Shiera shifted in her seat as she sipped the tea Rarity had made for them. At least something felt familiar here. Rarity had finished escorting a stomach aching Twilight back to her house, and had invited Shiera over for tea at the Carousel Boutique. Rarity had just finished tidying up a bit, and finally took her seat across from Shiera.

"Sorry about that, dear, i don't know how it can get so messy in here sometimes. I always try to keep it as clean and organized as possible, but it seems a mess always finds a way," Rarity began, apologetically. She gave a small chuckle before taking a sip of her tea.
Shiera smiled in kind, "No need to apologize, it looks magnificent as it is. Reminds me of the dressing room back in the royal palace. The one before i came here, that is."

Rarity blushed and waved her hoof, "Oh, such high praise! I'm just a humble fashionista doing what she can.....but do go on!" Rarity blinked a few times, and leaned a little closer, obviously hoping for more praise and flattery.

Shiera chuckled, "I do believe you were going to tell me what happened with Trixie?" Rarity blinked, "Oh, why, yes, of course! How rude of me! That troublesome mare, Trixie, yes...."

She gave a winded sigh as she collected her thoughts, "Well, after the amulet was removed, she had tried to flee, but we stopped her. Twilight came back, and we had Rainbow Dash and Applejack escort you to the hospital, but not before Twilight used a few healing spells on you, but still, you were in terrible condition, if i do say so myself."

"Certainly felt like it," Shiera remarked, still feeling a dull throb of discomfort from her injuries.

Rarity frowned and gave a small nod, "Indeed. Now, where was I? Oh, Trixie, yes, right." She took another sip of her tea as Shiera did the same, "Well that troublesome mare was about to get the scolding of her life, i tell you! But to our surprise, the mare began to sob and apologize, for everything, and said that this wasn't what she had wanted. Apparently, all she had wanted to do was show up Twilight after she had supposedly humiliated her with that dreadful Ursa Minor. It was nonsense, Twilight would never do such a thing, but Trixie explained that the Alicorn Amulet was corrupting her mind, and Twilight confirmed it. She did truly seem sorry, and even left this note for you, as well as some flowers and bits."

Rarity summoned her magic and lifted a small bouquet of flowers, as well as a small bag of bits, and a note from behind the counter and floated them to Shiera. Shiera couldn't yet safely hold them with her own magic, so she opted to grab them with her hooves instead. It was strange how normal such an action felt her, especially if you had asked her a few days ago. Holding something with hooves had seemed ridiculous back then, but now she did it everyday....

Shiera took a look at the flowers, they were clearly white apology flowers, so at least that seemed sincere. She placed the bag of bits aside for the moment and focused her attention upon the note. Unfortunately, it was gibberish to her, so she had Rarity read it for her.

The Regretful and Apologetic Trixie hereby apologizes for her regretful actions, and is deeply sorry for hurting another pony. Trixie realizes you may never forgive her, and she understands, but please know that Trixie, when in her right mind, would never willing hurt and harm another pony. I feel so awful....so thus forth, Trixie promises never to set hoof in Ponyville or challenge Twilight ever again....

Signed, The Remorseful and Penitent Trixie

"Is that what it really says?" Shiera asked. Rarity nodded, "Of course, and she does have surprisingly lovely hoofwriting and penmanship. I wouldn't have expected it from a mare like her, but i guess formality can be found in any mare." Rarity then frowned, "Can you truly not read it?"

Shiera gave the note another glance, she was about to say no when suddenly a flash of pain flared in her head, and her vision shifted slightly. "Ack!!" She winced, but the pain eventually ebbed away. When she looked down at the note, it was now readable somehow, though nothing on the paper had changed.

"Are you okay, dear?!" Rarity asked in a worried panic, rushing to Shiera's side. "You just....blinked out for a moment there! It was almost like you were a ghost for a few seconds there!"

"W-What?" Shiera asked shaking her head, "I don't......ugh, whatever it is or was....it's gone now, and i'm fine."

Rarity gave a concerned frown, "Are you sure? I can call Twilight and the others if need be...."

Shiera shook her head, "No, I'm fine. That was definitely weird, but i think we can look into that later. It might just be a side affect of my injuries combined with whatever weird magic that brought me here in the first place...Anyways, i'm fine, i swear." Shiera didn't really know for certain, but that was the best excuse her brain could rack up at the moment.

Rarity continued her frown, but nodded, "If you say so darling, but if it happens again, we are taking you straight to Twilight, understand?"

"Deal." Shiera sighed, rubbing her temples. Eager to change the subject, Shiera picked up the bag of bits and counted them out.

Fifty bits.

Well, at least she wasn't completely broke now, though in truth, she had no idea how much fifty bits was worth in this world, but she could always ask later.

"I accept her apology. I can understand that she was under the influence of evil magic. I hope i can meet her again so that i can tell her in person."

Rarity smiled, "I'm sure she would be delighted to here that, though i'm not so sure that I, myself, could have forgiven her so soon after what she did, if i were in your shoes."

Shiera chuckled, "People make mistakes, and one can't fault another if their actions were beyond their control, especially if they were being corrupted and controlled by evil magic."

Rarity took another sip of her tea, "I guess that's true." She peered at Shiera's cup, "More tea, darling?"

Shiera nodded with a smile, "I would love some, please."

As Rarity poured the tea, she sighed, "Now Darling, i think it's high time we talked about your rather unruly behavior."

Shiera gave a confused look, "What do you mean?"

Rarity set the teapot down and took a seat. "Darling, I'm talking about the way you handled that duel with Trixie. Though i am grateful that you managed to end Trixie's little reign of tyranny, i simply cannot condone your barbaric actions! They were not very ladylike."

Shiera raised an eyebrow, "And just how was anything i did Barbaric? A mare under the influence of evil magic was attacking the city, and i stopped her. What is barbaric about that?"

"Yes, but did you really have to be so violent and uncouth? Magic Duels aren't normally so brutal and dangerous! A simple show of skill would suffice!" Rarity harrumphed.

"She nearly killed me," Shiera deadpanned.

"Yes, but only because you pushed her that far! You hadn't needed to attack her, and so brutally at that!"

"And what else was I to do, huh? Simply let her go around, continuing to torment and torture the innocent town folk of this town?!"

"No! But you could have handled that better..."

"Don't deceive yourself, do you really think a mare in that state would listen to words? Especially when she has all that power? No, the only way to solve a problem like that is through action. So i took action, and that action saved you and everyone else in this town!" Shiera replied, now standing in her seat.

"But you didn't even try to talk her down, you didn't even give her a chance..." Rarity replied, keeping her composure.

Shiera sighed, taking a seat once more. "I'm a soldier. Words don't win wars. People do. Words won't save you when arrow is soaring through the air towards your eye or heart. Nor will it stop the blade that is being thrusted towards you. No, it is taking action that saves you, not words."

"Then that's the problem. This isn't a war, Darling. Equestria hasn't known any war in centuries. Ponies solve their problems with words, (and occasional music numbers) but definitely not with blades and arrows as you suggest. Things might be different in whatever world you come from, but that isn't how things work here," Rarity replied.

Shiera.....couldn't think of anything to say in protest, so instead she lowered her head and drooped her ears in submission. "Then....I apologize.....You have given me much to think about."

Rarity smiled and put a hoof on her shoulder, "That's all i ask, Darling. Now, let's get you home, it's getting rather late, and i will be needing to pick up Sweetie Belle from school soon."

Shiera nodded, and thanked her for the tea. She frowned as they left, as she still wasn't completely convinced of Rarity's argument, but it did indeed give her much to think about.

Perhaps things won't be so easy in this world after all....

Author's Note

Sorry for the long wait, a lot things been getting in my way of writing this, but, here you go! All i can say is, don't expect a consistent uploading schedule from this point forward, but know that i will try to keep updating as often as i can.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter, see you in the next one!