Chapters Several days had passed since Starlight and Spike were summoned to Canterlot and her friends had gathered at the cafe for lunch. It had been business as usual for Lemon Hearts as she had been working on the farm but for the others, things had not been the same, especially for Starlight's best friend, Moondancer.
Moondancer had been missing her friend since the day she left. She sighed, "You know, I can't help but wonder what Starlight was summoned for." She became more nervous and continued, "What if Princess Celestia is making her move back up there? What if we won't get to be with our friend much anymore?"
Her friends knew that like Starlight, Moondancer tends to have her paranoid moments but they also knew another thing, they knew that if Celestia was making Starlight go home, she would do the same with all of them. Lyra replied, "Moondancer, I'm pretty sure if that were the case, then we'd all be going home and resuming our studies."
Moondancer sighed, "I wish she would, I enjoyed it so much up there. The libraries are so big and Starlight and I studied so much together."
Most of the rest of them had adjusted to Ponyville and in the case of Lemon Hearts, she wouldn't want to live anywhere else. She replied, "Look, I know that both you and Starlight are more studious and prefer the big city but the rest of us have grown to like it here, especially me!"
As the five continued to talk, their discussion would be interrupted by a couple of colts who went running past their table. One of them shouted, "Gangway, comin' through!"
This stopped their discussion and annoyed Moondancer. She gave the two a frown and asked, "What is up with you? Couldn't you see we were talking?"
The other colt exclaimed, "Haven't you heard, there are two new unicorns in town!"
The first colt added, "And they say that the mare is the most talented unicorn ever!"
This brought out frowns from all five of them, but the deepest came from Moondancer. She sighed, "Oh, and who are 'they' anyway? Who is it that makes this claim?"
Minuette asked, "Where are these unicorns?"
The second colt replied, "They're in the town square, come on!"
The colts' claims brought out a lot of curiosity in four of them but Moondancer was less than thrilled. She looked off in the distance where everypony had gathered and frowned, "Oh and who is it that thinks these unicorns are so great." She slammed her hoof on the table and snapped, "Well, they've obviously never met Starlight!"
Twinkleshine continued to look off towards the town square and suggested, "Maybe we should go see who these unicorns are, that way we can see if they're really as great as those two claim."
With the exception of Moondancer, the others nodded in agreement. Moondancer continued to sit there with a scowl on her face. Lemon Hearts saw this and asked, "Moondancer, are you coming?"
Going and seeing who the unicorns were was the last thing she wanted to do but she figured that joining her friends would beat sitting there alone. She rolled her eyes and sneered, "Fine, let's go see who these unicorns are."
When they arrived they noticed that there was still some room in the front row so they headed up to get the closest view. They saw a stage set up with two cutie marks above it, one of a wand and a crescent moon and the other that looked like a half sun with books around it. When they saw this, Minuette commented, "Those cutie marks, they look kind of familiar."
Lyra asked, "Are those........?"
Before she could say anything else, a voice came over the loudspeaker, "Come one, come all! Come and witness the magic of The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
They then heard a male voice continue, "And the Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst!"
Trixie threw a few smoke balls onto the stage before they entered, causing the crowd to gasp in awe. When the five saw them, their jaws dropped open. Minuette couldn't help but giggle, "Wait a minute, aren't those two the ones that Starlight tried to tutor?"
Lyra added, "I think they are."
In a snide tone of voice Moondancer snorted, "Yep, and yet they STILL failed their remedial magic exam , right in front of Princess Celestia!"
They could tell that the very sight of the two was agitating their friend. Twinkleshine put her hoof around her and suggested, "Calm down Moondancer, they're not worth getting worked up over."
The two colts from earlier were standing not far away prompting Moondancer to point her hoof towards them and grunt, "If only those two idiots knew the truth about them, they wouldn't think they are so great."
The two began their show and Trixie began, "And now Ponyville, you may see how great Trixie really is with her awesome transfiguration spell!"
Sunburst headed behind the stage, grabbed an apple and sat it down on the stage. Trixie asked, "So Sunburst, what should The Great and Powerful Trixie transform that apple into?"
Sunburst suggested, "The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst would suggest an orange!"
Trixie smiled, "Very well my faithful assistant, an orange it shall be!"
Trixie lit up her horn, threw a few smoke balls on the stage and fired a bolt of energy at the apple. One thing that Moondancer couldn't help but notice was that Sunburst also had his horn lit. Through the smoke she noticed that he had grabbed an orange in his aura and replaced the apple with it. When the smoke cleared, the crowd cheered when they saw an orange on the stage.
Twinkleshine gasped, "Wow, maybe her magic has improved since she failed her exam!"
Moondancer nudged her and grunted, "Pfft....didn't you see what happened? Didn't you see Sunburst pull an orange out of his cape and replace the apple with it?"
Her friends gave her a curious look and Lemon Hearts replied, "I didn't even notice, I just saw Trixie throw her smoke balls down and the orange at the end."
Moondancer glared at her, "Don't you see, that's how they do it! Those smoke balls hide how it really happens because you know as well as I do that neither one of those two know transfiguration spells!"
Lemon Hearts sighed, "Look, we know they likely have special tricks but just enjoy the show, ok?"
Moondancer sighed in disgust as the show continued. The next thing they saw was Sunburst pushing a box onto the stage before pulling it in half, getting in it and pulling it back. As soon as he got in, hooves came out of the bottom end of it and the crowd gasped when Trixie pulled out a saw. Trixie announced, "And now The Great and Powerful Trixie shall saw her assistant in half and he'll be completely unharmed!"
Moondancer knew how this trick worked but she wanted to see if she could get under Trixie's skin. She yelled, "Well somepony better call the coroner, no way does he come out of this alive!"
Trixie cast her gaze towards her and her friends and sneered, "Oh so Celestia's little pets have come to try and intimidate The Great and Powerful Trixie have they? Well it won't work because Trixie is so awesome!"
The crowd began to talk to themselves over Trixie's defensive nature when it came to Celestia's students. One pony asked, "Trixie, why do they bother you so much?"
Trixie said, "They don't bother the Great and Powerful Trixie, they just don't like......."
Moondancer laughed, "So Trixie, do you want to tell them about how you two failed your remedial magic exam or should I?"
The crowd gasped and Trixie replied, "They lie because they don't like The Great and Powerful Trixie! The Great and Powerful Trixie has never failed at anything!"
Sunburst added, "And they don't like The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst either."
Moondancer rolled her eyes and they resumed their stage show. Trixie lowered her saw and began to saw Sunburst in half. The crowd gasped and looked on in awe as Sunburst was not showing even one amount of discomfort. Moondancer looked around and she couldn't believe what she was seeing. She noticed that the ponies actually believed this was happening. She put her hoof to her forehead and grunted, "Ugh, how can they fall for this?"
Twinkleshine nudged her and whispered, "They probably know how the trick works but they're just playing along and enjoying the show."
The crowd gasped when Trixie pulled the box apart and they saw the top half of Sunburst in one end of it and his hooves hanging out of the other end. The five knew how the trick worked but two definitely didn't, Snips and Snails, the colts who told them about the two. Snips gasped, "Wow, that is amazing."
The crowd continued to look on in awe as it appeared that Sunburst was cut in half until Trixie put the box back together and Sunburst pulled himself out of it. The crowd cheered seeing that he was indeed unharmed and all Moondancer could do was sigh in disgust.
After thirty more minutes and a couple more stage show tricks, Trixie ended the show and the crowd began to disperse. A few ponies hung around to see if they could perhaps meet Trixie and Sunburst but Moondancer was not one of them. Unlike her friends who wanted to stay and see if Trixie had perhaps improved, Moondancer stormed off towards their apartment as talking with Trixie was the last thing she wanted to do.
After Trixie and Sunburst finished their show, most everypony had headed home with the exception of six, four of which Trixie would not be thrilled to see and two that she would be somewhat annoyed by. When she saw Celestia's students approaching her a frown developed on her face. She sneered, "Oh so are Celestia's little pets here to insult The Great and Powerful Trixie?"
She then took a closer look at them and noticed that Moondancer was gone. She continued, "Oh and what happened to the unicorn with the glasses?"
Her demeanor was not sitting well with any of them but Lemon Hearts tended to have the most patience so she replied, "She was tired so she headed home early."
She then noticed that Starlight was not there and sneered, "Oh, and where is Starlight? Where is Celestia's favorite pet?"
They looked at one another nervously wondering if Starlight would even want them telling Trixie where she was. Trixie took advantage of this and laughed, "Oooh, did Starlight mess up or something? Did Celestia make her go home so she could be punished for not doing her job."
Trixie's comments were not sitting well with them one bit. Minuette replied, "Look, Celestia summoned her and Spike to go up there for a few days. Why she did it we're not sure but it was not for anything bad."
At this point Sunburst had joined Trixie at the front of the stage and wanted to calm things down. He asked, "So, what brings the four of you here?"
Unlike Trixie, Sunburst seemed respectful towards them so they felt more comfortable talking to him. Minuette pointed towards Snips and Snails, who had stayed to meet Trixie, and replied, "Those two told us about you two being in town and we just wanted to take a look."
Sunburst asked, "Alright but still, I don't get why Starlight's closest friends would come given her history with us, especially Trixie."
Lemon Hearts replied, "Sunburst, we just wanted to check out the show. We're not........."
Trixie jumped off the stage and got up in her face, "Trixie knows why you came, you came to tell Starlight we were here weren't you? You came so you could talk to her about Trixie's show and laugh, didn't you?"
Lemon Hearts sighed, "No we didn't, we just came to see the show ok?" She really wanted to deescalate the situation so she changed the subject, "So, what led to you two doing a traveling magic show anyway?"
This was something that Trixie was not wanting to answer but Sunburst had no problems doing so, "Well I don't know if Starlight told you or not but Trixie and I met at Celestia's school."
Lemon Hearts said, "Yes, she told me about how she tried to tutor you two but despite that, you still failed your remedial magic exam."
Trixie decided that she would put her two cents in, "Well, after The Great and Powerful Trixie got sent home, she met Sunburst on the train ride home and since we both felt Starlight didn't tutor us well enough, we decided to write to one another."
Sunburst added, "And once we got older, we decided to meet up and she taught me all about how to do her brand of magic and we decided to become traveling showponies to make a living."
Trixie asked, "Oh and speaking of making a living, did you pay your entrance fee to see The Great and Powerful Trixie's show?"
The four gave her nervous looks because they just showed up without paying an entrance fee. Lemon Hearts, who was the most honest out of them said, "There was nopony there to collect the entrance fee."
Trixie began to become angry but Sunburst quickly realized what the problem was. He replied, "Well we just had a bucket there hoping that ponies would pay like they do everywhere else."
Trixie snapped, "Well maybe we need to have ponies at the entrance to collect the entrance fee." She then pointed her hoof towards Snips and Snails and asked, "You two, what would you think about earning a few bits?"
Simply seeing Trixie's show had caused the two to completely adore her. Snips excitedly replied, "No, no! We'll do it for free for you oh Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Trixie got a huge smile on her face realizing that she wouldn't have to pay the two anything to collect entrance fees. She replied, "Good, The Great and Powerful Trixie really appreciates this!"
Sunburst added, "Just meet us here tomorrow afternoon after you two get out of school."
Trixie could tell that they would continue to pester them if they didn't send them packing so she continued, "Now be gone with you two until tomorrow."
Snails replied, "Of course."
Snips added, "Anything you say! We are at your beck and call!"
Sunburst gave the two a friendly wave goodbye while Trixie simply rolled her eyes before turning her attention back to Starlight's friends and ordered, "Be gone with you four as well, all you want to do is continue to harass The Great and Powerful Trixie."
The four complied and began to talk about what Moondancer had saw when Trixie claimed to have done a transfiguration spell. They both heard this and had their concerns that one of them, Moondancer in particular, would wind up exposing them as frauds to the whole community. Sunburst asked, "Trixie, they know about the secret with the transfiguration spell! What are we going to do? If they expose us nopony will come to our shows."
Trixie replied, "Well we're going to have to come up with something." Trixie suddenly got a devious smile on her face and continued, "Sunburst, we could always break into the library! Trixie is certain that there are books on transfiguration spells and if we steal them and then we both learn them, then Celestia's little pets won't be able to expose us!"
Sunburst was not sure about this as he was pretty sure that it was government property. He gasped, "Trixie, are you nuts? Do you know what could happen to us if we were caught?"
Trixie boasted, "Oh don't worry about that, The Great and Powerful Trixie is certain that she won't get caught."
Sunburst sighed, "Very well, you can go and try to steal it but don't blame me if you get caught."
Trixie rolled her eyes and suggested, "Now Trixie must wait until everypony is asleep and then she can go steal the necessary books!"
Both of them headed back to their trailer to wait for all the lights in town to go off. Trixie was certain that breaking into the local library would be easy while Sunburst was not so certain. He knew that if she got caught, that he would likely face charges for being an accessory to the crime. All he could do was hope that she could grab what they needed and get out without being spotted.
A couple hours had passed since Trixie ran off Starlight's friends and Ponyville had gone silent and dark. Every single light was off and Trixie knew that this was her chance to steal the book her and Sunburst needed. As she headed out a hoof grabbed her shoulder. Sunburst asked, "Trixie, are you sure you want to do this? If you get caught, both of us could be in serious trouble!"
Trixie boasted, "Don't worry Sunburst, The Great and Powerful Trixie knows what she is doing, she will not get caught!"
Sunburst knew that there would be no stopping Trixie from trying to do this so he let go of her and sighed, "Very well but if you get caught, don't say I didn't warn you."
Trixie rolled her eyes and headed into town. Given that it was just a crescent moon that night, there was very little light to give her a good idea of where to go. Despite the risk, she lit up her horn to create some light. As she continued to head through town, she began to have seconds thoughts as she realized that if she was to get caught breaking into the library, that she could face charges for breaking into federal property.
Once she arrived at the library, she still began to doubt herself but in the end her desire to learn a transfiguration spell won out so she used a spell to unlock the door and she headed in.
When she headed in, her very first instinct was to turn on some lights so she could see but then realized that ponies would see lights on in there and would investigate. Instead of turning on lights, she lit up her horn brighter and began her search. At first she was not finding any books on magic, just on history and other general topics. She grunted, "Ugh, where are the books on magic? The Great and Powerful Trixie's show can't be perfect without her learning what's in them!"
Trixie became more and more frustrated until she saw a staircase that led up to a room that had one small bookcase. Trixie thought to herself, "Perhaps the book Trixie needs is up there!"
She headed up there and almost immediately after heading to the bookcase, she found all the books on magic where she found the book with transfiguration spells.. She decided to sit down on the bed up there and at first wondered why there was a bed up there to start with until she looked at the night stand. On it she saw something she did not expect, a picture of Starlight and her friends. She gasped, "What, Starlight lives here?"
At that moment Trixie realized two things, she realized that not only would she need a book on transfiguration spells but she would also need one on duplication spells because if any of Starlight's books were missing and it was revealed that she was in town, she would be the first one Starlight would suspect. She also knew that given how close she is to Celesta, that Starlight could probably suggest banishment to the moon as punishment and Celestia would likely do it.
She got back up and went to the bookcase to find a book with duplication spells. Given that it was just one bookcase, Trixie was able to find what she needed rather quickly. The first thing she began to study was the duplication spell because she knew that if she could learn that, she could simply duplicate both books, put the originals back and then get going.
When she found the duplication spell, she could understand the words but when she tried to focus on the energies involved, she was clueless. She stomped her hooves into the floor and yelled, "Ugh, why can't The Great and Powerful Trixie get this?" She then realized something, she realized that Sunburst, given his intelligence, would be able to get them and despite not having a lot of talent, that perhaps he could help her get them. She knew that taking the books would be a huge risk and she would have to hope that Starlight would not get home from Canterlot for a few days.
She continued to contemplate what she could do for a few minutes until she said to herself, "Perhaps Starlight won't get home until the next day. It should be safe for The Great and Powerful Trixie to take them!"
She then looked at the picture of Starlight and her friends with a frown. She picked it up and smashed it on the floor before leaving the library. Much to her delight, the town was still dark and quiet so she was easily able to find her way back to her wagon without being detected.
When she got back and had two books from the library Sunburst was stunned. He gasped, "You stole two books from the library? Aren't you worried that the librarian will report them missing and we'll get caught?"
Trixie replied, "Don't worry about it. The Great and Powerful Trixie will never get caught for something like this. If we just study what we need to tomorrow, we should have everything down and then that unicorn with the glasses will know that we don't use trickery in our acts!"
Sunburst added, "And then return those books tomorrow night....."
Trixie interrupted, "Yeah, whatever. For now though, The Great and Powerful Trixie thinks we should get some sleep so we can be alert for our studying."
Sunburst yawned, "Agreed, now let's get some rest."
The two turned in for the night and while Trixie was easily able to get to sleep, for Sunburst it was not so easy. He couldn't help but worry about what would happen if they wound up getting caught with those books in their possession. Eventually he was able to clear his mind enough that he was able to get to sleep but would it be enough for him to be as focused as he would need to be?
Learning to Cause Trouble
The following morning arrived and despite not getting a full night of sleep, both ponies were ready to get going and study. Before they would though, they decided to head to the local cafe to grab some breakfast. As they made their way through town, they could hear ponies talking about them. At first they thought that everypony would be bad mouthing them but then they heard some thing different. They heard the townsponies praising them and before they could get to the cafe, two familiar colts would approach them.
Trixie saw them and sighed in frustration that the two would disturb her so early in the day. She sighed, "What do you two want?"
Snips excitedly replied, "Great and Powerful Trixie, when do you want us to meet you? When do you want us so we can collect your fees?"
Both Trixie and Sunburst gave the two a slight glare. Trixie replied, "Well The Great and Powerful Trixie is taking the day off so she doesn't need your help."
Sunburst added, "Sorry you two but there will be no show today."
The two sighed in disappointment but continued to stand by their table. Trixie's glare deepened and she continued, "Could you two leave The Great and Powerful Trixie alone? Can't you see she is getting ready to eat?"
Snails replied, "Of course Great and Powerful Trixie."
The two finally stopped pestering them and finally they could get their order placed and eat in peace. Once their order arrived they began to eat quickly so they could get to studying. Both of them, especially Trixie, wanted to get to work so they could begin to practice the magic they hoped to learn.
After finishing their breakfast, they headed back to their trailer to start studying. Given the fact that they would have to return the books that night, they decided to study the duplication spell first. Sunburst levitated the book in front of them and said, "Alright Trixie, let's get started on this."
Trixie stared at the book and asked, "Sunburst, you're smart, how are we supposed to do this?"
Sunburst stood there clueless for a few seconds before remembering something from when they are young. He replied, "I remember something from we were young. I remember Starlight telling us that we needed to focus on the spell so much that we would go into a trance."
Trixie sighed, "Yes Trixie remembers that so it is worth a shot."
The two stood around the book and began to stare at the spell. For most ponies, especially those with the talent level of Starlight, it would be easy to be able to go into a trance immediately but for them it was not so easy. After ten minutes Sunburst went into the trance and his eyes began to glow white. It was during this time that he had to focus on actually duplicating the book, focus on what it looked like, focus on the content and then grab the book in his aura before casting the spell.
Once he came out of the trance he saw Trixie still trying to go into a trance. He nudged her and said, "Trixie, I know how to do it! We have to focus on actually duplicating it, focus on what it looks like, focus on the content and then grab the book in our aura!"
Trixie replied, "Prove it!"
Sunburst took a quick look through the book that involved the transfiguration spell and focused on everything he needed to do to duplicate it. He then grabbed it in his aura and fired energy at it. Suddenly there was not one book, but two. Sunburst celebrated, "The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst did it! Sunburst finally did real magic!"
Trixie grunted, "Way to rub it in."
Sunburst replied, "Trixie, just focus and you'll get it. Remember everything that you need to focus on and you'll be fine."
Trixie again began to focus on the spell and after a few minutes, she went into the same type of trance that Sunburst did. She then grabbed the book in her aura and fired energy at it, causing it to duplicate. Trixie saw this and squealed, "Yes, Trixie knew she could do it!"
Sunburst replied, "And now we need to study the transfiguration spell and get it down before you...."
Trixie sighed, "Yeah, yeah, yeah, return the books to the library tonight."
It took a lot less time for the two to go into a trance studying the transfiguration spell since it was not the first trance they went into. Once they were finished, they realized that they needed to see if they truly had learned the spells they studied so they headed to the edge of the Everfree Forest.
Once they arrived, Sunburst decided that he would go first. He saw a decent sized rock and said, "Trixie, watch this." He lit up his horn, grabbed the rock in his aura and focused on everything necessary. He yelled, "Oak tree" before firing his energy at it. As soon as his energy struck the rock, it transformed into an oak tree. He stood proudly and boasted, "The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst did it! Sunburst turned that rock into a tree!"
Trixie was not overly thrilled with Sunburst's boasting and decided to try and do something difficult as well. She grabbed a tree in her aura before yelling, "Teacup!" She fired energy at the tree and sure enough, once her energy hit the tree, it turned into a teacup. Trixie boasted, "The Great and Powerful Trixie did it!" Despite them being friends she challenged Sunburst to a competition, one where they would try and do the most difficult transfiguration spells.
Sunburst agreed and the two spent a great chunk of the day not too far into the forest turning trees into everything from bugs to stagecoaches to shrubs. After several hours of casting transfiguration spells the two decided to call it a draw, "Well Trixie, you did quite the job today."
Trixie replied, "You did as well now let's go get some rest. Using so much magic has wore The Great and Powerful Trixie out."
Sunburst nodded in agreement and they headed back to their trailer. The two felt proud that for the first time in their lives, that they were able to do real magic and did more than just the basic skills that Starlight had tried to teach them when they were young.
The following morning had arrived and Trixie and Sunburst woke up, full of energy. The previous day they had done something that at one time they thought would never happen, they cast both duplication spells and transfiguration spells. While Sunburst was simply thinking that their show would suddenly be perfect, Trixie had other plans, much more mischievous plans. She suggested, "Sunburst, what do you say we go out for breakfast and then have some fun?"
Sunburst wasn't sure what she meant by have some fun but he was hungry. He replied, "That sounds good."
The two headed out and given that they didn't have a ton of money they realized that they would likely be hungry for a great part of the day. When they arrived at the cafe and began to look over the menu, the cheapest thing on there was a salad, which sounded downright nasty to the two. Trixie sighed, "Ugh, salad sounds downright nasty to The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Sunburst gave her a smile, "You know, we can use our transfiguration spells to turn it into something delicious, not to mention filling."
Trixie replied, "Sunburst, you're a genius."
Sunburst boasted, "Well I'm not known as The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst for nothing!"
Just as he had finished saying that, the waiter arrived and took their order. The waiter looked kind of shocked that the two would order salads and water for breakfast given that most ponies order eggs, oats and cider that time of day. While they were waiting for their meals, the two began to discuss what their plans for the day were.
Sunburst asked, "So Trixie, what are our plans for the day before the show this evening."
Trixie began to look around and snicker, "The Great and Powerful Trixie was thinking we could have some fun."
Sunburst asked, "Oh, and what sort of fun?"
Trixie laughed, "Well Trixie was thinking that since this is where Starlight and her friends live, that we could cause a little mischief with the spells we learned!"
Sunburst nervously replied, "Are you sure that's a good idea? Who......"
Trixie interrupted, "Sunburst, don't you remember how Starlight didn't tutor us well enough for us to pass our exam? Don't you remember how she thought she was better than us? Don't you remember how her friends, especially the unicorn with the glasses, was laughing at our show?"
Sunburst replied, "Yes, I do." He then got a sly grin on his face and continued, "Alright Trixie, let's do it." He began to look around at how calm things were and added, "Besides, I think this town could be a little more lively."
Trixie laughed, "That's what The Great and Powerful Trixie was hoping to hear! Besides, using our abilities is so much fun!"
Sunburst laughed in return, "That it is!"
After talking for a few more minutes their meals arrived. The two looked down at their salads not in disdain but with huge smiles on their faces. Sunburst would be the first to change his meal into something else, something more filling and something that would cost quite a bit more. He grabbed it in his aura, concentrated on it and said, "Eggs, hay bacon, hash browns!" He fired energy at it and suddenly he had a much more filling and appetizing meal. He then did the same with his water and said, "Orange juice!"
Once he had changed it as well he gave Trixie a smile and snickered, "You know, we are going to save a ton of money doing this!"
Trixie replied, "Yeah we will!"
Trixie looked down at her meal and decided that what Sunburst had transformed his into looked good so she did the same. While they were eating, the wheels began to turn in Sunburst's head, he began to snicker realizing that they could get out of losing money on their meal entirely.
Trixie heard him and asked, "Sunburst, what are you laughing over?"
Sunburst pulled some bits out of his saddlebag, placed them on the table and boasted, "Watch this! The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst is about to save us even more money!" He grabbed the bits in his aura, concentrated on them intently and then fired energy at them, causing there to be twice as many of them. He again boasted, "Yet another feat pulled of by The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst."
Trixie wasn't overly fond of his boasting but realized that she was likely the one responsible for it. She laughed, "That's nothing! Just wait until we go to have some fun, The Great and Powerful Trixie will accomplish even bigger feats!"
Sunburst suggested, "Another magic competition after we're through eating?"
Trixie replied, "You're on!"
After paying for their meals with the bits they duplicated, the two decided to take a walk through town and make decisions on what they would do. Trixie saw the local florists out selling flowers and couldn't help but think about how funny it would be to ruin their flowers. She nudged Sunburst and pointed towards their flower stand and laughed, "Watch this, The Great and Powerful Trixie is about to anger those florists!"
Trixie grabbed their flowers in her aura, concentrated intently and said, "Cactus!"
As soon as the energy she fired hit them, they turned into a cactus. Both of them were laughing at the reaction of the three, particularly Roseluck when she yelled, "The horror, oh the horror!"
The two couldn't help but laugh over how melodramatic she was and how the other two were in a state of panic. They took off to the other end of town in the event they calmed down and took off after them. Sunburst began to think about something that would be truly amazing, something that would top what Trixie did. He then looked across the street and saw a yellow pegasus taking a rabbit to the vet. Sunburst nudged Trixie and snickered, "Watch this and be amazed."
Sunburst grabbed the rabbit in his aura and froze it in its tracks. When the rabbit couldn't move the pegasus yelled, "Angel, what's wrong? Are you ok?"
Sunburst lit up his horn, said "angry wolverine" and fired energy at it. They both broke down laughing when the rabbit became a wolverine and began to chase after the pegasus. She flew into a tree and was shrieking in terror as the wolverine began clawing on the tree in an attempt to tear it down.
Trixie saw this and snickered, "Just wait, that pegasus is about to have double the trouble!"
Trixie lit up her horn, grabbed the wolverine in her aura, focused intently before firing a bolt at the wolverine, causing one to turn into two. They broke down laughing as they saw them both trying to tear the tree down so they could get to the pegasus. Trixie couldn't help but yell, "Get her boys, get her!"
The pegasus finally flew out of the tree and rushed back into her cottage in tears. The two gave one another a hoof bumped and laughed in unison, "Oh this is too much fun!"
Trixie began to think of something else they could transform and then it hit her, the library. She started laughing hysterically, "Hey, you know what we should transform?"
Sunburst asked, "What?"
Trixie got to laughing so hard she snorted, "The library because a terrible tutor lives there!"
Sunburst gasped, "Wait a minute, Starlight lives in the library?"
Trixie replied, "Yes and The Great and Powerful Trixie thinks that we should punish a terrible tutor by completely ruining her home! We should ruin it because she purposely didn't help us enough to pass our exams!"
At first Sunburst wasn't overly sure as to whether they should do something to her home but then he remembered how Starlight couldn't get them to improve their skills and more importantly, how it seemed that she thought she was better than them, especially Trixie. He replied, "Alright, let's do this!"
The two began to walk through town, towards the library. Given that it was not right in the vicinity of the market, they figured that transforming it into something else and then getting back to the other end of town would be easy. Both of them had huge smiles on their faces, not only over what they were going to do but also thinking about how upset Starlight would get over it.
Departing Canterlot
The past week in Canterlot had been very stressful for Starlight as she had to fill in for Princess Celestia while she was ill, taking care of everything from daily court to making major economic decisions regarding construction requests from various communities across Equestria. After checking on Celestia one more time and discovering that she was feeling better, she was allowed to return to Ponyville.
As they left the palace Starlight said, "You know Spike, I don't think I've ever been so relieved in my life! It will be so nice to get back to Ponyville and be with my friends."
Spike replied, "I bet. At least once we get back home I won't be locked up in your old study tower while you're handling important business, at least I can be out and about again."
Starlight sighed, "Spike, I know you are upset that I had a lot of meetings but you have to realize, it was over matters......" Starlight's ears shot up and her sixth sense kicked in, "Spike, we have to hurry up and get home. Something isn't right back in Ponyville."
Spike knew how Starlight would get when her sixth sense kicked in and asked, "Starlight, what do you think could be going on? Is it something bad?"
Starlight levitated Spike onto her back and yelled, "No time for small talk! The train for Ponyville leaves in five minutes, we need to hurry up and get to the station."
Starlight broke into a full gallop as she rushed to the station. When she arrived, she was able to buy their tickets and board the train with seconds to spare. By the time they got seated, Starlight had already begun to sweat and her mane became a bit unkempt like it always does when she gets nervous.
Spike saw this and suggested, "Starlight, you need to calm down. I know you get paranoid but what could possibly be going on that would make you this nervous."
Starlight replied, "I'm not sure but I do know one thing, things won't be good if we don't get home soon."
Harassing Celestia's Students
After engaging in some mischief that morning, Trixie and Sunburst decided to avoid passing by the market in the event the local florists were to see them and come after them. The route they took led them through a quiet part of town but one thing they didn't know is that it led them by an apartment owned by the government, a building that four ponies they weren't fond of lived in.
As they were passing by it, four ponies came out and immediately noticed them. Three of them looked at the two in shock that they would still be in town but one gave them a frown. Moondancer glared at them and commented, "Oh, so the two charlatans are still in town I see."
Trixie yelled, "Just because we are showponies does not mean we are charlatans!"
Moondancer sneered, "Oh really? Then why is it that when you allegedly did that transfiguration spell, you had to throw smoke balls down." She then turned her attention to Sunburst and added, "Oh that's right, it is because your friend here can swap the apple out for the orange, that's why!"
Neither one of the two were thrilled with her behavior but Trixie wanted to nip that in the bud. Trixie laughed, "Oh so you think The Great and Powerful Trixie can't do transfiguration spells?" She then began to laugh, "Watch this!"
She grabbed Moondancer's glasses in her aura, focused on them, fired some energy at them and yelled, "Snake" causing her glasses to be transformed into a garden snake.
Sunburst knew that if one of them knew how to reverse the spell that they would have to have the original object and he wanted to make acquiring it more difficult on them. He grabbed the snake in his aura, focused and then duplicated it. Suddenly Moondancer could hardly see and yelled, "Stop it you two, I can't see!"
Trixie laughed, "Still think we are charlatans?"
While Moondancer was struggling to get around, Minuette grabbed the snakes in her aura and demanded, "You change that snake back right now."
Sunburst mocked, "Oooh, you change that snake back right now!" He then laughed, "And what if we don't?"
Trixie added, "Are you going to tell Celestia's favorite pet about this? Are you going to snitch on The Great and Powerful Trixie?"
Lyra grabbed Trixie in her aura and snapped, "Yes we will and trust me, Starlight will not be one bit happy and given how advanced her magic is, maybe she will turn YOU into a snake!"
Lyra's hold on Trixie was strong enough that all she could do was mumble but Sunburst would answer for her, "Give us a break. Starlight may have advanced magic but no way could she turn either one of us into anything!"
Lyra released her hold on Trixie and demanded, "Now you tell us, which snake is the original?"
Trixie was sick and tired of dealing with those four knowing that they needed to get to the library in a decent amount of time in the event Starlight was to return home that day. She grabbed the snake in Minuette's right hoof, focused on it, fired energy at it and yelled, "Moondancer's glasses."
Immediately the snake transformed back and her glasses were returned to her. When she could see again, Moondancer gave the two a death look and growled, "You know what, I'd hate to be you when Starlight gets a hold of you!"
Twinkleshine added, "Yeah, she'll probably haul you two failures up to Princess Celestia!"
Sunburst mocked, "Oooh, she'll haul us up to Celestia. Why, so she can tell us we were bad students?"
Trixie wanted to leave and suggested, "Come on Sunburst, we have better things to do that deal with these four."
Sunburst nodded and they rushed away from the apartment in the direction of the library. The two knew that they had better do what they planned with the library and then get out of town in the event Starlight's friends were to follow them or worse, Starlight was to get home and catch them.
Caught in the Act
Trixie and Sunburst ran as fast as they could and by the time they reached the library, Starlight's friends were nowhere to be seen. The two looked at the library, gave one another a smile and realized the time had come. Sunburst asked, "Well, who gets to do this?"
Trixie boasted, "Well, The Great and Powerful Trixie should because she hates Starlight more!"
Trixie grabbed the library in her aura, focused on it intently, fired some energy at it and yelled, "tea cup" and immediately there was a tea cup where the library was. The two knew that if there was only one and they got caught, that it would be easy for it to be transformed so Sunburst cast multiple duplication spells, changing what was just one tea cup into a whole pile of them.
After he did this, the two began dancing around and cheering about how they had got revenge for Starlight failing them when they were young. Their celebrating would not last long when they suddenly found themselves being held in somepony's aura. They figured that it was likely that of one of Starlight's friends and that they should be able to break out of them until they were approached by a very angry unicorn and a baby dragon.
The unicorn yelled, "What the hay are you two doing?"
Spike added, "What did you two do to the library?"
Starlight released her hold on the two enough that they could speak. She gave the two a glare and snapped, "Would you two care to explain this? Would you care to explain how my home turned into a pile of tea cups?"
Despite knowing that they were likely in a load of trouble they began to snicker. Sunburst began, "Well, you were a horrible tutor so The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst..."
Trixie interrupted, "And The Great and Powerful Trixie decided you should be punished for making sure we failed our remedial magic exams."
Starlight snapped, "You know what, you two simply didn't have it in you to cast those spells." She intensified her hold on them again and continued, "Speaking of casting spells, how is it you two can suddenly cast transfiguration spells and duplication spells?"
Spike added, "Yeah, last time we saw you two, you were below average showponies."
They again tried to speak so Starlight lessened her hold on them. Once she could speak again Trixie laughed, "Well, that unicorn with the glasses learned the hard way you don't call The Great and Powerful Trixie a charlatan so she had to do what she had to do to fix that!"
Starlight got up in her face and snapped, "What did you two do to her?"
Before Trixie could reply, a voice interrupted, "She turned my glasses into a snake."
Trixie laughed, "And it was so funny seeing her stumble around and not be able to see!"
Sunburst added, "That was quite humorous, don't you think Moondancer?"
Before Moondancer could reply Starlight intensified her hold on Trixie and Sunburst to the point to where they couldn't move. She turned to her friends and asked, "Did Lemon Hearts witness any of this?"
Twinkleshine asked, "No she didn't but why do you have to know?"
Starlight replied, "I need to know because WE are taking these two up to Canterlot so they can answer to Celestia and she will likely need answers from everypony who saw this."
Twinkleshine asked in return, "Well no she didn't but are we going to go now?"
Starlight replied, "Yes we......" She released her hold on Trixie and Sunburst and ordered, "But before we go, whichever one of you two turned my home into a tea cup will change it back!"
Trixie boasted, "Well The Great and Powerful Trixie does not know which one is the original so she can't change it back."
Starlight turned to Sunburst and asked, "Do you know which tea cup it is?"
Sunburst walked over to the pile of tea cups and found the one that he believed to be the original and said, "The Brilliant and Amazing......"
Starlight glared at him and ordered, "Just speak normally, alright?" She then turned to Trixie and ordered, "Now change that tea cup back to my library."
Trixie began to mumble something before changing the tea cup back to the library. Once she did that, Starlight grabbed the two in her aura and ordered, "Follow me ladies, follow me Spike, we're taking these two up to Canterlot so they can answer to Celestia."
Given everything that happened up in Canterlot, Spike was not exactly in the mood to have to go right back. He asked, "Starlight, do you think I could go over to Sweet Apple Acres and visit Lemon Hearts? I don't feel like being forced out or anything when you take care of whatever business you'll be dealing with."
Starlight sighed, "Very well, perhaps it is for the best you stay here anyway. I don't know how long this will take and I'm sure you can't stay by my side during all of this."
Spike replied, "Thanks Starlight!"
As they headed towards the train station, Starlight intensified her hold on the two to the point where all they could do was breathe. Starlight had a feeling that she would encounter them again one day when they failed their remedial magic exams but never imagined it would be like this.
Author's Note
Most of this chapter will be done in a back and forth dialogue.
Revealing the Truth
Once they had boarded the train, ponies were giving Starlight odd looks given that she had two unicorns held in a tight grasp with her aura. One pony who was not sitting too far away from them asked, "Excuse me, why do you have those two held in your aura?"
Another added, "Don't you know that restraining ponies like that is a crime?"
Starlight glared at the two and replied, "Once Princess Celestia finds out what these two did, she will see nothing wrong with this."
Moondancer added, "She is the princess's protege so I'm pretty sure she isn't going to mind."
Once they knew that Starlight was Celestia's protege, they dropped the issue but continued to give Starlight a slight glare. Once they arrived in Canterlot, Starlight and her friends were the first to exit the train. Like it was on the train, they received strange looks like they did and also like it was on the train, they were approached by ponies about it but they dropped the issue once they found out Starlight was Celestia's protege.
When they arrived at the castle gates, the guards gave them a strange look but not so much because of Starlight restraining Trixie and Sunburst but more because she was back so soon. One guard asked, "Starlight, you're already back? I thought you were heading home."
The other guard asked, "And what is up with these two? Why are you restraining them?"
Starlight was not sure if sharing what happened would be in anypony's best interest so she replied, "That information is classified. I just need to take them to Princess Celestia."
The first guard sighed, "Very well. You know the way to the throne room."
Starlight nodded at the two as she and her friends headed in. When they arrived they noticed that Celestia was not there, just a very fatigued Princess Luna. When Starlight saw this she asked, "Princess Luna, what is wrong? Is Celestia not feeling well?"
Luna replied, "I think she may have been premature in letting you go home. It wasn't too long after you left that she had to lay back down." She then took a look at how Starlight had two ponies in her aura. She developed a slight frown and continued, "And Starlight Glimmer, do you not know that restraining ponies like that is illegal?"
Starlight replied, "I know it is but I caught these two engaging in illegal activities in Ponyville and this was the only way to get them up here."
Luna ordered, "Release your hold on them so we can find out what happened." Starlight released her hold on them and Luna turned to the two. She asked, "Could you two state your names and why it is that Starlight has brought you up here?"
Trixie replied, "I am The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Sunburst added, "And I am The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst!"
Luna sighed, "Could you two just use your regular names." She then gave the two a glare and asked, "Now, why is it that Starlight has brought you up here?"
Trixie boasted, "Well Starlight thinks that we committed some crimes but we didn't! She simply doesn't like The Great and Powerful Trixie and is going to make something up!"
Luna knew that Starlight would never do such a thing so she stood tall, approached the two, spread her wings wide, turned to Sunburst and asked, "Tell me, why did Starlight bring you two up here?"
The way Luna had her wings spread intimidated Sunburst a bit, enough that he would answer her. He replied, "Well, The Great and Powerful Trixie and The Brilliant......"
Luna interrupted, "Speak normally please, none of this third pony stuff, ok."
Sunburst continued, "Very well. The two of us decided to do a show in Ponyville and when we discovered that Celestia's little pets live in Ponyville....."
Trixie added, "We decided to cause some trouble!" She then pointed her hoof at Moondancer and continued, "Especially once SHE found out the secret behind our tricks."
Luna was not thrilled that Trixie would interrupt Sunburst but let it slide since she may be able to get more information that way. She then cast her gaze at Moondancer and asked, "Moondancer, what was it that you discovered that upset them?"
Moondancer stepped forward and replied, "Your Majesty, what we discovered was the secret behind their transfiguration spell. I noticed that when Trixie allegedly cast the spell that she would throw down smoke balls. It was while the smoke is thickest that Sunburst swaps out an apple for an orange and that caused the crowd believe she actually cast it."
Luna sighed, "I see." She then turned to Trixie and asked, "Trixie, why would that upset you? Most ponies know that is how showponies do it, they just go along with it and enjoy the show."
Trixie was not thrilled that Luna would say that. She scoffed, "You honestly think ponies know that? They do not know that, they think that The Great and Powerful Trixie can do it and after a bit of studying, we both can now!"
Sunburst put his hoof up to his forehead and sighed in disgust when she revealed their studying, believing that she was likely going to give away their illegal activities. Luna knew that showponies don't usually take books around with them and wanted to know how they studied. She asked, "So, when was it you studied this?" Trixie began to reply when Luna interrupted, "And don't lie to me, you two don't remind me of the type to carry books with you."
The two gave one another nervous looks causing Luna to continue, "Well?"
Sunburst replied, "Well you see your Majesty, we knew that Moondancer would expose us as charlatans so we decided that one of us would break into the library and steal the books we needed to......"
Starlight lit up her horn in anger and snapped, "What? You two broke into my home?"
Both of them saw not only Luna's scowl deepening, but Starlight looking like she was ready to strike them with energy. Luna saw this too and suggested, "Starlight, I know you're angry but control your anger until we have everything sorted out."
Starlight sighed, "Yes your Majesty."
Luna turned back to the pair and continued, "Alright, now which of you two broke into the library?"
Trixie boasted, "Well, The Great and Powerful Trixie decided to break in there because she wanted to get back at Starlight for failing her when she was a filly!"
Luna was getting sick and tired of Trixie continuing to speak in the third pony but decided that if she could get more information out of her, that she would allow her to continue. She asked, "And?"
Trixie continued, "Well, Trixie was able to break in and stole a couple of magic books and once Trixie learned that was where Starlight lived, she decided that the two of us should cause a bit of minor mischief!"
Luna's glare continued to deepen as she asked, "Minor mischief? Would one of you two care to elaborate?"
Trixie continued, "Well we studied not only transfiguration spells but also duplication spells so the following morning we headed out and Trixie turned some flowers into a cactus!"
Luna asked, "Oh?"
Sunburst added, "And then we decided to play a prank on a pegasus taking her rabbit into town so The Brilliant and Amaing Sunburst turned it into an angry wolverine."
Trixie laughed, "And The Great and Powerful Trixie duplicated it!" Her laugh became more of a cackle as she continued, "And seeing her hide in a tree was hilarious!"
The fact that they would do that to another pony angered Luna greatly. She flared up her horn and growled, "And what did this pegasus look like?"
Trixie laughed, "She was yellow with a pink mane and tail. The Great and Powerful Trixie would swear she has mane extensions given how long it is but it was funny seeing her so distraught!"
This caused Twinkleshine, who is usually calm and mild mannered to flare up her horn. She yelled, "You did that to Fluttershy? You caused her that much distress?"
Luna spread her wings wider and suggested, "Twinkleshine, like it was with Starlight, could you hold your anger until everything is sorted out?"
Twinkleshine replied, "Yes your Majesty."
Luna turned her attention back to Trixie and Sunburst and continued, "What other 'minor mischief' did you two engage in? I highly doubt Starlight would have brought you two up here just over that."
The two looked at one another nervously before Sunburst replied, "Well we had one more minor thing we wanted to do before leaving town but on the way there we ran into" He pointed his hoof at Starlight's friends and continued, "those four."
Luna asked, "Oh, and what happened there?" Her voice became more intense as she continued, "Whatever it was, I'm sure it wasn't anything good."
Given that Trixie did more than Sunburst in that interaction she boasted, "Well, Celestia's little pets come out of their house as we were passing by and the unicorn with the glasses just had to mock Trixie's magic show so Trixie decided that she had to be punished!"
Luna asked, "Oh, and what do you mean by 'she had to be punished?'"
Trixie again boasted, "Well, she called us charlatans again so Trixie did something very funny. She turned her glasses into a snake!"
Sunburst added, "And The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst duplicated the snake!"
The fact that they would do something that would adversely affect another pony caused Luna's anger to increase. She lit up her horn and reverted to the ancient way of speaking, "What? Thou took her glasses away and took away her ability to see?"
Trixie giggled, "Yes, Trixie did that!"
Luna grabbed Trixie in her aura and yelled, "What thou didst was most vicious and highly illegal! We shall make sure thou art punished severely for this!" Luna calmed down a bit and continued, "And what else did you two do?"
Sunburst replied, "Once we got away from those four we decided to ruin the library to get back at Starlight for failing us as a tutor when we were young."
Luna finally sat Trixie down and sighed, "Oh, and what was it you two did?"
Trixie again boasted, "Well The Great and Powerful Trixie used her transfiguration spell to turn it into a teacup and Sunburst duplicated the teacup to make it hard for Starlight to transform it back!"
Luna turned to Starlight and asked, "Were you able to transform it back?"
Starlight replied, "Once I forced Sunburst to get the original teacup, I forced Trixie to change it back. It was after that when my friends and I decided to bring them up here."
While Luna was not as familiar with Starlight's friends as Celestia was, she could tell that one was missing, Lemon Hearts. She turned to the five and asked, "What about Lemon Hearts? Did she not see any of this and is that why she is not here?"
Starlight replied, "Yes, she spends most of her time at Sweet Apple Acres since she is part of the Apple Family. She did not see any of this?"
Once Luna found out everything, she turned to Starlight and ordered, "Join me out in the hall. I believe we need to discuss what their punishment should be."
Starlight agreed and followed Luna out into the hall. As they left, Trixie and Sunburst couldn't help but feel nervous. They knew that both of them were angry and while Starlight may not have much pull with Luna, that she may very well take Starlight's suggestions seriously given she is her sister's protege.
A Discussion With Celestia
After heading out into the hall to discuss what their punishments should be, Luna decided to get some suggestions from Starlight. She asked, "Starlight, they committed crimes against your friends, against the pegasus Fluttershy, they broke into your home, stole books and then turned your home into a teacup. What would you advise their punishment should be?"
Starlight was shocked that Luna would ask her for suggestions given that she was not nearly as close with her as she was Celestia. She replied, "Well if it were up to me, I'd send them to the moon for a thousand years." She saw Luna giving her a scowl when she brought that up and corrected herself, "Ok, I'd send them to the sun for a thousand years AT LEAST."
Luna gasped in shock that Starlight would suggest this, "Starlight, I know you are very angry over what they did but what they did does not warrant banishment!"
Starlight replied, "But they turned Moondancer's glasses into snakes, making her unable to see. They transformed that pegasus's rabbit into wolverines, "she became more frantic as she continued, "they broke into my home and stole my books, both of which are technically government property, and they turned my home into a teacup! They need to be punished and be punished severely!"
Luna stood there in thought for a moment before replying, "Starlight, yes they need to be punished but we need to be more rational in our way of doing so. We can't go strictly off of emotion."
Starlight suggested, "Very well but I do think we need to separate them since they worked together."
Luna gave her a smile, "That is a good start but I'm sure you're thinking about more than just that."
Starlight continued, "Yes, I think that they need to be imprisoned, have horn caps placed on them and if there is any spell to cause them to forget how to do the transfiguration and duplication spells that would be good."
Luna could see the point of imprisonment but the others did bother her. She asked, "Starlight, you seriously think that casting a spell to make them forget those spells is a good idea and you really think horn caps are necessary?"
Starlight replied, "Look, unless they no longer know those spells, they will simply cause trouble again once they are released and Trixie apparently knows how to unlock doors so if you want to keep them locked up, horn caps will be necessary."
Luna could see where Starlight was coming from and conceded, "Very well, even though I am the princess, we shall run your ideas by my sister and what she decides will be final." Luna pointed her hoof towards Celestia's chambers and ordered, "Follow me."
Starlight knew that with her being so close to Celestia and how she let her make all those decisions when it came to dealing with the delegates, that she may very well act on her decisions.
When they headed into Celestia's chambers, they found her laying there coughing and looking downright miserable. Starlight rushed to her and asked, "Celestia, are you ok?" She then embraced her and continued, "I'm so sorry, I guess I shouldn't have left so soon."
Celestia gave her a weak smile and replied, "It's alright Star*cough cough*, Starlight."
Luna approached her bed and said, "Well perhaps it was best that she did because when she got home, she discovered a couple of unicorns causing a lot of mischief and breaking laws."
Celestia tried to sit up and asked, "Oh? What was it you discovered Starlight?"
Starlight replied, "Well when I got home, I discovered a couple of unicorns from my past, Trixie Lulamoon and Sunburst casting spells. Trixie cast a spell that turned the library into a teacup and then Sunburst duplicated it multiple times."
Celestia shot up and asked, "Wait a minute, the ones who failed their remedial magic exams managed to do complex spells like that? How in Equestria did they do it?"
Starlight replied, "I was wondering the same thing until I brought them up here and they admitted that Trixie broke into the library and stole some magic books. Apparently they stole them, studied them and somehow managed to learn them."
Celestia said, "Ok, we know they apparently managed to be able to grasp something other than stage magic but other than doing what you have told me, what else have they done?"
Starlight replied, "Well they also turned Moondancer's glasses into snakes, rendering her unable to see and they turned a pony's pet rabbit into a couple of angry wolverines and got a great amount of joy out of her distress."
Celestia developed a scowl on her face when she learned this, especially with what they did to Moondancer. She growled, "Ok, were Moondancer's glasses restored, were the books returned and what came of that pony's rabbit?"
Starlight replied, "Well Moondancer got her glasses back, the library is fine now but I think they still have those books and unfortunately for that pony who lost her rabbit, the wolverines ran off so she lost her pet."
Celestia sat there in thought and gave Starlight a smile. Luna saw this and asked, "Sister, what are you thinking? Are you thinking of some sort of punishment for them?"
Celestia put her wing around Starlight and replied, "Actually yes, I am." She then turned to Starlight and continued, "As long as you don't go wanting to banish them somewhere, feel free to hand down whatever types of punishment you see fit."
Luna immediately objected, "Sister, you can't be serious! We are the princesses and she is just your protege." She saw a glare developing on her sister's face and continued, "I know you think highly of Starlight and I know she took care of those economic issues for you but to give her the power to hand down prison sentences, I think that is a bit much."
Celestia replied, "Luna, she has it in her to make rational decisions and I know she will hand down justice but not be excessive."
Luna sighed, "Very well big sister."
Starlight leaned over to Celestia and whispered, "Where are the horn caps? With everything they have done I'm thinking some time without magic should suffice."
Celestia replied, "They are down in the jailers office in the dungeon."
Starlight said, "Good, I can put them on them on the way to their cells."
Celestia yawned, "Good now go and take care of their punishment." She laid back down and continued, "I'm going to get some rest."
As the two left Celestia's chambers, Luna couldn't help but be frustrated with her sister. She figured that she would give her the authority to sentence them instead of giving Starlight authority that she felt she may not be ready for.
Justice is Served
When they returned to the throne room, Sunburst and Trixie were standing tall, certain that Princess Luna would not punish them too harshly. Trixie figured that if she were respectful that perhaps Luna would go easier on her than what they initially decided. She bowed and asked, "Princess Luna your Majesty, what have you decided our punishment will be?"
Luna gave her a nervous smile and replied, "Well, we went to discuss it with my sister and she has decided that Starlight will do the sentencing."
Both Trixie and Sunburst gasped, "What? Starlight is going to be sentencing us?"
Starlight gave them a smile and replied, "Yes I will, Celestia gave me the authority to do so just like she gave me authority over economic matters during her illness so I would advise you be respectful because I can make things worse if you're not."
Not only were they in a state of shock, but so were her friends. Twinkleshine was the first to say anything, "Really Starlight, Celestia gave you the authority to do this?"
Minuette exclaimed, "That is so cool, Judge Starlight!"
Starlight nervously laughed, "Well in this instance." She developed a more neutral look on her face and turned to Trixie and Sunburst. She began, "Sunburst, from everything I understand you are the one responsible for transforming that rabbit into a wolverine, duplicating the snake that was Moondancer's glasses and duplicating the teacup that was my library to make sure it would be hard to find the original, I have no choice but to hand down a decent sentence, not horrible but decent."
Sunburst mocked, "Ooooh, you have to hand down a decent sentence! What are you going to do? Are you going to put The Brilliant and Amazing Sunburst to death?"
Starlight glared at him and growled, "Don't test me, I can make it worse if I wish." Her voice returned to normal as she continued, "I have decided first that you and Trixie must be separated because of what you have done. The other things you have done are all illegal and causing undue stress upon that pegasus is what will hurt you the most."
Sunburst laughed, "Oooh, hurting that pegasus's feelings will hurt me the most."
Starlight rolled her eyes and handed down what she felt was sufficient, "I have decided that because of everything you have done, that you will serve one year in the dungeon and during that time, you must wear a horn cap so you can not unlock the door and escape. After you have finished your sentence, I have decided that you will be on supervised probation for one year and must check in with Princess Celestia every day so it may be in your best interests to take up residence here."
Sunburst was in a state of shock because the sentence was not as harsh as he thought it would be. He asked, "Really, that's it?"
Starlight replied, "Yes, that is it." She then turned to Trixie and continued, "And now what to do with you."
Trixie sneered, "Oooh, what is Celestia's favorite pet going to do to The Great and Powerful Trixie? Is she going to burn her alive, is she going to throw her into Tartarus, is Celestia going to banish her to the moon?" She then pointed her hoof at Luna and laughed, "Or is Little Miss Luna going to banish Trixie to the sun?"
Luna gave her a deep scowl, leaned down to Starlight and whispered, "Starlight, while I am not fond of Celestia giving you the power to do this, I would like to suggest that you punish her for disrespecting me."
Starlight gave here a smile, "Consider it done."
Luna smiled as Starlight began, "Trixie, out of the two of you I have decided that you have done the worst. You duplicated the wolverine, you transformed Moondancer's glasses into a snake, you turned my library into a teacup, you broke into my library, you stole books from it AND you disrespected Princess Luna. For that you must be punished and it will be far harsher than what I gave Sunburst."
Trixie lit up her horn and fired energy at both Starlight and Luna causing Luna to grasp her in her aura and yell, "How dare thee fire energy at thy Princess of the Night!"
Starlight added, "Oh and let's throw attacking Princess Luna into the sentence."
Trixie began screaming, "You can't do this! You can't do this to The Great and Powerful Trixie!"
Starlight rolled her eyes and sighed, "You know what Trixie, while I will issue most of the sentence, I believe it is only right for Luna to hand down what attacking her is worth."
Luna asked, "Really?"
Starlight replied, "Really." She turned back to Trixie and continued, "I have decided that for everything you have done, you shall serve a sentence of three years and six months. During this time you will wear a horn cap and upon your release, you will relocate to Ponyville and serve two years of supervised probation where you will check in with me daily. Also, you will be required to get a job because I certainly don't want you living off the government."
Luna added, "And for attacking me, I have decided to add an additional three years and six months in the dungeon and an extra year of supervised probation under the same terms Starlight issued upon you."
Trixie gasped, "What? The Great and Powerful Trixie has to be under your hooves for ten years?"
Trixie lit up her horn again but was quickly restrained by Starlight. Starlight asked, "Keep this up Trixie and you'll get ten years in prison and I'm sure Luna could use a personal maid after that."
Luna got a huge smile on her face and agreed, "I most certainly could."
Starlight changed the sentence, "Very well then, after your seven years in prison, you shall be Luna's personal maid for as long as she deems you necessary."
When Luna heard this, she was partially happy but still disappointed that she would have to wait seven years for her maid. She leaned down to Starlight and asked, "Starlight, could you just take that jail time and change it to time of her serving me?"
Starlight realized that Luna did have a good idea and again changed the sentence. She pointed her hoof at Luna and said, "Princess Luna, she is all yours. She shall be your personal maid for as long as you see fit, even if it is for the rest of her days."
Trixie screamed, "What? The Great and Powerful Trixie has to serve her for the rest of her life?"
Starlight replied, "That is up to Princess Luna." She pointed her hoof at Luna and continued, "Your Majesty, she's all yours!" She then stomped her hoof on the floor twice and finished, "Court is adjourned."
Luna grabbed Trixie in her aura and began to carry her off so she could let her know everything that she would have to do. Starlight grabbed Sunburst in her aura and said, "Come on Sunburst, the sooner we get this started the sooner we can get it done."
Her friends began to follow her but would stop when Starlight continued, "Ladies, you can't follow me down into the dungeon and besides, I think it would be best if you headed back home because Celestia didn't look good when I saw her so I may be staying longer than I thought."
The four became sad but understood where Starlight was coming from. Lyra sighed, "Alright, we hope to see you home again soon though!"
Starlight replied, "Don't worry, I shouldn't be gone for too long."
Her friends turned around and headed for the exit while Starlight intensified her hold on Sunburst and began to carry him down to the dungeon. As she passed the jailers office she headed in, got a horn cap, placed it on Sunburst's horn and enchanted it so she could be the only one who could remove it and this did not sit well with him.
He shouted, "You're enchanting that thing?"
Starlight replied, "Yes, I am. I do not want there to be any risk of you removing that cap on your own nor do I want some goody-good guard who may feel sorry for you setting you free." She again grabbed him in her aura and took him to the darkest part of the dungeon and threw him in his cell. She slammed the door and continued, "You know, this could all have been avoided....."
Sunburst sneered, "Yeah it could have if you would have been a better tutor and not done a half-way job to make sure Trixie and I failed!"
Starlight rolled her eyes and grunted, "Give it a rest."
Starlight headed out of the dungeon and decided to go up and check on Celestia to see if she would need to stay in Canterlot for a few more days. She knew that with Luna now having her own personal maid, that she would have a whole lot more to take care of.
Checking on Celestia
After getting Sunburst locked up, Starlight headed up to Celestia's chambers. She knocked on the door and asked, "Celestia, may I come in?"
Celestia replied, "Yes, you may."
Starlight headed in and noticed that Celestia was actually looking worse than she did earlier. She sat on her bed and again apologized, "I'm sorry for leaving this morning, when I saw that you still didn't look good I should have stayed."
Celestia replied, "No need to apologize Starlight." She sat up and asked, "So what did you finally decide on when it came to Trixie and Sunburst?"
Starlight replied, "Well Sunburst will be in the dungeon for the next year and then after that, he will be serving one year of supervised probation where he has to check in with you on a daily basis."
Celestia's ears perked up and she commented, "That seems rather lenient but I respect your decision, what about Trixie?"
Starlight got a slight smile on her face as she replied, "Well I was going to give her three and a half years in the dungeon and then two months of supervised probation where she will check in with me but then she disrespected Luna and then she fired energy at both of us."
Celestia's jaw dropped open. She gasped, "She did what? She attacked both of you? So what is her sentence for that?"
Starlight began to snicker, "Well Luna decided she wanted a personal maid so I gave her the sentence of being Luna's maid for as long as she wants her, even if it is up to the end of her days."
Celestia pouted, "Not fair! My sister gets a personal maid but I don't?"
Starlight got a huge smile on her face and laughed, "Tell you what, once you feel completely better I will go get Sunburst out of the dungeon and you can make him your maid if you wish."
Despite feeling lousy, Celestia got up and cheered, "Yes, I'll have my own maid! Woo-*cough, cough, cough*. Celestia sat back down on her bed and continued, "I guess I shouldn't have done that."
Starlight replied, "Probably not but given the state you are in, I'm not only staying here by your side since Luna has a lot on her hooves now, but I'm staying in my old room across from you in the event you need me."
Celestia put her wing out, pulled Starlight close to her and replied, "Thank you Starlight, you have no idea how much that means to me." She then began to giggle, "It will be kind of like it was in the old days except you'll be the one that's there for me."
Starlight laughed, "That it will." She stood up and continued, "Now if there is anything you need, let me know."
Celestia asked, "Can I have some cake? It would make me feel so much better!"
Starlight asked in return, "Chocolate with strawberry frosting?"
Celestia replied, "Yes, that and some cider would be great!"
Starlight headed out of Celestia's chambers and said, "Very well, give me some time to bake that cake for you."
As Starlight headed out to the kitchen, she hoped that Celestia would improve quickly but vowed to herself that until Celestia felt completely better, that she would stay in Canterlot and take care of her so that not only would she not have to return again so quickly but so she could get Celestia's new maid out of the dungeon.
Prelude: Summons to Canterlot
Prelude: Summons to Canterlot
Another day had arrived in Ponyville and like they had been more often on days when they had nothing to do, Starlight and Spike were helping Applejack and Lemon Hearts at Sweet Apple Acres. One thing that really surprised Starlight is that Lemon Hearts, who at one time was no fan of getting dirty, was apple bucking just like her siblings did.
On the days they were there and helped out, the two usually held the baskets to catch the apples as they fell. Given that she had magic, Starlight had no problems catching them but given his size and not having magic, it was not so easy for Spike. When Lemon Hearts kicked one of the trees and Spike missed half of them, she was not thrilled. She gave Spike a slight look of disapproval and sighed, "Spike, you have to catch all of them! You're increasing our workload."
Starlight was not thrilled that she would show disapproval towards her assistant. She glared at her and asked, "Lemon Hearts, why don't you just use your magic to catch them or at least pick up the ones he doesn't catch." Her glare intensified as she continued, "After all, you are a unicorn and Spike isn't all that big so you don't need to be upset with him."
Lemon Hearts was not thrilled by Starlight's comment. She glared back at her and replied, "I know I'm a unicorn but I'm sticking to Apple Family traditions...."
Applejack overheard her and suggested, "Lemon Hearts, you know Starlight uses her magic to catch the apples so Ah don't see anything wrong with a bit of magic being used. As long as magic isn't used to remove the apples from the trees, it's perfectly fine." She then took a look at Spike and continued, "No offense sugar cube but Ah don't think you should be trying to catch apples, just let Lemon Hearts catch them."
Spike looked a bit sad and sighed, "Alright, I just wanted to he..." *BELCH*
Spike coughed up a scroll and Starlight levitated it to herself. She opened it and said, "Spike, it looks like we're needed up in Canterlot."
Lemon Hearts cast her gaze at Starlight and asked, "All six, I mean all seven of us?"
Starlight replied, "No, just Spike and I."
Lemon Hearts was shocked that Celestia would only want her and Spike to go. She asked, "So did she tell you why she wants you up there?"
Starlight replied, "No, she just told me that she wants us to go up there." She cast her gaze down at Spike and continued, "Well shall we?"
Spike nodded and as they headed out Lemon Hearts said, "Well I guess we'll see you later."
Starlight replied, "Yeah, we'll see you later."
