Twilight Sparkle oooohed and aaaahhhhed as magic literally unfolded before her eyes. Well, perhaps not literal magic but to Twilight it certainly was. In all honesty, she couldn’t give two hoots about magic or the acts before her. I mean, when you live in Ponyville, magic isn’t a rarity. What Twilight was really interested in was the pony behind the magic. The apple to her eye, the finest filly in all the land. Trixie. The way she mesmerised Twilight was nothing short of spellbinding. She couldn’t stop herself from jumping out of her seat and clasping her hooves loudly together as As Trixie, rather amateurishly for her standards, pulled a foal out of a hat. Whilst most might have seen this as embarrassing, the talented magician simply smiled at her applauding guest; Enough to fill Twilights face with a tomato red. The caped wonder bowed before the audience before letting out her final speech.
“And for this...final act, I’ll need a volunteer.” Trixies eyes shot past her adoring crowd and fixated on one pony. Her biggest fan.
“Yes, you’ll do perfectly.”
Twilight wasted no time in bounding onto stage. In truth, she had never behaved like this in public before and would certainly be looking down her snout if any other pony were behaving like her. But love can make you do crazy things and ignore the world around you, as Twilight would soon find out.
“All I need is for you, and this is important, is to flip the card over when I ask you to. Is that clear?” rather forcefully was asked to the fresh assistant.
Twilight was in a daydream. She was too fixated on how her dream of being with her idol at had come true. Not entirely, but no pony was going to tell her otherwise.
“I’m, uh, sorry. I didn’t quite catch that” shyly spoke the stuttering pony before turning her head away.
“Hmmmm” sighed Trixie. “Flip the card when I say to... or I’ll be flipping you.” This supposed threat only caused more blushing.
Cape twists and and hoof flicks aplenty, the magic act was nearly over in a blink of an eye.
“You have torn up the signed card, correct?” Slowly repeated Trixie to one of the audience members. He relpied with a rather bored nod. “I have a feeling it’s not quite gone”.
Though Twilight had missed the buildup, she could infer that her job was to reveal the signed card back in the deck.
“Please...reveal the card” gestured the too proud magician. To captivate the audience further, Trixie let off a plethora of multi-coloured fireworks into the sky, revealing a Celestia Queen card in the sky. Entirely melodramatic but quite convincing. Sadly, in all her enjoyment, Twilight missed her cue. The nervous assistant fumbled through the cards but in her haste she dropped the cards. Trixie was dumbfounded.
“You buffoon! You ruined my trick! All you had to do wasn’t pull out the signed Queen Celestia card. You’re not fit to stand on stage with me!” The furious Trixie screeched loudly.
The crowd of expecting ponies slowly scattered out, simply unimpressed. There were murmurs and even one or two boos. Trixie was livid, Twilight was distraught. She ran up to her unrequited love in tears.
“I’m so so so so sorry. It’s all my fault and everypony knows it. Is there anyway I can make it up.” Sniffled the apologetic performance destroyer.
“I think you’ve done enough damage, don’t you? Unless you can magic up The Pony Grail then I think we’re done.” Trixie had said too much or, as she found out, her words were a masterstroke. Twilight looked up confused momentarily but her tears were soon replaced with a big grin.
“The Pony Grail. The artifact that could give anypony unlimited magic. Why, Equestria as we know it could potentially be bent to its knees” Twilight knew she was beginning to sound morbid.
“10 points to you. I see you’ve done your reading.
“Oh yes...but isn’t that a myth?”. Twilgitj winced as she reluctantly disagreed.
“So it’s been said. Of course it’s been said.” The plotting trickster began almost talking to herself. “Why wouldn’t they say it’s a myth. An artifact like that, in my hooves. No pony would boo, no pony would jeer. They’d all stand amazed at my impossible tricks and gasp at my wonderois acts. I would be ruling Equestria.”
“What was that?” Twilght shouted over. “Something about schooling Equestria. Oh I’d be in your class everyday.”
“Uh, yeah sure. It’s supposedly located in the heart of Ponyville. Celestias very own castle.”
“I could help you find it. I know the kingdom off by heart. Then we could become the magic duo ever! You, the dashing wonder. Me, the helpful sidekick. What do you say?”
Trixie pondered a moment. She didn’t want to admit her selfish desires and to be honest, adding a helper would only complicate her plans. It seems that for all Twilights reading, she didn’t realise that only one pony could wield the power of the Pony Grail. And Trixie would sure as heaven Make sure that she was the one wielding the power. Yet this young, spritely newcomer had impressed her. Perhaps she could be of use. Also, more prominently but the enchantress tried to hide it, she couldn’t turn her new friend away. Friend. Huh. A warm feeling was subsiding inside her but she couldn’t figure out why. Usually the magician controlled the magic but even a master like Trixie couldn’t contain the sparks that flew between the this unlikely pairing. For once in her life, she was at the whim of her own feelings. Hmmm. Best put those emotions to one side, it could interrupt my goal, thought the devious filly.
“I agree. We’d make a great team.” Trixie looked straight in Twilights eyes as she confirmed their unity. What felt like a lifetime lasted a second. Neither cared to admit this attraction just yet. “A booknerd And an entertainer. Quite the duo we are.” Teased Trixie.
“Stay with me long enough and you’ll find out I’m so much more”. This newfound confidence didn’t last long as the “booknerd” was quick to clarify. “I just mean I’m good at talking too. I can convince people pretty easily” smugly added twilight, unaware of the irony as Trixie manipulated her.
“I hear there’s a party at Celestias place tonight. Only problem... it’s couples only.”
“We’d better be convincing then. At least, I know I will be” said Trixie with a wink. That was all that was needed for Twilight to be like putty in her hooves. The plan was in action.
Trixie wasn’t finished yet. “I really need your help, do you understand? Celestia already thinks negatively of little ol’ me after the charades last year.” The manipulation was interrupted. “Not charades. They’ve been putting us magicians out of business!”. Trixie got back on track. “Sorry I lost my train of thought. It’s all down to you to help us get past her to the Grail. I need you.”
Twilight had never been so determined. The thought of her saving the her damsel in distress was too much of a opportunity to pass up. “I won’t let you down. I promise.” And with that, the hunt had begun.
As the day wound down, the stars weren’t the only light source illuminating Equestria. So we’re the lights of Celestias castle. Castle seemed so high class to the Princess, she preferred to appeal to common pony. Eye roll. Celestia was the star of her own fairytale and Trixie hated her for it. Sat up in her ivory tower, the heart of the city, the Belle of the Ball. Speaking of balls, the castle party was in full swing and both Trixie and Twilight were certainly dressed for the occasion. They met outside the castle in the brisk cold air.
“You exceeded my expectations” spoke the magician looking her partner up and down, though she looked as far from an entertainer as possible in her silver dress.
“You don’t look too bad yourself” retorted Twilight as cool as a filly in the Arctic. Sparkle had not only dressed to impress, both spoke to impress too. The giggling schoolgirl from before was no longer, she was going to win Trixie with ease. “Let’s not waste anymore freezing our hooves off. The Grail won’t find itself.” A shared smile was the confirmation for both of them to enter the party. The walls soared high and a sparkling chandelier was the highlight of a room full of impressive features. A crowd of unicorns, alicorns and changelings from all across the land were invited and they weren’t wasting their invitations. A smooth, slow tune graced the room.
“Wanna dance?” Questioned Trixie.
“Only if I have too” sarcasticly replied Twilight with a smile. They embraced as they began a surprisingly impressive fillytrot dance. They gazed into each other’s eyes.
“It’s a shame we can’t stay here forever Trix.”
“We can dance every night after the we find the Grail.” This caused Twilight to grimace.
“Look... I know. I know you why you want the Grail. You don’t have to have to rule anywhere. Why do you need all these nobodies to love you. Isn’t a few true fans enough”.
Trixie smirked, not allowing her cover to be let up.
“The opinions of these sheep disguised as ponies doesn’t concern me. I know I’m a good magician. And so do you. You’re the one I want to impress.” Despite these words starting out as a lie, Trixie knew that her last statement rang painfully true.
“Do you mean it? I’ve admired you for as long as I can remember. But I don’t care about your magic. You are enough”.
“But think of the life we could have. You and I, we’d get a fairytale ending. Our magical ending. That’s why I need the Grail so bad.” Trixie wasn’t just going to let her magic do the talking. She was a magician for a reason, she knew how to mesmerise her audience. After a little concentration, “Trix” produced a stunning red rose out of thing air. “How’s that for magic.”
Twilight was speechless, which is quite possibly the first time that had been said in her life. Before she could stutter out a response, Princess Celeste floated over and interrupted her conversation.
“Oh young love, how I adore thee!” But Celestes glee was soon wiped out. “Oh... Trixie.”
Twilight was quick to defend her newfound lover. “She’s changed Princess. I know she has. Please, trust me.” Celeste grunted a rather un-Princess-like sound before Twilight could continue. “Also I need a favour. You know how you said you owed me a favour for helping stop your sister. I’d kinda, sorta like to call in that favour today. Now, in fact.”
The princess was rather surprised but quickly realised she did have an end of a bargain to hold up. “Your wish is my command.”
“Trix and I need access to your library. Anypony would envy your great collection and you’d make me the happiest pony to let me see it.” Twilight fluttered her eyes to sweeten the pot.
“I suppose that’s a fair request. The library is not usually allowed visitors but I’ll allow it. Once. But I don’t owe Trixie anything.”
Now it was Trixies time to shine. “Oh but your highness, I made a card in the sky of you for my trick earlier, such was my admiration for your leadership.” Celeste squinted her eyes in suspicion. Trixie decided to go all out. “And I made this Rose special for you. A gift not nearly as sweet as the royalty before me.” Celeste gladly accepted the rose, much to Twilights displeasure as she scowled her way through the rest of the conversation.
“Fine, fine. Go. 10 minutes for both of you and not a minute more. Is that clear?”
“Crystal” responded an excited Trixie. With that, the two adventuring ponies made their way towards the library. Twilight directed them past the library in silence and to a trapdoor under a carpet beside the Princess’ bedroom. She dutifully kicked over the ancient rug to reveal a trapdoor.
“I told you I know every inch” muttered the emotionally pained pony. The Grail was practically in their hands now. Just through the trapdoor and the powerful artifact was theirs. They both jumped down to a dimly lit room. Huh. This was easier than even Trixie had thought. She had used her accomplice to perfection and she was about to be rewarded for it. At least she thought she was, until the pair came face to face with five Cragadiles. Not so much of a piece of cake anymore. Unless that cake was made out of rock and looked like it was about to rip Twilight and Trixie apart. Then it would it would be a very apt cake.
“Well Twi, seems like Celeste isn’t as easily fooled as I thought. Her pets here don’t appear to like our visit.” The Grail-hungry girl laughed.
“Maybe we should turn back. Let’s not be stupid.”
“There’s no going back now. Remember? This is for us. Anyway...” Trixie began to stretch her hooves as though preparing for the Ponylmpics, “I’ve been meaning to get more practice.”
“Could be worse” shrugged Twilight, “at least it’s not five quesadillas.”
That was all the build-up either of them had time for as the Cragadiles began go charge. Twilight immediately turned the unfortunate first Cragadile into a cowboy hat. I’ll take this home for Applejack, she thought. That was until she was knocked off balance by a separate Cragadile. Meanwhile, Trixie was using every trick in the magicians book. Not that she would ever reveal how she did it. A magician never reveals their secrets and all that. One Cragadile went crashing into a mirror that it believed to be Trixie But was merely her reflection. The professional magician then cape whipped another monster into crashing into his brethren. Easy.
That still left one Cragadile to be subdued. Trixie surveyed the room to see Twilight under the rocky foot of the final enemy. On the other hand, the Grail was shining just the feet away. This was it. This was the prize. Power. Lots of it. It’s simple, thought Trixie, just wander over and get it. She couldn’t get her loyalty to Twilight out of her mind. She was at war with herself over what to do. Finally, the enchantress gained control of herself and grabbed the Grail. Anypony would salivate at the thought of such power.
Twilight let out a helpless gasp towards Trixie.
“Please. Save me.” That was all that Trixie needed to hear to rush over and push the Cragadile away.
“Thank you” Twilight wearily forced out. She giggled at the sight of the Grail. “Our happy ending.”
“My happy ending.” Trixie used the power of the Grail to create ten more mindless Cragadiles to hold down Twilight.
“Oh don’t be so surprised. A pony doesn’t change their coat.” Betrayal. After what they’d been through, Trixie was still only in it for herself. “Well, I suppose they do change their coats. The analogy isn’t perfect but you get the idea. I admit, for a minute back there I did think we were good together. But this Grail gives me everything I need and more. We were never a couple. You were never anything more than a tool for me to use. And you played that part to perfection.”
Twilights eyes sank with every passing word. She had known it was too good to be true.
“It’s time for the Great and Powerful Trixie to take her leave. I’ve got my minor plans of ruling Equestria to take over to get to. Toodles!” Trixie skipped away back up to the trapdoor.
“You won’t get away with this.” Twilight was able to shout out. The “great and powerful” magician just listened out to the sound of distant fireworks.
“I think I will. Everyone’s distracted by the firework show I’ve started outside. My signature trick” Trixie stayed proudly. It was true, she had the Grail and no pony was going to be stopping her.
“I love you” Twilight cried out I hope.
“I loved you” emotionlessly replied the villainous Grail-wielder.
Trixie hopped the dark room, back to the main halls of the castle. Twilight was left sealed inside the room of her betrayal. She had loved and lost, and the whole of Equestria was about to pay the price for it...