Element of Empathy: Princess Trixie Sparkle

Narrator's POV.
"There. That's the last one." Twilight Sparkle smiled, putting a book back on its shelf and admiring the cleanliness of her library.

It's been quite the week, preparing for her next royal duty in Canterlot. She had poured over every book she could find in her library on Canterlot etiquette and tradition, not that she even needed it. Twilight was born and raised in Canterlot. She knows the place like the back of her hand.

Oh, forgive me. I don't think we've met before. My name is Eleanor May Carter. I know, it's a weird name for a Pony. My Pony name is Apple Wisp, but I grew used to my Human name.

I'm a Bat Pony and I'm one of Princess Twilight Sparkle's best friends as well as her study partner.

I used to be a human, but a certain Draconequus used his magic to turn me into a Bat Pony. I was hoping to ask him to turn me back, but my friends like me better as a Pony, and my voice is gone.

"What's next on the list, Spike?" Twilight asked her #1 Assistant, Spike.

"Let's see..." The little purple Dragon pulled out a scroll from his pocket. The scroll toppled to the ground and extended half way across the room, "Pack some scrolls and ink: Check. Straighten up the library: Check. Pack food and supplies for Owlicious: Check. Next we need to visit Sugarcube corner to pick up some cupcakes for Rarity's party tonight."

Twilight clapped her hands together, "Excellent! We're ahead of schedule, I think we should-" But was interrupted by a quick knock at the door.

"I've got it." Spike chimed, racing toward the door.

I sensed something grow cold in the air, like a familiar presence was waiting for us. Spike fell silent.

"Who is it, Spike?" Twilight asked.

"Uh..." Spike was lost for words.

"May I come in?" A familiar voice asked from the doorway.

Twilight and I turned to the door, to see a familiar Unicorn mare standing in the doorway.

Her coat was a light greyish blue. Her mane and tail were almost white with pastel blue streaks. Violet eyes that scream with a humungous ego and a boastful personality.

She wore a light purple magicians hat over her head. A matching cape. A buttoned shirt under a tailed vest coat. And short, black leggings.

Trixie Lulamoon. Never thought we'd see her again, since she apologised for her acts while wearing the Alicorn Amulet.

"Trixie? What are you doing here?" Twilight asked with a cautious tone.

I wanted to tell to Show-Pony to leave, but an encounter with the Queen of Changelings left me with no vocal cords, so I'm unable to speak. Twilight has been teaching me ways to speak. Such as tapping my hoof on the ground to get attention, and clapping my hands once for yes and twice for no. Body language is very useful.

Trixie looked Twilight up and down, her mouth agape, "It's true! You are a Princess!" She exclaimed both in shock and jealousy evident in her voice, "How could you do that? There's no magic spell to become a Princess, if there were I would have been one long ago! My magic is certainly as powerful as yours, why is it you get all the glory, the friends, the attention..."

I folded my arms, as Trixie ranted. In all my studies of magic and physiology, I can say that there is a spell that can turn Ponies into Alicorns. However, there are a few catches.

Number 1: You have to achieve a high level of enlightenment.

Number 2: You have to die...

Number 3: Only other Alicorns can perform this spell.

And number 4: You have to earn the title. Do not rush into things to quickly.

Twilight became a Princess because she achieved enlightenment within Friendship and completed a spell that Star Swirl the Bearded couldn't finish himself.

"Is there something you wanted, Trixie?" Twilight asked impatiently.

"As a matter of fact, there is. As much as I hate to say it, I need your help, Twilight." Trixie invited herself in and began to look around, "I figure since you forgave me for my last little mistake, you might be willing to help me out this once, you know because that's what friends do."

"Well, we're not exactly friends." Twilight answered, closing the door behind Trixie.

Spike crossed his arms and grumbled, "More like frenemies."

"Spike why don't you go upstairs and keep packing, I'll be up shortly?" Twilight suggested.

Spike didn't need to be told twice; he was eager to get away from Trixie.

Trixie walked around the library, snorting in disapproval, "You're a Princess and they make you stay in this old dump? I wouldn't stand for it if I were you."

I growled in anger and balled my hands into fists. The Golden Oak Library isn't a dump! It's home!

"This isn't a dump, Trixie, it's my home." Twilight's patience was running thin, "Why exactly to you need my help?"

Trixie turned suddenly and threw herself at Twilight's hooves with big watery eyes, "Oh Twilight! It's terrible, just terrible! I tried a spell that I found in an old book, something only a powerful unicorn such as myself could pull off. Only it backfired, and now I can't seem to undo the damage. I know there isn't another Unicorn with my kind of talent, but I figured you might come pretty close. I need you to reverse the spell right away."

Twilight and I raised a brow in unison. Twilight more of confusion. Me more of suspicion. Trixie's hiding something and it's making the air around grow cold. I don't like it.

"What's the spell?" Twilight asked warily, certainly not amused.

"It's a love spell." Trixie answered, "You see, I live in Canterlot now and there's a certain pony there that has taken a fancy to me. He's just an Earth Pony, and certainly not my type, but he simply wouldn't leave me alone. I tried to cast this spell to make him keep his distance but something went wrong and now everypony avoids me, except him! It's rather tiresome dodging a love-sick fool. I need to make everypony love me again. I was quite the important pony before that spell, and I don't want to keep my new friends from my delightful company any longer."

"No, we wouldn't want that." Twilight muttered under her breath, unaware she just voiced my thoughts.

"Oh please, Twilight, can't you just look it up? Be a friend and find me a counter spell, I can't bear to live this way any longer." Trixie pleaded more, grovelling.

Twilight rolled her eyes, sighed and turned to her books, "I might be able to find something."

She pulled a few books from the shelf and set them on the ground. She began flipping through the pages.

"Oh thank you, Twilight! I can even pay you for your troubles." Trixie smiled, as I saw something glint green under her starry cloak.

"You know, Trixie, love spells are dangerous. No pony should be meddling in that kind of magic." Twilight informed her, unaware what was going on.

Trixie nodded, "You're right, Twilight, you're always right. I should learn to use my power responsibly before somepony gets hurt. Who knows what I'm capable of?"

She approached Twilight, handing her a strange black and green gem, "Here, take this, as a token of my gratitude and our friendship."

I narrowed my eyes at the gemstone. It looked like a clear malachite gem, but malachite isn't transparent. A beryl, perhaps? A Quartz?

Twilight sighed and looked up at Trixie. As she did, put her hand over the gem.

Suddenly, Twilight started to look like she was gonna topple over. A soft wind whistled through the library and she had to blink a few times to compose herself. I noticed a change in Twilight and Trixie's aura. It worried me.

After a few seconds, Trixie turned to a bookshelf and squealed delightedly, "Oh my! I think I've found the exact book I need!" She grabbed the book from the shelf, "This is sure to solve my problem, I guess I won't need anypony else's help after all. You don't mind me borrowing it, do you?"

"Huh?" Twilight uttered, still a little dazed.

"I didn't think so. Thank you, Princess, you really are a good friend." Trixie smirked, taking the book and letting herself out.

After Trixie had gone, Twilight looked like she was about to collapsed. I quickly caught the Alicorn Princess before she hit the floor.

"What just... Happened?" She muttered to and before she knew it, she was fast asleep.

I set Twilight softly, then ran upstairs to get Spike.