trixie took the amulet Twilight was wearing, “– Hey! Give it back!” Twilight shouted as she noticed the amulet was gone and Trixie holding in her left hand.
Trixie could not help but laugh as she examined the amulet Twilight wore. “With this amulet, I shall now rule all of Mystica!” The clasps of the Alicorn Amulet clicked and electricity sparked as Trixie removed the Alicorn Amulet. Her eyes returned to normal as the clasped the other amulet around her neck with a click, “Witness, my subjects. Gaze upon an ever greater and 'powerful-er' Trixie!” Trixie declared as she held out the Alicorn Amulet, lightning cracked all the while. Just then Rainbow Dash swooped and took the Alicorn Amulet from Trixie. “Hey!” the illusionist shouted before she composed herself with a cough. “I don't need that old amulet. I have this!” She sent pink colored lighting from her focus gem, the same shade as her normal irises, to the elementalist.
Rainbow Dash was struck by the pink lightning and turned about in the air laughing, “Stop it! Tha— that tickles!” Rainbow continued to laugh after Trixie ended her spell.
Trixie was utterly befuddled as she looked to the amulet, “Tickles?!” she asked as she looked back to Rainbow Dash, “That was supposed to make you writhe in agony! This amulet is defective.” She then sent a few other bolts at Rainbow Dash, but Rainbow dodged them all. “Give mine back!” Trixie ordered.
Rainbow Dash: landed and put it a golden box held by Applejack, before it was closed tight. “Sorry. This is going back into hiding where it belongs.”
Trixie took off the amulet she took from Twilight before she was joined by the arcane mage. “Not to add insult to injury, Trixie, but that amulet? It's one of Zecora's doorstops.” Twilight then stepped on it, shattering it.
“But... how did you do those spells? Nobody can do those spells!” Trixie asked as she fell to her knees, bested by Twilight.
“You're right,” Twilight said as she placed her hands on Trixie’s shoulders and knelt down to face her. “Not even me. Zecora taught me so much about magic while I was in exile. But the most important thing she taught me was when not to use it. My magic alone wasn't powerful enough to take on the Alicorn Amulet head to head, so I needed to use a different kind of magic – the magic of friendship.” At that moment Rainbow’s doppelganger, the younger Rarity and Applejack, the elderly Applejack and the man-Applejack set out. They then wiped their faces and took off wigs revealing them to be Fluttershy, Sweetie Belle, Apple Bloom, Granny Smith and Big Mac respectively. “I also knew that the only person who could get the amulet off your neck was you,” Twilight informed.
Trixie was able to quickly figure what happened with Rainbow Dash, Rarity, and Applejack, but as Pinkie Pie was still playing as a one-man band. “But... what about the person with the ten instruments?” she asked unable to grasp that.
Twilight gave a slight chuckle, “That's not magic. That was just Pinkie Pie.” As Pinkie Pie continued to play, “But she might stop playing if you return her mouth.” Trixie groaned as she sent a pink bolt at the jester and Pinkie Pie’s mouth was back and she was back to normal.
Trixie hung her head in defeat, she started to cry. “I am the worst,” she said weakly as her eyes started to water apologetically. "I am sorry."
“Well tah be just, if Rares, Rainbow and Ah just walked away from the show we saw, wah could have dodged all this.” Applejack admitted begrudgingly. "Ah pardon yah."
“No one of us four is without blame.” Rarity had to concede.
“She’s still the most in the wrong.” Rainbow Dash added.
Trixie took a breath, “you’re right. I was wrong to humiliate you three back then, bring it home when I came here to duel Twilight and… everything else. Trixie got back to her feet and walked to her self-moving wagon. “I’ll go. Farewell Magiville, I am sorry for all my actions. I shan't return.” Trixie threw a big smoke cloud and after the smoke cleared Trixie and her wagon were gone.
“Well, that happened. So what do we do with this?” Applejack asked calling attention to the box with the Alicorn Amulet in it as she handed it to Twilight.
Twilight accepted the box, “Princess Celestia mentioned that there are vaults in Chantalot. I’ll ask her to place it there. So how’s the library?” Twilight asked.
“Um look at the time, I way behind on my orders. Come along Sweetie Belle, I am going to need your help.” Rarity then started to walk away, pushing a slightly confused Sweetie Belle as she left.
Apple Bloom grabbed Applejack’s hand, “Um don’t wah have to tend tah the fields, check the crops and such.”
Big Mac then picked up his sisters with an “Eeyup” as they and Granny Smith started to Sweet Apple Temple.
“Oh goodness, Angel hasn’t had his salad today, he gets really cranky when he’s not fed.” Fluttershy then flew off to her cottage after picking up Angel.
“Hey squirt, I promised to help yah work on wing exercises, well no time like the present. Came on Tank.” Rainbow Dash walked over took Scootaloo’s hand and started Tank’s propeller and headed off with the two.
Twilight turned to Pinkie and Spike, “What happened?”
“Spikewilltellyouallaboutitbye!” Pinkie said and bolted.
Spike groaned, “buck me.” before he buffed up and a quill and parchment.
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A few hours later in Chantalot, Princess Celestia exited the vault, having placed the Alicorn Amulet therein. “Why now?” she asked no one present. “Why is all this happening now?” She looked at the book she took out from the vault. “Time to act," she whispered.
