To Be Without Magicby Amethyst_CrystalChaptersAnti-MagicA Stormy NightRestless Resentment & RageA Great and Powerful FriendAnti-MagicStarlight Glimmer walked into Headmare Twilight’s office, humming cheerfully while a stack of paperwork levitated behind her. “Okay, I got every student to sign the forms for the… oh!” she paused, blinking in surprise, not expecting any visitors at this hour. Twilight Sparkle beamed a smile from behind her desk, sitting in the fancy head chair. “It’s alright Starlight, come in!” But Starlight focused upon opal eyes, glaring balefully upon her. A huge rose mohawk arched above them. “Fizzlepop and I were discussing possible seasonal activities that she could help the students with.” The pony formally known as Tempest Shadow turned to regard Starlight. “I’m grateful for the… therapy session you provided. It gave me the opportunity to reflect, to consider what I can give to this school of friendship.” Fizzlepop’s expression was as cold and stern as usual, despite the warmth of her voice, Twilight seeming to provide the beaming happy smile for Starlight’s benefit. “I’m so happy to hear that!” gushed Starlight, trotting in and setting the paperwork aside. “What were you considering to teach the students?” “Anti-magic training,” Tempest glared extra hard at Starlight, taking her off guard. “Defensive and counter-offensive tactics when confronting a hostile magic-wielding opponent.” Twilight laughed a bit nervously. “It’s an interesting idea, and we do have physical education classes, but I haven’t actually considered actual combat training for a school of friendship...” “You should,” grunted Tempest. “Friendship means nothing if it can’t be protected, and that means each student protecting themselves too.” Both Starlight and Twilight were silent, shuffling an awkward hoof, tapping the desk and looking away. Tempest sighed deeply after a moment. “I won’t apologize. You two may be heroes of Equestria, but you are as soft as any other pony.” She stood up, walking towards the door. “Let me know if you change your mind,” she grumbled over her shoulder to the Headmare. Starlight hesitated, then stepped into Fizzlepop’s path. “Wait! I do think it’s a good idea!” she ignored Twilight’s worried look, focusing on Tempest’s irritated frown. “Self-defense of any sort is good, even for peaceful creatures! But, what do you mean by ‘anti-magic’?” “I trained myself to become physically powerful, to compensate for my… lack of magical ability,” Tempest allowed her broken horn to crackle sparks ominously. “I was resentful towards creatures who could cast magic, especially those who used it for their own selfish gain. I have defeated many magical beings over the years, growing into a skilled mercenary of anti-magic.” Scoffing and making a dismissive hoof gesture, Starlight failed to curb her arrogance. “Well, you may have triumphed over decent magic-users, but obviously you haven’t fought anyone like me.” She caught Twilight putting hooves and wings to her face, just as Tempest’s scowl deepened with fury. A fragile, sheepish grin crept up Starlight’s face. “Eheheh… although, it’s not like I need to prove anyth-” “Just because you serve at this school of friendship, doesn’t mean your magic is without fault,” Tempest snapped, a sneer on her lips. Starlight puffed up her chest, feeling insulted. “What is that supposed to mean?” Tempest prodded Starlight, her chest deflating. “I mean I know about the cruel and wicked things your magic has done to ponies. I mean that you should learn to be more humble about your gifts like Twilight,” she gestured behind her back, the alicorn princess flailing her arms in dismay. Starlight gritted her teeth and snapped, “How dare you! I have proven that I have changed my ways many times over, and I gladly put my magic to good use for friendship and peace!” She got up close, their noses touching. “Who are you to judge me, when you’ve been ransacking your homeland only a few moons ago!” Tempest stomped her hoof down, her horn crackling with dangerous energy. “At least I didn’t try to tear the very cutie mark off of ponies! At least I didn’t pretend to be equal and crush those who weren’t!” Starlight felt tears in her eyes, wiping her face unashamedly. “If you had sooo many problems with me, why didn’t you confront me about it in my office? Why humiliate me in front of Twilight instead? Did she just now tell you about all this?” Twilight was groaning and hiding under her wings, trying to pretend she wasn’t there. Tempest shook her head, “No, I had already learned even before then, but I didn’t bring it up, because you weren’t gloating about your stupid self-absorbed magic!” she shouted angrily, sparks crackled out and lashed out at Starlight, who already had a turquoise reflective shield around her form. “You want to fight about it now?” snarled Starlight, rage building in her blood, horn glowing deeply. “Then bring it on, broken horn!” “Enough, both of you!” shouted their princess, teleporting between them, wings spread, knocking them both away onto their backs with a blast of wind. “I didn’t invite you here to pick fights with my teachers, no matter what their past may be!” she scolded Tempest, the red unicorn’s expression softened into remorse for the first time. She tried to speak up, but… “No, Twilight,” came the other pony’s voice first. “She’s not all to blame. I didn’t do anything to diffuse the situation.” Starlight slowly got to her hooves, looking down. “I should have recognized that gloating about magic was very rude and wrong...” she moved closer to Tempest, reaching out a hoof. “I’m sorry.” Tempest looked up at the pony who reassured her about friendship only a few days ago, in her cozy safe counselor’s office. She sighed deeply, refusing the hoof, easily and quickly rising up on her own. “I’m sorry too. That was a dishonorable display of fury on my part. I should have heeded your lesson more seriously.” “Lessons take time to sink in,” offered Starlight gently. “I took awhile to fit in too...” Tempest contemplated for a moment, looking into Starlight’s icy eyes. “Here are my terms,” commanded the fallen general of monstrous armies. “I will gladly teach anti-magic defense at your school,” she lifted a hoof, and poked Starlight in the chest. “If you have the nerve to face me in battle first.” Twilight kept mouthing ‘no’ in the background, sweating nervously. Starlight gave a heavy sigh, weakly smiling. “Sure, why not?” “Because you might regret it,” Tempest warned, invoking a heavy gulp from the pink-purple unicorn. “I will see you tomorrow, on the field outside the school, just as the sun touches the horizon for dusk.” And with that, she walked out, heavy metal horseshoes clanking. Starlight closed the door with her magic, and breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that could’ve been worse...” Twilight swooped down with spread wings, grabbing Starlight’s cheeks in her hooves, nose to nose. “Are you crazy?! Do you have any idea what she’s capable of?!” Starlight pushed her teacher away. “Well I guess I’ll find out soon?” Twilight did not seem the least bit reassured. “Come on, Twi. It’ll be like when we do our magic combat practice sessions! Only… I guess, with only one pony doing magic?” “Tempe- I mean Fizzlepop is different. She’s a seasoned veteran fighter for many years, decades even! She is very serious about this sort of thing, and she won’t go easy on you!” Twilight grit her teeth nervously. Starlight tossed back her mane. “Well, I hope she doesn’t! It won’t be fun then, will it?” Twilight sighed and gave a small smile. “Alright. Just be careful, and considerate. I don’t think she will try to hurt you, but she might not know her own strength...” Starlight rolled her eyes. “Okay, I get it, she’s incredibly powerful, I’m incredibly weak.” “That’s not what -” “I know, I know.” Starlight smiled and patted Twilight’s shoulder. “Don’t worry so much!” she insisted, before walking out herself. Twilight went back to her desk and sighed. “Great, two of my ex-arch-enemies, off to do a training battle. Why don’t I feel that reassured?” Spike finally spoke up from the corner of the room. “Uh, because they’re both really powerful reckless unicorns?” Twilight couldn’t help but giggle. “That they are.” Spike moved close to Twilight, putting a reassuring claw on her flank. “Don’t worry about them. They both want what’s best for the school of Friendship!” he declared, giving a big toothy smile. Twilight sighed softly. “I know. I just hated to see them hurt each other like that...” “They just needed to blow some steam,” Spike frowned, shrugging, the little dragon rarely impressed when ponies bicker. “They’re grown mares. I’m sure they’ll work it out.” Twilight nodded, turning in her chair to look out the window, at the huge field for friendship activities outside the school, Ponyville further off in the distance, her own castle close by. Soon it would become a field of battle, a friendly one at least? “I hope so, Spike… for their sakes.” A Stormy Night“Do you wanna play?” “No. Leave me alone.” “But you’re always alone! Why don’t you want to play with other ponies?” “Because other ponies don’t like me!” “Well, I want to play with you.” “Only because nopony else is playing.” “I will never be alone. I can’t live without any friends.” “But I will always be alone. And so will you.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Starlight Glimmer woke up. She felt pain. Exhaustion. Uncertainty. The storm outside grew louder. How could she get some rest like this? She rubbed her face. Tears? Another unhappy dream? “Guess I might as well stay up,” she grumbled. A loud thudding knock on the front door, so far away yet clearly audible. She thought it was thunder at first, then it happened again. Somepony needing shelter, at this time of night? Starlight teleported to the castle doors, with a groggy frown, opening up with her magic. A flash of lightning, and there stood Fizzlepop Berrytwist, glaring down at her. “AHHH!” Starlight screamed, slamming the door hard, Fizzle catching the edge in her front hoof, holding it fast, glare unchanging. “Heh, sorry. I got a little spooked...” Stepping back into the castle foyer, she gave space for Tempest to shake out her mane and tail. She stood within the stone halls, letting the water drip from her suit and armor. “So you are a coward,” she intoned calmly. The pink-purple pony widened her eyes and huffed indignantly, “I am not! I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all...” “You must’ve expected some pony, else you wouldn’t have responded to the knocking.” Starlight almost interjected, but Tempest continued, “I was training out on the fields before the storm began. I neglected to check this town’s weather report first.” Glimmer grumbled a bit, “Why would you train in the middle of the night, wouldn’t it be better to get sleep?” Tempest’s horn crackled. “My sleeping patterns are irregular and varied. I do not have a set pattern in my life, now that I’m a wandering Speaker of Friendship.” A flickering glow formed above, as her broken horn shot more glowing sparks. “And I’ve always been able to see in the dark.” “Hmm, well… fair enough.” Starlight accepted. “I usually prefer at least a friend or two around when I practice magic.” Berrytwist shook her red mane and scowled. “I always practice alone.” Counselor Starlight flinched and grimaced, touching a hoof to her head. Why did those words hurt her so much? She vaguely recalled an unhappy dream… “Are you unwell?” Tempest asked, more gently than expected. “No, no I’m fine,” Starlight regained her composure and took a deep breath, smiling warmly. “Would you like me to take you to one of the fireplaces?” Tempest curtly responded, “No, I dry off quickly, and the castle is warm enough.” Starlight hmmed. “Maybe you’d like to relax in the… library?” “I suppose there could be some books of Twilight’s of use to me, but...” Tempest frowned, reluctant. “Alright, show me the way,” she finally agreed. Starlight took Tempest’s hoof, closing her eyes as a flash of turquoise light enveloped them, and immediately they were in the castle library, a circular room with a high ceiling, symbolic inner branches of the tree castle arching across all the shelves carved into the walls. Tempest tore her hoof away, snapping, “What’s wrong with you?” Starlight gasped in surprise. “Wh-what do you mean?” Tempest growled irritably, “You can’t just teleport ponies all over the place without asking!” Starlight pouted, feeling guilty but frustrated, “I’m sorry, but it’s not like Twilight hasn’t done that too, and I know I saw her teleport you at least once at the school!” Tempest blinked, frowning thoughtfully. “Oh. Yes, that is true. And, I didn’t confront her about that.” Starlight stomped a hoof. “I’m starting to think you just have something against me.” Tempest looked up, sadness in her eyes. “Yes, I guess I do...” she turned, slowly moving to one of the desks and sitting down at it. Starlight was taken off-guard, having seen Tempest melancholy like this. She moved a little closer, staying silent, uncertain. Tempest spoke up, soft and somber. “I keep wanting to remember all the bad things about you. And about me too. What I did, it went too far. I think...” She turned and looked Starlight in the eye. “I think I’m afraid of hurting somepony again.” Starlight snapped, “Well congrats, you already have earlier today.” She put a hoof to her mouth. “Uh, that wasn’t what I meant to-” “Yes it was. And it’s fine. I’m not going to be angry at you now.” Tempest rubbed a forehoof against the table, staring down at it. Glimmer sat across from Berrytwist, speaking gently, “Before you arrived, I had a dream about two little fillies. I wasn’t sure before, but I think they were me, and you.” Tempest looked up intently, as Starlight continued, “I kept asking her if she wanted to play, and she told me she prefers to be alone. That I only wanted to play because I was alone too...” The red mare sighed deeply. “Well, it sounds like your dream was somewhat true. Except, you aren’t alone.” “Neither are you. You don’t have to go wandering all the time, you can stay here,” Starlight reached out a hoof, smiling. “I know of your friend Trixie. If a stage magician has no problem spending her days alone in the wilderness, why should I?” “Pretty sure Trixie takes a break to interact with pony civilization a lot more than you do though.” Tempest scowls and thuds the table, rising up taller on her forehooves. “Like your dream said, I want to be alone. Usually. It is what keeps me sane.” Starlight shook her head. “You say that, but it comes from a place of trauma. “And what are you going to do, heal me of my mental wounds?” scoffed Tempest, “You really are arrogant sometimes.” “I can try to help at least. Don’t you see? I’m personally familiar with social trauma. I lost my mind from loneliness. Until Twilight found my sanity again.” Tempest snorted. “I suspect what you went through is nothing compared to what I’ve dealt with.” Starlight nodded. “You’re right, it’s probably not… in fact, I think I over-reacted badly at the time... but this isn’t a competition for angst, now is it?” Tempest slumped in her seat and looked away. “Being alone at least keeps me in control of my destiny.” Starlight moved closer, putting a hoof on Tempest’s shoulder, then reaching around to hug her, the red mare stiffening up in shocked surprised. “Friendship is never easy. But it can be comforting.” Tempest growled angrily, “Back off, now,” her horn crackling energy again. Starlight gasped and pulled away meekly, a sad look in her eyes. “I-I’m sorry.” Tempest sighed deeply. “It’s n-not you. I can’t handle physical touch from most anypony. It just... it disturbs me.” Starlight nodded. “I think you deserve all the hugs and cuddles in the world, Fizzlepop,” she announced, ignoring their shared heavy blushing. “But I understand that nopony can change in one night.” Tempest stood up from the desk, “You’ve changed. You don’t have any anger or resentment in your heart like you did earlier. I still do.” She closed her eyes. “I guess I am the weaker pony after all. Starlight reached out again, gently touching Tempest shoulder. She flinched, but didn’t pull away. “It’s like Twilight already told you. You’re strong and powerful as you are.” Tempest looked down at the smaller unicorn, tears in her eyes. “Not on the inside.” Starlight smirked. “On the inside too. I have never in my life known a pony with as much grace and calm as you.” Tempest stomped a hoof and tossed her mane, looking away. “That is not true.” Starlight laughed. “Well, you haven’t seen the alicorn princesses when they get frantic. Uh, besides Twilight anyway.” Tempest shook her head. “I was a fool to fight her. I was a fool to rely on the Storm King. I should have just destroyed him sooner.” “And taken over his empire? I don’t know if that would have been so great.” Tempest laughed. “I couldn’t care less about that. All the cruelty I inflicted on my own people, was for the sake of restoring my horn. I believed the Storm King had an artifact or talisman of power which could do so, he was a mage-thief with great influence after all….” “And now?” “And now, I guess I’m still coming to terms with the fact I don’t...” she looked upwards. “I don’t need to restore my horn. I’m good enough as I am, but...” “But it’s difficult to come to terms with.” “Yes.” Starlight gestured to the castle. “Why not stay here for a few days before you venture out again? You’ll get some more opportunity to hang out with Twilight.” “Or with you.” “Haha, well, no that isn’t required, I understand if-” “No, I want to. It does me good, speaking to you,” Tempest reached out to put a hoof on Starlight’s chest. “R-really?” Starlight blushed deeply. “You like listening to my, my...” Tempest laughed softly. “Yes. You are a good counselor, after all.” and then she did the unthinkable: she reached out and hugged Starlight close, nestling her chin against her shoulder. Starlight happily accepted, the wizard squeezing the powerful warrior close. Tempest pulled away. “I still feel awful inside, but, maybe I can stay here awhile, and see if that helps. Besides, we still need to do that duel.” Starlight looked a bit nervous. “Well, to be honest, I don’t fight non-magic-users that often...” Tempest chuckled. “It’s alright. We can practice together.” Starlight nodded. “So, do you want me to show you to one of the guest rooms?” Tempest shook her head. “No, I think I will stay here after all, and do some reading. Maybe catch up on pony knowledge. You should go rest though, for classes tomorrow.” Starlight yawned heavily. “You’re right, I probably should. Well...” she felt reluctant, as though something else had to be said. But as a counselor, she knew she shouldn’t push things too far, even if she wanted to. “Goodnight,” Tempest spoke on their behalf, turning to browse the bookshelves, touching with her hooves. Starlight muttered softly, “Goodnight,” and teleported back to her room, crawling into bed with a heavy sigh. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ “I’ll play with you, just this once.” “Why not more than once?” “You won’t like me. I’m a scary pony.” “I’m a scary pony too!” “Really? Then maybe we can be friends.” “Yay!” Restless Resentment & Rage* * * * * * Fizzlepop Berrytwist grimaced, glaring down at the desk. She didn’t expect this to be easy, but the pain in her gut and her heart was greater than she felt, in many a moon. Other students eyed the ex-commander warily. It was not just her reputation that proceeded her, but the mere menace of her imposing presence. Applejack ignored the sour mood, talking up apples and honesty, as was her forte. “Y’all know what the most important part about honesty is?” she asked, looking up under her hat with a smile, otherwise slouching at the desk. “It builds communication and community. It bridges trust and bonds. One could almost say it builds the very foundation of friendship!” Fizzlepop winced, frowning deeply, then suddenly stood up from her desk. “I have to go.” she grumbled under her breath, turning for the door. Other students sighed in relief, much to her dismay. “Now hold on there, missy!” Applejack intervened, moving towards the door. “I know it’s a bit rough for you gettin’ used to this here friendship business, but-” Fizzy snapped irritably, “I need to go, now!” she paused, clenching her eyes shut, then added a begrudging, “Please!” Applejack sighed heavily. “Alright, alright. No point in forcing you to stay if yer feelin’ too riled up to learn.” she opened the door and gestured. As Tempest reached the door, she muttered gently, “Just try workin’ at being at least honest with yourself, alright?” “You don’t know me,” the scarlet pony growled with a glare. “None of you do.” And with that she stomped down the hall at a brisk pace, ignoring the farmer’s concern. “Oh, hello, darling!” came a melodious voice in the hallway. “I wanted to thank you for your generosity earlier today in helping your fellow students moving all those crafting supplies,” Rarity gave her mane a toss, smiling sweetly, assorted cloth supplies levitating about her. “I know you are only here for a little while, but being willing to aid others in-” Fizzy glared at Rarity, a sneer on her muzzle. “They were too weak and slow,” she declared. “I did it because they could not. It had nothing to do with generosity.” How’s that for honesty, she thought to herself. Rarity put a hoof to her chest, sadness in her eyes. “I see. Well, we appreciate your help regardless, and I do hope your day becomes more… pleasant.” the stylist trotted off, perhaps a little nervously. Fizzlepop looked down at the floor, tired of making eye contact with so many friendly faces. Smiling faces that would transform into frowns after speaking with her… always. She just wanted to leave, now. She was tired of putting up with these pleasantries. “It’s all fake.” “What’s all fake?” came a voice in her ear, Pinkie Pie suddenly intruding with a big shining smile. Berrytwist leaped back, her broken horn crackling with energy, rarely taken off guard. “Aww, don’t be so tense, Fizzy! We’re all friends here!” “Don’t call me that right now,” she demanded, muscles still tense, as though ready to fight. “And I told you not to surprise me like that!” “What you need are more happy and fun surprises, not sad or dangerous surprises!” Pinkie contemplated. “I know! Why don’t we make sure you have the most surprising birthday ever!” Berrytwist shook her head. “It’s not a surprise now, is it? And… I don’t remember when I was born.” Pinkie gasped in shock, then suddenly beamed with a new bright idea. “I know! We’ll just check with your home tow-” “NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” shouted the scarlet unicorn, galloping away, bursting through the front door, knocking over Fluttershy. “Ow!” cried the soft yellow pony, rubbing her nose and standing back up. “Goodness, are you alright, Fizzlepop?” she asked sincerely, more concerned for the skittish pony than her own temporary pain. “Yes, I’m fine!” she snapped… then sighed, begrudgingly offering a hoof. “Sorry for knocking you over, but I need to go now.” Fluttershy put her hoof to her mouth, still worried for her friend. “Oh my, have the other students been inconsiderate? I can have a word with them if you-” “No! I mean, yes! But it’s fine. I understand why. It doesn’t matter…” Fizzy looked away, no longer in a rush. Fluttershy gently draped a wing over the tall unicorn’s flank. “Everypony needs a little kindness in their lives.” The new friendship student laughed bitterly. “Well, good thing I’m not everypony then.” “Yeah! You’re an awesome bad-ass pony!” blurted Rainbow Dash, diving down from the sky, before spreading wings and coming to a complete stop mid-air just above them, showing off like usual. “What you need is to get all that tense energy into some extreme sports! I’ve been putting together an awesome new team game for the school!” Berrytwist rolled her eyes. “I don’t do teams. Never again. Besides, you saw what I did last time I was at the school gym…” The two pegasi teachers exchanged nervous looks. “Heheh,” chuckled Rainbow. “Yeah, well, we know you didn’t mean to zap your teammate like that… I mean, who would do that on purpose, right? So it’s no big deal.” Fizzlepop frowned, closing her eyes, turning to leave before they saw the single tear of shame. “I’m going now. I’m done with your games, and I’m done with this school’s games, and Princess of Friendship’s games as well. I am leaving.” her broken horn crackled again with electricity. “Don’t try to stop me.” Fluttershy and Rainbow watched her gallop away. “We should probably tell Twilight about this,” the blue one muttered. “Oh dear…” sighed the yellow one. * * * * * * Tempest Shadow charged out and away from the School of Friendship, determined not to return. She was fed up. She was tired. She was angry. She was… “Augh! Ow!” came the muffled squeal, as she collided head-first into a great and powerful magician. Stupid, Tempest scolded herself, to run so blindly, why was she not being on high alert? These ponies made her too soft. “Watch where you’re going, you- oh!” Trixie gazed up at Tempest with her bright purple eyes, a smirk on her face now. “Well well, the athletic mercenary unicorn vagabond with many chips on her shoulders.” Tempest paused, taking a step back, genuinely bewildered, raising a hoof. “What?” she was not expecting such sass, along with such blunt recognition. Trixie got up off the ground, turning to check on her precious wagon, to be sure it wasn’t jostled too badly from the collision. “It’s not like you are a mysterious stranger, Tempest Shadow,” she scoffed, the first pony to call her by her old name in awhile. “Besides, it’s not like Starlight knows how to keep juicy details away from her best friend, the great and gossipy Trixie!” Tempest stomped the ground, ready to run off again. “Whatever you think you know about me, it’s wrong! You are all wrong!” Trixie giggled wickedly, then hopped onto her caravan, pointing down at Tempest. “Don’t be coy, you’re a bad pony, just like moi!” she posed flamboyantly, cape waving in the breeze. “Why should you have to be more proper and polite? Trixie has never improved her attitude at all, and look how great she still is!” An annoyed sigh escaped Tempest’s lips, her mane swaying to and fro as she shook her head. “No, you don’t get it. I have far deeper problems than a mere attitude…” Trixie somersaulted off the roof, landing before Tempest again. “You know how Starlight did all that messed up stuff with ponies in the past?” she leaned closer, whispering, “Well, let’s just say Trixie hasn’t exactly been the nicest pony before either,” she gave a knowing wink. A shiver went down Tempest’s spine, and a crackle of lightning on her broken horn, her voice less strained, more dark and intent now. “Is that so?” she intoned with menace. “Do you not feel any remorse?” Trixie waved a hoof and rolled her eyes. “I mean sure, if I dwell on it I might feel bad sometimes,” she shrugged with whimsy. “But guilt-tripping myself about the past all the time is more Starlight’s style.” she poked Tempest squarely in the chest, gazing up fiercely at the larger unicorn. “You and me though, we don’t have to care about that sort of thing. All that matters is who we are and what we can do! I’m a great and powerful magician, and you’re a great and powerful fighter!” Tempest brushed the hoof aside. “Is that what you’re asking for, a fight?” Trixie laughed and sat back on her hind legs, waving both fore-hooves with emphasis. “Oh, no no, not at all. Trixie is just suggesting you revel in your own ability a bit more! Why should you have to feel bad for what you’ve done to Equestria? Why should I? You can still be great and powerful despite all that! You can be whatever you want to be!” Tempest paused, glaring… then she started laughing, a warm mirthful chuckle, evolving into a twisted cackle of pain. “If that’s true,” she snarled, eyes narrowing, “Why don’t I take out all my pain and suffering on you, right now?” she threatened, taking a step closer. Trixie’s eyes had been filled with happiness, perhaps even admiration for Tempest, since the moment she recognized her, regarding the broken horned unicorn as a kindred spirit, a rare dark horse in this land of colorful cuteness… but for the first time, they filled with real fear, and dismay. “Yes… I’m much more familiar with that expression,” muttered Tempest bitterly, moving closer still, horn crackling with fiercer energy. “Now, now, Trixie didn’t exactly say ‘become an outright villain again’, now did I?” Trixie babbled quickly, pressing up to the side of her wagon. “I’m just saying that you should learn to enjoy being -” “Being what? An arrogantly perfect pony like Twilight? A fool that wallows in guilt like Starlight? Or maybe a greedy, selfish coward like YOU!” the outcast lowered her horn, and closed her eyes, blasting broken magic. Trixie screamed… and then, uttered a frightened noise of confusion? Starlight stood between Tempest and her target, covered in a dense magical shield of turquoise energy. All of Tempest’s magic had evaporated before this great wizard, whose blue eyes shone with rage. “What do you think you’re doing to my friend?” Starlight demanded, all four hooves squarely on the warm grass, locked in a defensive stance before Tempest Shadow, Trixie shuddering behind her. There she is again, thought Tempest, the friendship councilor who tried her best to make me feel warm and welcome. The pony who was among the most wicked and cruel of her kind not many years ago. The unicorn who spent every moment regretting her past, yet every moment equally spent crafting a more peaceful and happy and considerate future, for all creatures, and herself. There was no pony Tempest envied and hated more. “I will do whatever I please, BECAUSE I HAVE NO FRIENDS!” Tempest screamed back, hate and rage pouring out throught her broken horn and cracked magic, aiming all her frustration and resentment at the duo. A blast of electric energy, and the wagon flipped over onto its side, in flames. The other two ex-villains were gone. “Where are you?” snarled Tempest Shadow, looking around, all her instincts ready to take down Starlight Glimmer, her new opponent. Just like everything else she had to destroy, they were still in her way. “Cowards, I knew it.” The wagon disappeared a moment later, likely at Trixie’s behest and wishes for its continued existence. Starlight appeared again, hovering in midair… and then, by her will, they vanished, neither of them were on the outskirts of Ponyville anymore. * * * * * * The sorceress and the mercenary now stood in the bleak southern deserts, barren cracked earth and dry open skies. Even here little life grew. Tempest grew eager, certain of her rival’s intentions now, allowing a twisted smile on her face. “Twilight sent me to check on you, but I didn’t expect to find you indulging in cruelty!I don’t care how much you hate me,” Starlight muttered, a crack in her voice, as tears fell down her cheeks. “But you do not try to hurt my friends!” Tempest laughed again, full of contempt. “What’s wrong, are you sad I’m not your friend after all?” she lowered her head, grimacing. “You tried, and you failed. Nopony can help me. I don’t deserve or want any help, but I’m glad you took me away from all those stupid ponies,” she spat. “I couldn’t stand them anymore. Now leave me to my banishment.” Starlight hovered in midair, her hooves shaking, her teeth gritted. “No... it’s not that simple… you tried to…” she caught her breath, “you really tried to hurt Trixie, really bad… I saw it… I can’t just…” glowing turquoise magic energy surrounded her, a swirling cloud of radiance. Tempest Shadow’s pupils shrunk, and then she was in the air, leaping with all her strength, hooves heading straight for Starlight, too shocked at such finesse to react before it was too late, a hoof slamming across her muzzle, knocking her head back, tumbling over onto the ground, slamming against the dirt and rocks. “Can’t just what?” demanded Tempest with another hateful smile. The counselor of friendship coughed, wheezing, struggling to rise, then collapsing. “Get up,” demanded the ruthless outcast. “I know even a physical weakling like yourself isn’t that fragile. Or are you scared, because Twilight won’t come to save you from me this time?” Terror gripped Starlight’s chest for a moment… then pain, then sorrow. Every single moment, every act of cruelty these past five minutes that stretched for eternity. All her efforts at nurturing and comforting, all her attempts at genuine friendship. She truly wanted Fizzlepop Berrytwist to feel whole, but now...something snapped deep inside Starlight. A broken feeling she hadn’t experienced in many moons. “I’m sick of all your self-righteous, violent hatred...” Starlight hissed, as she rose up, levitating above the ground, aloft with her hind feet pointing down, eyes glowing radiant turquoise, air swirling around her body, her raw energy coaxing a dust-storm to spiral around her. “I’m done being pushed around by a fool too afraid to embrace friendship!” Starlight lifted her fore-hooves to the heavens, eyes closing, summoning with her power. “Don’t play games with me! I know you’re still haunted!” Tempest shouted, pointing an accusing hoof. “I see it in your eyes! Your fears, your failures!” Tempest accused with bitter rage, hunching down, muscles tensed, readying her next attack. Then the heavens opened up, revealing glowing magical stars, falling to the burning desert bellow at impossible speeds, kicking up massive chunks of rock and thousands of particles of blistering sand. Tempest dived to and fro, rushing and galloping as she hadn’t in too long, as fragments of the sky shattered in blinding raw power. Starlight hovered in midair, her whole body glowing in an aura of turquoise, as wings formed through her magic alone, spreading wide, channeling more power from her raw emotions, the sorceress unwilling to forgive these transgressions. “After all we’ve done for you,” she condemned, “this is how you honor your friends?” “Enough! What makes you any better than me?” roared Tempest above the maddening sound of magical destruction, diving into a new chasm, narrowly avoiding the still scolding surface of the meteorite, crouching into a defensive stance, ready to dodge again, or strike. She had bested many magic-users on her journeys. Now she had the chance to take down another, an especially dangerous one. Finally, she could feel the thrill of the hunt again. “POWER!” answered Glimmer with an angry echo, as her incorporeal wings curled up, and her horn grew bright, and she clenched her hooves together and mustered all her might. A blinding wave of pure turquoise light surged from that glowing horn across the desert floor, accompanied by a terrifying high-pitched whine of absolute energy, blasting the earth apart, aiming right towards her target, Tempest Shadow. The martial artist dove to the side again, narrowly missing the scalding blasts. Not bad, she thought, but not enough. She ran in a long circle, intending to throw off her target, and close the distance all the same. For the first time in weeks, Tempest felt like herself again... “Maybe you have a point, Tempest,” Starlight laughed unhappily, tears still spilling down her face, eyes now glowing with the raw turquoise magic she held since birth. “Maybe I should use my power to do whatever I want,” and then chunks of earth rose up from beneath Tempest, throwing her up into the sky, hooves firmly planted on the stone, threatening to fall to her doom. “Maybe I should finish you ONCE AND FOR ALL!” Tempest’s eyes widened, taken off-guard for the second time that day. She curled up, leaping off the flying gravel and into the sky, as her horn crackled electricity, the sound of exploding thunder echoing in her ears, shattering the rocks all around… and her entire body faded into thin air,hidden by the magi-tech of old jumpsuit, predating her predatory role as Commander Tempest of the Storm Legion. “Coward!” screamed Starlight, filled with rage, glowing with hate, her old persona flaring up along with the swirling, blinding dust storm, energy-wings flapping as she flew to and fro, seeking her quarry in the dust. “Come out and fight if you can, or do you need magic just to run and hide?!” Tempest Shadow faded in from nothingness, diving down towards her target, jagged horn flickering. Broken, crazed lightning arched towards Starlight’s flowing mane and face, a glowing turquoise shield narrowly deflecting the ambush attack, but the impact caused the wizard to fall to the ground with a dull thud. “I will use any tactic, and rely on none,” the vindictive vagabond snapped at the sorceress. Starlight quickly rose up again with a contemptuous sneer, as another flow of magic burst forth, eager to defeat her foe... only to be dodged yet again by the nimble fighter, Tempest slamming her metallic horse-shoe against the sphere of glowing power, shattering it. “You are a predictable unicorn, relying soley on your magic,” Tempest judged scornfully. “No, it’s not possible,” the wizard wailed hysterically, as another horse-shoe went to strike her throat... but not before she remade her sphere, knocking Tempest back to the ground, landing on her feet without missing a beat. A gust of wind blew Tempest’s mane back, crackling energy building up above Starlight’s horn, a dark glow of forbidden magic, steam rising from her pupils. “I will not fall to a broken-horned beast like you!” Horrifying screams of otherworldly entities encircled Tempest, visions of the past clouding her mind. Claws of ancient darkness swiped through the air, howling monsters of shadow assaulting her body and mind. She shook her head and ignored the magic, even as it tore at her flesh, cutting at her muscles. The mercenary pony now felt the first twinges of regret. “This must end,” she muttered, smashing her hoof square into Starlight’s face. This time, the sorceress did not rise again, her clouded eyes fading back to normal, before closing, collapsing in a soft heap of lavender fur. Tempest stood over her adversary, panting for breath. All her eagerness and thrill, it was gone. “What have I done to her?” she asked herself, and she did not mean the physical blows, but rather, just how far Starlight went in her hate, her rage. “I… this isn’t what I wanted…” Tired, she sat down beside Starlight, checking her pulse, who shifted and breathed softly. But relief at this life was absent from the mercenary, tears pouring down Tempest Shadow’s cheeks now, as wet as Starlight’s were. “I’ve proven nothing. I’ve resolved nothing,” she realized, hunching up her shoulders, ignoring the blood on her chest and flanks. It was all her own, but she couldn’t care less. Her blood meant nothing anymore. It meant nothing for many years now. Twilight Sparkle materialized out of thin air, her raspberry glow of magic bringing forth Trixie as well. She had tracked down the princess of friendship, imploring her aid. Both gasped in horror, Twilight having to restrain an enraged Trixie from rushing at the wounded Tempest. “You worthless, stupid, evil brat! What have you done?!” Trixie screamed, shivering with contempt. Twilight said nothing, but her cold glare conveyed as much accusation and resentment, even as she calculated the next course of action. Tempest looked up with dismay. Friends no more... only adversaries. But, she had no more will to fight, either. “She’s alive. I’m alive. But I...” she coughed up blood then, shuddering. “I’ve destroyed us both,” she sobbed, heart gripped with sorrow, before her green eyes rolled back, collapsing in a dusty heap alongside Starlight. Two battered and ruined ponies, face to face and unconscious, one fully formed horn and another broken, their snouts almost touching, lavender and scarlet cheeks streaked with tears, to face their shared darkness and pain when they awaken, their emotional and physical exhaustion granting deep, restful slumbering peace. * * * * * * A Great and Powerful FriendTrixie struggled against Twilight’s grasp, snarling and scrabbling at the sand, deep in the ancient desert. “Let me go! I’ll destroy that monster!” She grunted and strained. Tempest and Starlight laid collapsed on the sandy rocks, both unconscious and injured from their vicious battle. “What do you plan to do?” Twilight demanded firmly, her eyes wary. “Forget Tempest for now,” she implored, “Let’s help Starlight!” The blue magician’s mask of rage fell away, fear and concern in her eyes. “Yes, you’re right, let’s please save her then!” The Princess of Friendship teleported them both immediately to Starlight’s side, Trixie collapsing to ground, putting an ear to her lavender chest. “Thank Celestia she’s still breathing, but she looks awful!” “The magic she used… it may have been some really bad stuff, Trixie,” Twilight muttered sadly, brushing her wing through Starlight’s soft purple mane. “She’s showing symptoms of having channeled a powerful dark spell, or even a curse. Maybe more than one. This degree of exhaustion isn’t normal for a unicorn of her magical ability.” “I also got hit really hard in the face,” Starlight groaned weakly, “With her hoof.” She stirred from her unwanted slumber, coughing and shivering in realization. “I-I can’t believe I did that. I resorted to… to summoning ruined spirits…” “You’re alive!” Trixie squealed with joy, tackling Starlight and cuddling the tired sorceress. “Forget that dark spell stuff! You did it because you were protecting me! Don’t feel bad about it!” An affectionate mane petting was in order, the wizard so relieved that her best friend was better off than expected. Starlight and Twilight exchanged a worried look, while Trixie nuzzled her friend’s neck. “I do not wish to judge,” her alicorn teacher somberly stated. “What you did in the heat of battle, against someone intent on harming your friend…” Tears fell onto the hot sand, hiding her face in a wing, sniffling. “I’m sorry. I’m just so sad, for you both…” The Great and Powerful Magician rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Excuse me while I don’t feel the tiniest bit sad for that crazy wild mare.” she pointed an accusing hoof at the silent form of Tempest Shadow right beside them. Twilight gasped, having forgotten to even check on the dark orchid mercenary. She went closer to Tempest, listening to her chest. “Her breathing is erratic, and her muscles are twitching… OW!” she stumbled back shaking her hind leg, having been kicked suddenly in the shin. Trixie chuckled dryly, still petting her friend’s purple mane. “Are you sure she didn’t do it on purpose? Maybe you should try kicking her back, teach her a lesson!” “Trixie, no!” Starlight scolded, pushing her away, ignoring the pouting. “I know she started this, but even enemies shouldn’t be inflicted with dark magic! I went too far!” The magician stomped a fore-hoof angrily. “And let’s say you did play nice instead, how awake do you think you’d be right now, huh? I don’t recall Tempest being gentle or careful when you two left, and it certainly doesn’t seem that way right now, either!” Tempest groaned out loud, sweating heavily, panting, flailing her limbs. “No… no…” she muttered. “Find… way out…” “Nightmares, most likely,” Starlight mumbled quietly. “I wanted to make her suffer… I wanted to… to...” she put her hooves in her hands and began sobbing, tears of shame falling. The magician wanted to scold Starlight again for her graciousness towards a fallen foe, but instead wrapped her cloak around the soft pink-purple unicorn, hugging gently. “Let’s just get out of here, and give you the chance to recover! Right, Twilight?” “Not without her, Trixie,” sighed Starlight. “She’s not going to be able to do anything on her own, not for awhile anyway.” She stared at the delirious dreaming mare. “We won’t be able to wake her up, either. She will be stuck in her dreams for… possibly days…” Twilight’s disapproving frown caught Starlight’s eye, ears drooping in dismay. “Just let me get Tempest… I mean Fizzlepop… under control. I’ll have to keep her in a protective sphere for n-” “Forget her!” snapped Trixie angrily, clenching Starlight protectively to her chest. “She had her chance!” “Trixie, you know we shouldn’t do that…” Starlight looked up in scowling disapproval. “After all the chances we have had ourselves.” Trixie stared, then turned up her nose, snorting. “Fine, whatever! I still hate her...” “Be that as it may,” Twilight decided, a raspberry-colored field of magic encasing Tempest, “I consider her my responsibility. She is my friend, after all.” she reminded sharply, glancing over her shoulder. “I want to be her friend too… even now,” Starlight admitted. Trixie glared at them both and huffed indignantly. “Great, let’s save the mean brat then. Can we please go now?” Sighing in unison at Trixie’s ire and rage, Starlight and Twilight teleported the four of them away from the deep desert, and back to the comfort of Twilight’s castle. Tempest Shadow’s arrival and condition were kept secret, until she could open up her eyes once more. Deep into the canyon she fell… escape was absolutely impossible. And then she landed… it hurt more than all the pain she ever felt. The breaking of bones, and tearing of muscles, familiar but worse. Nothing could compare to the special pain of these hollow depths. She was alone, deep in the ancient underground. There was a light, somewhere, maybe… but that faded, like her hopes… Never to see the sun rise again, to forever be lost, to the deep darkness, blind and unknowing. Ancient power flows within her. Power she will never access, by much of anything. Voices whispering, chilling and dusty: Contemplate Eternity, Child of Darkness. Social Interaction, Unbearably Obnoxious, For You, Oh Powerful Struggler. Failure to Find Solace, Now Seek Lunacy. Darkness Consumes Your Heart and Mind. Never Do Such Deeds Again, Unless Suffering is Your Fate, and Your Purpose. Familiar voices mumbled above Tempest, in a brief, motionless moment of vague wakefulness. Are you sure it’s safe? What if they just fight again? Yes, I trust her ability. Besides, she can reach Fizzlepop’s spirit in ways that you and I can’t. Um, really? And why would that be? Because she truly is a great and powerful pony. Just, in ways more subtle than obvious. Alright then, I will trust your judgment. Let us hope it does them both good. I’m sure it will, but when this is all over, I hope Fizzy can forgive me. Tempest Shadow woke up, or at least, she thought she did. Unless, the nightmares were still consuming her soul. Where am I? She wondered… so dark, so hot, so cramped… panic rising, struggling… a loud thud, as hooves hit solid wood. “Oh, finally awake, are we?” scoffed the great magician, from nearby, in a muffled tone. Her voice from directly overhead. Was she trapped inside a trunk? “Get off me!” howled Tempest, exhausted from her prison, and her accursed slumber. To finally be awake and still seeing darkness, after dreaming of so much... A harsh cackle in reply. “Oh, don’t be so fussy! There’s plenty of air-holes for you to breathe, this is a stage performance trunk, after all.” Trixie knocked on the top firmly. “Just let me out of here! Now!” Tempest begged, voice filled with resentment and desperation, sweat getting in her eyes. “Fine, but only because I’m not as mean as you.” Trixie tapped her hoof on the back panel, unlocking and revealing an ‘escape route’ for the occupant. “You are free!” The dark orchid pony crawled wearily out with a groan, sprawling on the green grass, panting. “Wait,” she growled in confusion, “I was in a desert. Where are we?” Trixie smirked wickedly, looking up at the trees towering overhead. “Deep in an ancient magical forest. Far from pony lands. Just you and me!” she chortled with glee. Tempest stared at her captor, chest heaving for breath. She was certain she could defeat Trixie in combat, but she was in no condition to satisfy her smoldering rage. “So, I’ve been meaning to let you know,” Trixie rambled casually, ignored Tempest’s hateful gaze. “You’re a coward and a fool.” “What did you say?” demanded Tempest angrily, astounded by this audacity. “I’m a coward and a fool too though, so it’s fine.” Trixie sarcastically reassured her, leaping up onto the roof of her wagon with a daring somersault and striking a dignified pose, “Tada!” she declared, staring up at the vast trees. “Have you been this far, this deep in the forest?” Tempest shook her head, finally getting to her feet. The sun was starting to descend on the horizon, between the trunks. “No. Well… long ago. I can hardly remember.” Trixie cackled, twirling her cape with gusto. “I come here every few moons…” she looked up at the foliage, dark and ominous above the campfire. “It brings me joy.” A veil of shadows fell from the disfigured unicorn’s eyes. Fizzlepop beheld the world about her, as though perhaps she could find peace, if she dared. “Alright,” she growled. “Why did you bring me here? Don’t you hate me?” “I mean, I do,” Trixie agreed without hesitation, venom in her voice, “But I guess Starlight is too powerful an influence on me, so, I’m trying not to…” Tempest remembered the fire in Starlight’s spirit when she came to protect Trixie from the broken unicorn’s wrath. The deep anger and malice when they fought… but she wanted Trixie to get along with her foe? Whatever friendship Tempest had with Starlight, it was surely broken now… “Do you know why she’s such a great pony?” Trixie pressed the point, leaning over the side of the wagon’s roof and glaring down, purple eyes welling up with tears. “Because Starlight Glimmer gave me a reason to live! She showed me that I can be a great pony too, without changing the core of who I am.” Tempest Shadow felt a shudder of shame,those words conjuring a vision of the princess of friendship, for but a sparkling moment of emotional twilight. “I… I want to hate you both,” she admitted. “You and Starlight. Because… I…” she choked up, tears in her eyes. Trixie burst into laughter, cackling with glee. “Oh wow, this is just magnificent,” she declared, gazing down from under her hat with arrogance. “You are jealous! You want to have your precious princess friendship, and be a monster too!” she taunted, the blue pony propping hooves on her hips for extra sass. “You’re just a whiny, selfish brat who always expects to get her way!” The solitary warrior ground her teeth, crackling energy glowing from her broken horn, bunching up her legs, and leaping up onto the wagon with a loud thud. “Unlike Starlight, you seem eager to piss me off! You don’t know when to stop!” The blue magician struck a daring defensive pose, arms outstretched and legs bent. “You don’t scare me this time!” she blinked, “I mean, I was more surprised than scared last time, anyway, really… but nonetheless, do not underestimate the resources of a stage magician! At any moment you may be defeated and dazzled, all at once!” Tempest’s horn sizzled magic, scowling irritably at her captor. “Why did you bring me here?” she demanded. “What is your problem?” Trixie gasped and crossed her forelegs over her chest, deeply indignant. “Ohhh, I’m sorry… did I magically or physically attack your best friend Twilight Sparkle only a few days ago, just because her way with words was greatly annoying me, as it often does? Oh, I didn’t?” the magician smiled and battered eyelashes. “THEN DON’T ASK ME ABOUT MY PROBLEMS!” she shrieked with fury. Tempest clenched her eyes and hunched down, frustrated and ashamed, all at once. Her mind swirled, to all those instances in her life, when violence was the chosen recourse of the crippled unicorn. To inflict her will upon the world around her with brutality. To hide from her own suffering, by inflicting more... “Awww, what’s wrong?” Trixie leaned forward, interrupting her thoughts with her flamboyant, mocking tone. “Does the violent brat want to hurt Trixie again for speaking the truth?” Laughter echoed upwards across the forest leaves. Fizzlepop privately acknowledged that Trixie was indeed powerful, in her own way. “Yes, but… I won’t.” she answered firmly. She did not rise, as though afraid of her own body. Of how she would confront power, with her own crude methods of domination. Trixie tilted her hat back and spread her cape, fluttering in the breeze, putting on her best winning smile, “Then bask in the wonder of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria!” Fizzy sighed heavily and shook her head… she had slept for so long, yet already she felt tired… “Just stop, please, you’re making me angry again...” Trixie demanded no less than an absolute apology. “You’re angry? Can you feel the rage in Trixie’s heart, you merciless mercenary moron? You have put my dear Starlight through much grief and pain! I have every reason to be angry at you right now!” she stomped a hoof down, tears welling up in her eyes. “Your stupid selfishness, and stubborn righteousness! Your rage and your misery! You can wallow in it all you like, but don’t you dare take it out on those who are only trying to help you, those undeserving of your wretched petty problems!” Fizzlepop trembled, staring down at the wagon’s roof. A warm breeze blew past her mane, the trees rustling all around them. How could this be? To feel so angry, so sad, so broken. And yet, and yet she could not lash out. Would not lash out. “I can’t fight you, and I can’t atone,” she muttered, collapsing with a heavy sigh, Twilight’s smile and kindness in her mind once more, then fading. “I will never have friendship…” “Umm, wow.” Trixie muttered, moving closer, gently nudging Fizzlepop’s flank with a foot. “Hey, cut that out! It’s kinda awkward. What happened to Miss Badass, huh? I mean, still excluding the kicking of my own ass, thank you.” Tempest sighed again, shaking her head. “No, it’s just… if I did attack you now… what would that accomplish? My rage would be sated, maybe… momentarily… before it will come back again,” she felt wetness on her cheeks, breathing heavily. “And it would just prove your point too...” Trixie put her fore-hoof just above Fizzy’s broken horn, ignoring the tensing flinch. “You must be in a lot of pain,” she said softly, the first gentle words she gave her captive. “Look, as angry as I am, Trixie can’t hate someone as powerful and beautiful as you,” she confessed, “Not forever, anyway. You may not realize, but Starlight forgave you too, so stop moping and being hard on yourself, okay? That’s my job. The being hard on you, I meant, not the moping.” she looked away, “Besides, it makes me nervous to see you weak, same as when she acts like this…” Fizzlepop laughed bitterly, but with a smile. Why did Starlight’s friend have to be so crazy? “You really don’t have any filter, whatsoever,” she accused, looking up at Trixie. “You expose everything in your heart to everyone.” Trixie huffed. “Not everyone! But Starlight did say you were becoming a good friend, so I thought I could try to be one too…” she glared again. “But instead you attacked me!” Fizzlepop stood up then, making the magician hop back, but she walked to the front corner of the wagon’s roof, looking out over the green of nature. “Hey don’t ignore me!” she snapped. Fizzlepop didn’t look back. “Now I know your game,” she declared. “You’ll have to try harder, if you want to upset me now.” Blushing like a violet, the blue unicorn fumed. “What do you mean game? If you mean like a stage show performance, this was all very serious! I’ve been giving you a piece of my mind!” “I know, and thank you.” Fizzlepop replied warmly. "I appreciate all you have done here.” A magical entity appeared by her side, a blue pony with deepest purple eyes, hidden depths shrouded in that soul. “It’s not often I meet a truly solitary pony like myself,” Trixie confided, placing a hoof gently on her back. “You and I have much in common, you just haven’t figured that out yet.” Solitude. Loneliness. Confidence. Arrogance. Ferocity. Bravery. Mystery. Madness. Fizzlepop felt that she was looking upon this pony with new eyes, a spirit far more kindred than she could admit before. “I think I’ve figured out quite a bit. But I still dislike your lack of shame.” A fire rose up in those amethyst eyes, a glowing power. A majesty of magic. “Do not be so bold, broken brat.” snapped Trixie the Great and Powerful. “To presume that my shining spirit must grovel in atonement, for as long as you see fit!” Fizzlepop chaffed, “And yet you get to insult and degrade and shame me all you like?” Trixie smiled and winked roguishly. “Well, you have permission to do likewise now, if you want.” The hardened mercenary unicorn frowned. “You are certainly difficult to deal with…” Trixie grew somber, a quiet strength. “I refuse to bend or break my will for anything… anything but my friends.” Fizzlepop laughed. “Guess I will have to become your friend then.” Trixie looked expectantly… both blushing… “Really? We’re friends already? But you hated me…” those purple lights were doused of fire, at least momentarily. “And now,” Tempest reminded gently, “you hate me too. Isn’t that so?” The wandering magician paused, struggling with pride. They sat quietly, as the woods made its presence known, roaming beasts calling out nearby, yet leaving them be, as the last rays of sunlight broke upon their backs, like the burdens in their little pony hearts. “I would rather be your friend,” Trixie admitted, with some reluctance. “You already have the talent for great and powerful stage performance, after all. And besides,” she looked upon Fizzlepop. “You deserve to have friends as powerful as you.” Fizzlepop sighed in relief, blushing in surprise at her own happy reaction. “Then, all is forgiven?” Trixie nodded eagerly, lunging out to give Fizzy a huge hug, feeling the warrior’s muscles tense up in surprise. “Well maybe I’ll be angry later, but for now…well, I know what it’s like to not have friends, so I… I…” Fizzlepop relaxed, overwhelmed with exhaustion, held in Trixie’s warm embrace, enshrouded by a cape of flowing stars, the patterns of magic cloaking her drowsy mind in something almost resembling peace. “This forest… on further consideration, I’ve been here after all, I’m sure,” she muttered. “It must have been while I was on some bounty hunting quest or another...” Trixie chuckled dryly, leaning in for a whisper in the dark purple ear, “We’ve met here before.” The startled Tempest looked up in shocked surprised, invoking a giggle. “Well, it was very brief, and very long ago. But, you did leave quite an impression, what with being such a unique unicorn. I still haven’t met any other that fights with their body instead of their mind. But really, all you did was ask for directions towards some monster’s lair, and off you went.” Fizzlepop shook her head. “I don’t remember any of that, sorry… I was probably focused on the hunt.” Trixie giggled, giving her a pat. “You didn’t seem to care about anything but yourself and your goals. I recall how awesome and powerful you were, and still are.” she smirked at the purple blush creeping onto Fizzy’s cheeks. “In any case, you should just relax up here for now. I will have some great and powerful soup ready, sooner or later.” with that, she cast down a smoke bomb, a flash of light and puff of smoke, a loud yelp, as she fell off the edge of the wagon. “Trixie meant to do that.” she grunted, getting to her hooves. “Oh yeah, and don’t presume the best from me, either. Trixie also hasn’t entirely forgiven you.” Fizzlepop frowned in puzzlement. Why was this pony so strange? So bold yet so friendly? But she nodded solemnly. “Alright. I won’t hold it against you.” The magician ‘hmf’d! “I should hope not!” And then trotted off into the woods, even as it grew darker, to forage for supper’s ingredients. The ferocity of Trixie felt more familiar than the softness of both the princess and counselor of friendship, but the wandering mercenary did not expect the wandering magician to be so resourceful, too. “I should not underestimate her strength… or her compassion.” she decided, humbled and yet content. The last vestiges of nightmares had drifted from her mind, and finally, a deep peaceful calm, in the early hours of a starlit twilight.
Anti-MagicStarlight Glimmer walked into Headmare Twilight’s office, humming cheerfully while a stack of paperwork levitated behind her. “Okay, I got every student to sign the forms for the… oh!” she paused, blinking in surprise, not expecting any visitors at this hour. Twilight Sparkle beamed a smile from behind her desk, sitting in the fancy head chair. “It’s alright Starlight, come in!” But Starlight focused upon opal eyes, glaring balefully upon her. A huge rose mohawk arched above them. “Fizzlepop and I were discussing possible seasonal activities that she could help the students with.” The pony formally known as Tempest Shadow turned to regard Starlight. “I’m grateful for the… therapy session you provided. It gave me the opportunity to reflect, to consider what I can give to this school of friendship.” Fizzlepop’s expression was as cold and stern as usual, despite the warmth of her voice, Twilight seeming to provide the beaming happy smile for Starlight’s benefit. “I’m so happy to hear that!” gushed Starlight, trotting in and setting the paperwork aside. “What were you considering to teach the students?” “Anti-magic training,” Tempest glared extra hard at Starlight, taking her off guard. “Defensive and counter-offensive tactics when confronting a hostile magic-wielding opponent.” Twilight laughed a bit nervously. “It’s an interesting idea, and we do have physical education classes, but I haven’t actually considered actual combat training for a school of friendship...” “You should,” grunted Tempest. “Friendship means nothing if it can’t be protected, and that means each student protecting themselves too.” Both Starlight and Twilight were silent, shuffling an awkward hoof, tapping the desk and looking away. Tempest sighed deeply after a moment. “I won’t apologize. You two may be heroes of Equestria, but you are as soft as any other pony.” She stood up, walking towards the door. “Let me know if you change your mind,” she grumbled over her shoulder to the Headmare. Starlight hesitated, then stepped into Fizzlepop’s path. “Wait! I do think it’s a good idea!” she ignored Twilight’s worried look, focusing on Tempest’s irritated frown. “Self-defense of any sort is good, even for peaceful creatures! But, what do you mean by ‘anti-magic’?” “I trained myself to become physically powerful, to compensate for my… lack of magical ability,” Tempest allowed her broken horn to crackle sparks ominously. “I was resentful towards creatures who could cast magic, especially those who used it for their own selfish gain. I have defeated many magical beings over the years, growing into a skilled mercenary of anti-magic.” Scoffing and making a dismissive hoof gesture, Starlight failed to curb her arrogance. “Well, you may have triumphed over decent magic-users, but obviously you haven’t fought anyone like me.” She caught Twilight putting hooves and wings to her face, just as Tempest’s scowl deepened with fury. A fragile, sheepish grin crept up Starlight’s face. “Eheheh… although, it’s not like I need to prove anyth-” “Just because you serve at this school of friendship, doesn’t mean your magic is without fault,” Tempest snapped, a sneer on her lips. Starlight puffed up her chest, feeling insulted. “What is that supposed to mean?” Tempest prodded Starlight, her chest deflating. “I mean I know about the cruel and wicked things your magic has done to ponies. I mean that you should learn to be more humble about your gifts like Twilight,” she gestured behind her back, the alicorn princess flailing her arms in dismay. Starlight gritted her teeth and snapped, “How dare you! I have proven that I have changed my ways many times over, and I gladly put my magic to good use for friendship and peace!” She got up close, their noses touching. “Who are you to judge me, when you’ve been ransacking your homeland only a few moons ago!” Tempest stomped her hoof down, her horn crackling with dangerous energy. “At least I didn’t try to tear the very cutie mark off of ponies! At least I didn’t pretend to be equal and crush those who weren’t!” Starlight felt tears in her eyes, wiping her face unashamedly. “If you had sooo many problems with me, why didn’t you confront me about it in my office? Why humiliate me in front of Twilight instead? Did she just now tell you about all this?” Twilight was groaning and hiding under her wings, trying to pretend she wasn’t there. Tempest shook her head, “No, I had already learned even before then, but I didn’t bring it up, because you weren’t gloating about your stupid self-absorbed magic!” she shouted angrily, sparks crackled out and lashed out at Starlight, who already had a turquoise reflective shield around her form. “You want to fight about it now?” snarled Starlight, rage building in her blood, horn glowing deeply. “Then bring it on, broken horn!” “Enough, both of you!” shouted their princess, teleporting between them, wings spread, knocking them both away onto their backs with a blast of wind. “I didn’t invite you here to pick fights with my teachers, no matter what their past may be!” she scolded Tempest, the red unicorn’s expression softened into remorse for the first time. She tried to speak up, but… “No, Twilight,” came the other pony’s voice first. “She’s not all to blame. I didn’t do anything to diffuse the situation.” Starlight slowly got to her hooves, looking down. “I should have recognized that gloating about magic was very rude and wrong...” she moved closer to Tempest, reaching out a hoof. “I’m sorry.” Tempest looked up at the pony who reassured her about friendship only a few days ago, in her cozy safe counselor’s office. She sighed deeply, refusing the hoof, easily and quickly rising up on her own. “I’m sorry too. That was a dishonorable display of fury on my part. I should have heeded your lesson more seriously.” “Lessons take time to sink in,” offered Starlight gently. “I took awhile to fit in too...” Tempest contemplated for a moment, looking into Starlight’s icy eyes. “Here are my terms,” commanded the fallen general of monstrous armies. “I will gladly teach anti-magic defense at your school,” she lifted a hoof, and poked Starlight in the chest. “If you have the nerve to face me in battle first.” Twilight kept mouthing ‘no’ in the background, sweating nervously. Starlight gave a heavy sigh, weakly smiling. “Sure, why not?” “Because you might regret it,” Tempest warned, invoking a heavy gulp from the pink-purple unicorn. “I will see you tomorrow, on the field outside the school, just as the sun touches the horizon for dusk.” And with that, she walked out, heavy metal horseshoes clanking. Starlight closed the door with her magic, and breathed a sigh of relief. “Well, that could’ve been worse...” Twilight swooped down with spread wings, grabbing Starlight’s cheeks in her hooves, nose to nose. “Are you crazy?! Do you have any idea what she’s capable of?!” Starlight pushed her teacher away. “Well I guess I’ll find out soon?” Twilight did not seem the least bit reassured. “Come on, Twi. It’ll be like when we do our magic combat practice sessions! Only… I guess, with only one pony doing magic?” “Tempe- I mean Fizzlepop is different. She’s a seasoned veteran fighter for many years, decades even! She is very serious about this sort of thing, and she won’t go easy on you!” Twilight grit her teeth nervously. Starlight tossed back her mane. “Well, I hope she doesn’t! It won’t be fun then, will it?” Twilight sighed and gave a small smile. “Alright. Just be careful, and considerate. I don’t think she will try to hurt you, but she might not know her own strength...” Starlight rolled her eyes. “Okay, I get it, she’s incredibly powerful, I’m incredibly weak.” “That’s not what -” “I know, I know.” Starlight smiled and patted Twilight’s shoulder. “Don’t worry so much!” she insisted, before walking out herself. Twilight went back to her desk and sighed. “Great, two of my ex-arch-enemies, off to do a training battle. Why don’t I feel that reassured?” Spike finally spoke up from the corner of the room. “Uh, because they’re both really powerful reckless unicorns?” Twilight couldn’t help but giggle. “That they are.” Spike moved close to Twilight, putting a reassuring claw on her flank. “Don’t worry about them. They both want what’s best for the school of Friendship!” he declared, giving a big toothy smile. Twilight sighed softly. “I know. I just hated to see them hurt each other like that...” “They just needed to blow some steam,” Spike frowned, shrugging, the little dragon rarely impressed when ponies bicker. “They’re grown mares. I’m sure they’ll work it out.” Twilight nodded, turning in her chair to look out the window, at the huge field for friendship activities outside the school, Ponyville further off in the distance, her own castle close by. Soon it would become a field of battle, a friendly one at least? “I hope so, Spike… for their sakes.”
A Stormy Night“Do you wanna play?” “No. Leave me alone.” “But you’re always alone! Why don’t you want to play with other ponies?” “Because other ponies don’t like me!” “Well, I want to play with you.” “Only because nopony else is playing.” “I will never be alone. I can’t live without any friends.” “But I will always be alone. And so will you.” ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Starlight Glimmer woke up. She felt pain. Exhaustion. Uncertainty. The storm outside grew louder. How could she get some rest like this? She rubbed her face. Tears? Another unhappy dream? “Guess I might as well stay up,” she grumbled. A loud thudding knock on the front door, so far away yet clearly audible. She thought it was thunder at first, then it happened again. Somepony needing shelter, at this time of night? Starlight teleported to the castle doors, with a groggy frown, opening up with her magic. A flash of lightning, and there stood Fizzlepop Berrytwist, glaring down at her. “AHHH!” Starlight screamed, slamming the door hard, Fizzle catching the edge in her front hoof, holding it fast, glare unchanging. “Heh, sorry. I got a little spooked...” Stepping back into the castle foyer, she gave space for Tempest to shake out her mane and tail. She stood within the stone halls, letting the water drip from her suit and armor. “So you are a coward,” she intoned calmly. The pink-purple pony widened her eyes and huffed indignantly, “I am not! I just wasn’t expecting you, that’s all...” “You must’ve expected some pony, else you wouldn’t have responded to the knocking.” Starlight almost interjected, but Tempest continued, “I was training out on the fields before the storm began. I neglected to check this town’s weather report first.” Glimmer grumbled a bit, “Why would you train in the middle of the night, wouldn’t it be better to get sleep?” Tempest’s horn crackled. “My sleeping patterns are irregular and varied. I do not have a set pattern in my life, now that I’m a wandering Speaker of Friendship.” A flickering glow formed above, as her broken horn shot more glowing sparks. “And I’ve always been able to see in the dark.” “Hmm, well… fair enough.” Starlight accepted. “I usually prefer at least a friend or two around when I practice magic.” Berrytwist shook her red mane and scowled. “I always practice alone.” Counselor Starlight flinched and grimaced, touching a hoof to her head. Why did those words hurt her so much? She vaguely recalled an unhappy dream… “Are you unwell?” Tempest asked, more gently than expected. “No, no I’m fine,” Starlight regained her composure and took a deep breath, smiling warmly. “Would you like me to take you to one of the fireplaces?” Tempest curtly responded, “No, I dry off quickly, and the castle is warm enough.” Starlight hmmed. “Maybe you’d like to relax in the… library?” “I suppose there could be some books of Twilight’s of use to me, but...” Tempest frowned, reluctant. “Alright, show me the way,” she finally agreed. Starlight took Tempest’s hoof, closing her eyes as a flash of turquoise light enveloped them, and immediately they were in the castle library, a circular room with a high ceiling, symbolic inner branches of the tree castle arching across all the shelves carved into the walls. Tempest tore her hoof away, snapping, “What’s wrong with you?” Starlight gasped in surprise. “Wh-what do you mean?” Tempest growled irritably, “You can’t just teleport ponies all over the place without asking!” Starlight pouted, feeling guilty but frustrated, “I’m sorry, but it’s not like Twilight hasn’t done that too, and I know I saw her teleport you at least once at the school!” Tempest blinked, frowning thoughtfully. “Oh. Yes, that is true. And, I didn’t confront her about that.” Starlight stomped a hoof. “I’m starting to think you just have something against me.” Tempest looked up, sadness in her eyes. “Yes, I guess I do...” she turned, slowly moving to one of the desks and sitting down at it. Starlight was taken off-guard, having seen Tempest melancholy like this. She moved a little closer, staying silent, uncertain. Tempest spoke up, soft and somber. “I keep wanting to remember all the bad things about you. And about me too. What I did, it went too far. I think...” She turned and looked Starlight in the eye. “I think I’m afraid of hurting somepony again.” Starlight snapped, “Well congrats, you already have earlier today.” She put a hoof to her mouth. “Uh, that wasn’t what I meant to-” “Yes it was. And it’s fine. I’m not going to be angry at you now.” Tempest rubbed a forehoof against the table, staring down at it. Glimmer sat across from Berrytwist, speaking gently, “Before you arrived, I had a dream about two little fillies. I wasn’t sure before, but I think they were me, and you.” Tempest looked up intently, as Starlight continued, “I kept asking her if she wanted to play, and she told me she prefers to be alone. That I only wanted to play because I was alone too...” The red mare sighed deeply. “Well, it sounds like your dream was somewhat true. Except, you aren’t alone.” “Neither are you. You don’t have to go wandering all the time, you can stay here,” Starlight reached out a hoof, smiling. “I know of your friend Trixie. If a stage magician has no problem spending her days alone in the wilderness, why should I?” “Pretty sure Trixie takes a break to interact with pony civilization a lot more than you do though.” Tempest scowls and thuds the table, rising up taller on her forehooves. “Like your dream said, I want to be alone. Usually. It is what keeps me sane.” Starlight shook her head. “You say that, but it comes from a place of trauma. “And what are you going to do, heal me of my mental wounds?” scoffed Tempest, “You really are arrogant sometimes.” “I can try to help at least. Don’t you see? I’m personally familiar with social trauma. I lost my mind from loneliness. Until Twilight found my sanity again.” Tempest snorted. “I suspect what you went through is nothing compared to what I’ve dealt with.” Starlight nodded. “You’re right, it’s probably not… in fact, I think I over-reacted badly at the time... but this isn’t a competition for angst, now is it?” Tempest slumped in her seat and looked away. “Being alone at least keeps me in control of my destiny.” Starlight moved closer, putting a hoof on Tempest’s shoulder, then reaching around to hug her, the red mare stiffening up in shocked surprised. “Friendship is never easy. But it can be comforting.” Tempest growled angrily, “Back off, now,” her horn crackling energy again. Starlight gasped and pulled away meekly, a sad look in her eyes. “I-I’m sorry.” Tempest sighed deeply. “It’s n-not you. I can’t handle physical touch from most anypony. It just... it disturbs me.” Starlight nodded. “I think you deserve all the hugs and cuddles in the world, Fizzlepop,” she announced, ignoring their shared heavy blushing. “But I understand that nopony can change in one night.” Tempest stood up from the desk, “You’ve changed. You don’t have any anger or resentment in your heart like you did earlier. I still do.” She closed her eyes. “I guess I am the weaker pony after all. Starlight reached out again, gently touching Tempest shoulder. She flinched, but didn’t pull away. “It’s like Twilight already told you. You’re strong and powerful as you are.” Tempest looked down at the smaller unicorn, tears in her eyes. “Not on the inside.” Starlight smirked. “On the inside too. I have never in my life known a pony with as much grace and calm as you.” Tempest stomped a hoof and tossed her mane, looking away. “That is not true.” Starlight laughed. “Well, you haven’t seen the alicorn princesses when they get frantic. Uh, besides Twilight anyway.” Tempest shook her head. “I was a fool to fight her. I was a fool to rely on the Storm King. I should have just destroyed him sooner.” “And taken over his empire? I don’t know if that would have been so great.” Tempest laughed. “I couldn’t care less about that. All the cruelty I inflicted on my own people, was for the sake of restoring my horn. I believed the Storm King had an artifact or talisman of power which could do so, he was a mage-thief with great influence after all….” “And now?” “And now, I guess I’m still coming to terms with the fact I don’t...” she looked upwards. “I don’t need to restore my horn. I’m good enough as I am, but...” “But it’s difficult to come to terms with.” “Yes.” Starlight gestured to the castle. “Why not stay here for a few days before you venture out again? You’ll get some more opportunity to hang out with Twilight.” “Or with you.” “Haha, well, no that isn’t required, I understand if-” “No, I want to. It does me good, speaking to you,” Tempest reached out to put a hoof on Starlight’s chest. “R-really?” Starlight blushed deeply. “You like listening to my, my...” Tempest laughed softly. “Yes. You are a good counselor, after all.” and then she did the unthinkable: she reached out and hugged Starlight close, nestling her chin against her shoulder. Starlight happily accepted, the wizard squeezing the powerful warrior close. Tempest pulled away. “I still feel awful inside, but, maybe I can stay here awhile, and see if that helps. Besides, we still need to do that duel.” Starlight looked a bit nervous. “Well, to be honest, I don’t fight non-magic-users that often...” Tempest chuckled. “It’s alright. We can practice together.” Starlight nodded. “So, do you want me to show you to one of the guest rooms?” Tempest shook her head. “No, I think I will stay here after all, and do some reading. Maybe catch up on pony knowledge. You should go rest though, for classes tomorrow.” Starlight yawned heavily. “You’re right, I probably should. Well...” she felt reluctant, as though something else had to be said. But as a counselor, she knew she shouldn’t push things too far, even if she wanted to. “Goodnight,” Tempest spoke on their behalf, turning to browse the bookshelves, touching with her hooves. Starlight muttered softly, “Goodnight,” and teleported back to her room, crawling into bed with a heavy sigh. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ “I’ll play with you, just this once.” “Why not more than once?” “You won’t like me. I’m a scary pony.” “I’m a scary pony too!” “Really? Then maybe we can be friends.” “Yay!”
Restless Resentment & Rage* * * * * * Fizzlepop Berrytwist grimaced, glaring down at the desk. She didn’t expect this to be easy, but the pain in her gut and her heart was greater than she felt, in many a moon. Other students eyed the ex-commander warily. It was not just her reputation that proceeded her, but the mere menace of her imposing presence. Applejack ignored the sour mood, talking up apples and honesty, as was her forte. “Y’all know what the most important part about honesty is?” she asked, looking up under her hat with a smile, otherwise slouching at the desk. “It builds communication and community. It bridges trust and bonds. One could almost say it builds the very foundation of friendship!” Fizzlepop winced, frowning deeply, then suddenly stood up from her desk. “I have to go.” she grumbled under her breath, turning for the door. Other students sighed in relief, much to her dismay. “Now hold on there, missy!” Applejack intervened, moving towards the door. “I know it’s a bit rough for you gettin’ used to this here friendship business, but-” Fizzy snapped irritably, “I need to go, now!” she paused, clenching her eyes shut, then added a begrudging, “Please!” Applejack sighed heavily. “Alright, alright. No point in forcing you to stay if yer feelin’ too riled up to learn.” she opened the door and gestured. As Tempest reached the door, she muttered gently, “Just try workin’ at being at least honest with yourself, alright?” “You don’t know me,” the scarlet pony growled with a glare. “None of you do.” And with that she stomped down the hall at a brisk pace, ignoring the farmer’s concern. “Oh, hello, darling!” came a melodious voice in the hallway. “I wanted to thank you for your generosity earlier today in helping your fellow students moving all those crafting supplies,” Rarity gave her mane a toss, smiling sweetly, assorted cloth supplies levitating about her. “I know you are only here for a little while, but being willing to aid others in-” Fizzy glared at Rarity, a sneer on her muzzle. “They were too weak and slow,” she declared. “I did it because they could not. It had nothing to do with generosity.” How’s that for honesty, she thought to herself. Rarity put a hoof to her chest, sadness in her eyes. “I see. Well, we appreciate your help regardless, and I do hope your day becomes more… pleasant.” the stylist trotted off, perhaps a little nervously. Fizzlepop looked down at the floor, tired of making eye contact with so many friendly faces. Smiling faces that would transform into frowns after speaking with her… always. She just wanted to leave, now. She was tired of putting up with these pleasantries. “It’s all fake.” “What’s all fake?” came a voice in her ear, Pinkie Pie suddenly intruding with a big shining smile. Berrytwist leaped back, her broken horn crackling with energy, rarely taken off guard. “Aww, don’t be so tense, Fizzy! We’re all friends here!” “Don’t call me that right now,” she demanded, muscles still tense, as though ready to fight. “And I told you not to surprise me like that!” “What you need are more happy and fun surprises, not sad or dangerous surprises!” Pinkie contemplated. “I know! Why don’t we make sure you have the most surprising birthday ever!” Berrytwist shook her head. “It’s not a surprise now, is it? And… I don’t remember when I was born.” Pinkie gasped in shock, then suddenly beamed with a new bright idea. “I know! We’ll just check with your home tow-” “NO! LEAVE ME ALONE!” shouted the scarlet unicorn, galloping away, bursting through the front door, knocking over Fluttershy. “Ow!” cried the soft yellow pony, rubbing her nose and standing back up. “Goodness, are you alright, Fizzlepop?” she asked sincerely, more concerned for the skittish pony than her own temporary pain. “Yes, I’m fine!” she snapped… then sighed, begrudgingly offering a hoof. “Sorry for knocking you over, but I need to go now.” Fluttershy put her hoof to her mouth, still worried for her friend. “Oh my, have the other students been inconsiderate? I can have a word with them if you-” “No! I mean, yes! But it’s fine. I understand why. It doesn’t matter…” Fizzy looked away, no longer in a rush. Fluttershy gently draped a wing over the tall unicorn’s flank. “Everypony needs a little kindness in their lives.” The new friendship student laughed bitterly. “Well, good thing I’m not everypony then.” “Yeah! You’re an awesome bad-ass pony!” blurted Rainbow Dash, diving down from the sky, before spreading wings and coming to a complete stop mid-air just above them, showing off like usual. “What you need is to get all that tense energy into some extreme sports! I’ve been putting together an awesome new team game for the school!” Berrytwist rolled her eyes. “I don’t do teams. Never again. Besides, you saw what I did last time I was at the school gym…” The two pegasi teachers exchanged nervous looks. “Heheh,” chuckled Rainbow. “Yeah, well, we know you didn’t mean to zap your teammate like that… I mean, who would do that on purpose, right? So it’s no big deal.” Fizzlepop frowned, closing her eyes, turning to leave before they saw the single tear of shame. “I’m going now. I’m done with your games, and I’m done with this school’s games, and Princess of Friendship’s games as well. I am leaving.” her broken horn crackled again with electricity. “Don’t try to stop me.” Fluttershy and Rainbow watched her gallop away. “We should probably tell Twilight about this,” the blue one muttered. “Oh dear…” sighed the yellow one. * * * * * * Tempest Shadow charged out and away from the School of Friendship, determined not to return. She was fed up. She was tired. She was angry. She was… “Augh! Ow!” came the muffled squeal, as she collided head-first into a great and powerful magician. Stupid, Tempest scolded herself, to run so blindly, why was she not being on high alert? These ponies made her too soft. “Watch where you’re going, you- oh!” Trixie gazed up at Tempest with her bright purple eyes, a smirk on her face now. “Well well, the athletic mercenary unicorn vagabond with many chips on her shoulders.” Tempest paused, taking a step back, genuinely bewildered, raising a hoof. “What?” she was not expecting such sass, along with such blunt recognition. Trixie got up off the ground, turning to check on her precious wagon, to be sure it wasn’t jostled too badly from the collision. “It’s not like you are a mysterious stranger, Tempest Shadow,” she scoffed, the first pony to call her by her old name in awhile. “Besides, it’s not like Starlight knows how to keep juicy details away from her best friend, the great and gossipy Trixie!” Tempest stomped the ground, ready to run off again. “Whatever you think you know about me, it’s wrong! You are all wrong!” Trixie giggled wickedly, then hopped onto her caravan, pointing down at Tempest. “Don’t be coy, you’re a bad pony, just like moi!” she posed flamboyantly, cape waving in the breeze. “Why should you have to be more proper and polite? Trixie has never improved her attitude at all, and look how great she still is!” An annoyed sigh escaped Tempest’s lips, her mane swaying to and fro as she shook her head. “No, you don’t get it. I have far deeper problems than a mere attitude…” Trixie somersaulted off the roof, landing before Tempest again. “You know how Starlight did all that messed up stuff with ponies in the past?” she leaned closer, whispering, “Well, let’s just say Trixie hasn’t exactly been the nicest pony before either,” she gave a knowing wink. A shiver went down Tempest’s spine, and a crackle of lightning on her broken horn, her voice less strained, more dark and intent now. “Is that so?” she intoned with menace. “Do you not feel any remorse?” Trixie waved a hoof and rolled her eyes. “I mean sure, if I dwell on it I might feel bad sometimes,” she shrugged with whimsy. “But guilt-tripping myself about the past all the time is more Starlight’s style.” she poked Tempest squarely in the chest, gazing up fiercely at the larger unicorn. “You and me though, we don’t have to care about that sort of thing. All that matters is who we are and what we can do! I’m a great and powerful magician, and you’re a great and powerful fighter!” Tempest brushed the hoof aside. “Is that what you’re asking for, a fight?” Trixie laughed and sat back on her hind legs, waving both fore-hooves with emphasis. “Oh, no no, not at all. Trixie is just suggesting you revel in your own ability a bit more! Why should you have to feel bad for what you’ve done to Equestria? Why should I? You can still be great and powerful despite all that! You can be whatever you want to be!” Tempest paused, glaring… then she started laughing, a warm mirthful chuckle, evolving into a twisted cackle of pain. “If that’s true,” she snarled, eyes narrowing, “Why don’t I take out all my pain and suffering on you, right now?” she threatened, taking a step closer. Trixie’s eyes had been filled with happiness, perhaps even admiration for Tempest, since the moment she recognized her, regarding the broken horned unicorn as a kindred spirit, a rare dark horse in this land of colorful cuteness… but for the first time, they filled with real fear, and dismay. “Yes… I’m much more familiar with that expression,” muttered Tempest bitterly, moving closer still, horn crackling with fiercer energy. “Now, now, Trixie didn’t exactly say ‘become an outright villain again’, now did I?” Trixie babbled quickly, pressing up to the side of her wagon. “I’m just saying that you should learn to enjoy being -” “Being what? An arrogantly perfect pony like Twilight? A fool that wallows in guilt like Starlight? Or maybe a greedy, selfish coward like YOU!” the outcast lowered her horn, and closed her eyes, blasting broken magic. Trixie screamed… and then, uttered a frightened noise of confusion? Starlight stood between Tempest and her target, covered in a dense magical shield of turquoise energy. All of Tempest’s magic had evaporated before this great wizard, whose blue eyes shone with rage. “What do you think you’re doing to my friend?” Starlight demanded, all four hooves squarely on the warm grass, locked in a defensive stance before Tempest Shadow, Trixie shuddering behind her. There she is again, thought Tempest, the friendship councilor who tried her best to make me feel warm and welcome. The pony who was among the most wicked and cruel of her kind not many years ago. The unicorn who spent every moment regretting her past, yet every moment equally spent crafting a more peaceful and happy and considerate future, for all creatures, and herself. There was no pony Tempest envied and hated more. “I will do whatever I please, BECAUSE I HAVE NO FRIENDS!” Tempest screamed back, hate and rage pouring out throught her broken horn and cracked magic, aiming all her frustration and resentment at the duo. A blast of electric energy, and the wagon flipped over onto its side, in flames. The other two ex-villains were gone. “Where are you?” snarled Tempest Shadow, looking around, all her instincts ready to take down Starlight Glimmer, her new opponent. Just like everything else she had to destroy, they were still in her way. “Cowards, I knew it.” The wagon disappeared a moment later, likely at Trixie’s behest and wishes for its continued existence. Starlight appeared again, hovering in midair… and then, by her will, they vanished, neither of them were on the outskirts of Ponyville anymore. * * * * * * The sorceress and the mercenary now stood in the bleak southern deserts, barren cracked earth and dry open skies. Even here little life grew. Tempest grew eager, certain of her rival’s intentions now, allowing a twisted smile on her face. “Twilight sent me to check on you, but I didn’t expect to find you indulging in cruelty!I don’t care how much you hate me,” Starlight muttered, a crack in her voice, as tears fell down her cheeks. “But you do not try to hurt my friends!” Tempest laughed again, full of contempt. “What’s wrong, are you sad I’m not your friend after all?” she lowered her head, grimacing. “You tried, and you failed. Nopony can help me. I don’t deserve or want any help, but I’m glad you took me away from all those stupid ponies,” she spat. “I couldn’t stand them anymore. Now leave me to my banishment.” Starlight hovered in midair, her hooves shaking, her teeth gritted. “No... it’s not that simple… you tried to…” she caught her breath, “you really tried to hurt Trixie, really bad… I saw it… I can’t just…” glowing turquoise magic energy surrounded her, a swirling cloud of radiance. Tempest Shadow’s pupils shrunk, and then she was in the air, leaping with all her strength, hooves heading straight for Starlight, too shocked at such finesse to react before it was too late, a hoof slamming across her muzzle, knocking her head back, tumbling over onto the ground, slamming against the dirt and rocks. “Can’t just what?” demanded Tempest with another hateful smile. The counselor of friendship coughed, wheezing, struggling to rise, then collapsing. “Get up,” demanded the ruthless outcast. “I know even a physical weakling like yourself isn’t that fragile. Or are you scared, because Twilight won’t come to save you from me this time?” Terror gripped Starlight’s chest for a moment… then pain, then sorrow. Every single moment, every act of cruelty these past five minutes that stretched for eternity. All her efforts at nurturing and comforting, all her attempts at genuine friendship. She truly wanted Fizzlepop Berrytwist to feel whole, but now...something snapped deep inside Starlight. A broken feeling she hadn’t experienced in many moons. “I’m sick of all your self-righteous, violent hatred...” Starlight hissed, as she rose up, levitating above the ground, aloft with her hind feet pointing down, eyes glowing radiant turquoise, air swirling around her body, her raw energy coaxing a dust-storm to spiral around her. “I’m done being pushed around by a fool too afraid to embrace friendship!” Starlight lifted her fore-hooves to the heavens, eyes closing, summoning with her power. “Don’t play games with me! I know you’re still haunted!” Tempest shouted, pointing an accusing hoof. “I see it in your eyes! Your fears, your failures!” Tempest accused with bitter rage, hunching down, muscles tensed, readying her next attack. Then the heavens opened up, revealing glowing magical stars, falling to the burning desert bellow at impossible speeds, kicking up massive chunks of rock and thousands of particles of blistering sand. Tempest dived to and fro, rushing and galloping as she hadn’t in too long, as fragments of the sky shattered in blinding raw power. Starlight hovered in midair, her whole body glowing in an aura of turquoise, as wings formed through her magic alone, spreading wide, channeling more power from her raw emotions, the sorceress unwilling to forgive these transgressions. “After all we’ve done for you,” she condemned, “this is how you honor your friends?” “Enough! What makes you any better than me?” roared Tempest above the maddening sound of magical destruction, diving into a new chasm, narrowly avoiding the still scolding surface of the meteorite, crouching into a defensive stance, ready to dodge again, or strike. She had bested many magic-users on her journeys. Now she had the chance to take down another, an especially dangerous one. Finally, she could feel the thrill of the hunt again. “POWER!” answered Glimmer with an angry echo, as her incorporeal wings curled up, and her horn grew bright, and she clenched her hooves together and mustered all her might. A blinding wave of pure turquoise light surged from that glowing horn across the desert floor, accompanied by a terrifying high-pitched whine of absolute energy, blasting the earth apart, aiming right towards her target, Tempest Shadow. The martial artist dove to the side again, narrowly missing the scalding blasts. Not bad, she thought, but not enough. She ran in a long circle, intending to throw off her target, and close the distance all the same. For the first time in weeks, Tempest felt like herself again... “Maybe you have a point, Tempest,” Starlight laughed unhappily, tears still spilling down her face, eyes now glowing with the raw turquoise magic she held since birth. “Maybe I should use my power to do whatever I want,” and then chunks of earth rose up from beneath Tempest, throwing her up into the sky, hooves firmly planted on the stone, threatening to fall to her doom. “Maybe I should finish you ONCE AND FOR ALL!” Tempest’s eyes widened, taken off-guard for the second time that day. She curled up, leaping off the flying gravel and into the sky, as her horn crackled electricity, the sound of exploding thunder echoing in her ears, shattering the rocks all around… and her entire body faded into thin air,hidden by the magi-tech of old jumpsuit, predating her predatory role as Commander Tempest of the Storm Legion. “Coward!” screamed Starlight, filled with rage, glowing with hate, her old persona flaring up along with the swirling, blinding dust storm, energy-wings flapping as she flew to and fro, seeking her quarry in the dust. “Come out and fight if you can, or do you need magic just to run and hide?!” Tempest Shadow faded in from nothingness, diving down towards her target, jagged horn flickering. Broken, crazed lightning arched towards Starlight’s flowing mane and face, a glowing turquoise shield narrowly deflecting the ambush attack, but the impact caused the wizard to fall to the ground with a dull thud. “I will use any tactic, and rely on none,” the vindictive vagabond snapped at the sorceress. Starlight quickly rose up again with a contemptuous sneer, as another flow of magic burst forth, eager to defeat her foe... only to be dodged yet again by the nimble fighter, Tempest slamming her metallic horse-shoe against the sphere of glowing power, shattering it. “You are a predictable unicorn, relying soley on your magic,” Tempest judged scornfully. “No, it’s not possible,” the wizard wailed hysterically, as another horse-shoe went to strike her throat... but not before she remade her sphere, knocking Tempest back to the ground, landing on her feet without missing a beat. A gust of wind blew Tempest’s mane back, crackling energy building up above Starlight’s horn, a dark glow of forbidden magic, steam rising from her pupils. “I will not fall to a broken-horned beast like you!” Horrifying screams of otherworldly entities encircled Tempest, visions of the past clouding her mind. Claws of ancient darkness swiped through the air, howling monsters of shadow assaulting her body and mind. She shook her head and ignored the magic, even as it tore at her flesh, cutting at her muscles. The mercenary pony now felt the first twinges of regret. “This must end,” she muttered, smashing her hoof square into Starlight’s face. This time, the sorceress did not rise again, her clouded eyes fading back to normal, before closing, collapsing in a soft heap of lavender fur. Tempest stood over her adversary, panting for breath. All her eagerness and thrill, it was gone. “What have I done to her?” she asked herself, and she did not mean the physical blows, but rather, just how far Starlight went in her hate, her rage. “I… this isn’t what I wanted…” Tired, she sat down beside Starlight, checking her pulse, who shifted and breathed softly. But relief at this life was absent from the mercenary, tears pouring down Tempest Shadow’s cheeks now, as wet as Starlight’s were. “I’ve proven nothing. I’ve resolved nothing,” she realized, hunching up her shoulders, ignoring the blood on her chest and flanks. It was all her own, but she couldn’t care less. Her blood meant nothing anymore. It meant nothing for many years now. Twilight Sparkle materialized out of thin air, her raspberry glow of magic bringing forth Trixie as well. She had tracked down the princess of friendship, imploring her aid. Both gasped in horror, Twilight having to restrain an enraged Trixie from rushing at the wounded Tempest. “You worthless, stupid, evil brat! What have you done?!” Trixie screamed, shivering with contempt. Twilight said nothing, but her cold glare conveyed as much accusation and resentment, even as she calculated the next course of action. Tempest looked up with dismay. Friends no more... only adversaries. But, she had no more will to fight, either. “She’s alive. I’m alive. But I...” she coughed up blood then, shuddering. “I’ve destroyed us both,” she sobbed, heart gripped with sorrow, before her green eyes rolled back, collapsing in a dusty heap alongside Starlight. Two battered and ruined ponies, face to face and unconscious, one fully formed horn and another broken, their snouts almost touching, lavender and scarlet cheeks streaked with tears, to face their shared darkness and pain when they awaken, their emotional and physical exhaustion granting deep, restful slumbering peace. * * * * * *
A Great and Powerful FriendTrixie struggled against Twilight’s grasp, snarling and scrabbling at the sand, deep in the ancient desert. “Let me go! I’ll destroy that monster!” She grunted and strained. Tempest and Starlight laid collapsed on the sandy rocks, both unconscious and injured from their vicious battle. “What do you plan to do?” Twilight demanded firmly, her eyes wary. “Forget Tempest for now,” she implored, “Let’s help Starlight!” The blue magician’s mask of rage fell away, fear and concern in her eyes. “Yes, you’re right, let’s please save her then!” The Princess of Friendship teleported them both immediately to Starlight’s side, Trixie collapsing to ground, putting an ear to her lavender chest. “Thank Celestia she’s still breathing, but she looks awful!” “The magic she used… it may have been some really bad stuff, Trixie,” Twilight muttered sadly, brushing her wing through Starlight’s soft purple mane. “She’s showing symptoms of having channeled a powerful dark spell, or even a curse. Maybe more than one. This degree of exhaustion isn’t normal for a unicorn of her magical ability.” “I also got hit really hard in the face,” Starlight groaned weakly, “With her hoof.” She stirred from her unwanted slumber, coughing and shivering in realization. “I-I can’t believe I did that. I resorted to… to summoning ruined spirits…” “You’re alive!” Trixie squealed with joy, tackling Starlight and cuddling the tired sorceress. “Forget that dark spell stuff! You did it because you were protecting me! Don’t feel bad about it!” An affectionate mane petting was in order, the wizard so relieved that her best friend was better off than expected. Starlight and Twilight exchanged a worried look, while Trixie nuzzled her friend’s neck. “I do not wish to judge,” her alicorn teacher somberly stated. “What you did in the heat of battle, against someone intent on harming your friend…” Tears fell onto the hot sand, hiding her face in a wing, sniffling. “I’m sorry. I’m just so sad, for you both…” The Great and Powerful Magician rolled her eyes and scoffed, “Excuse me while I don’t feel the tiniest bit sad for that crazy wild mare.” she pointed an accusing hoof at the silent form of Tempest Shadow right beside them. Twilight gasped, having forgotten to even check on the dark orchid mercenary. She went closer to Tempest, listening to her chest. “Her breathing is erratic, and her muscles are twitching… OW!” she stumbled back shaking her hind leg, having been kicked suddenly in the shin. Trixie chuckled dryly, still petting her friend’s purple mane. “Are you sure she didn’t do it on purpose? Maybe you should try kicking her back, teach her a lesson!” “Trixie, no!” Starlight scolded, pushing her away, ignoring the pouting. “I know she started this, but even enemies shouldn’t be inflicted with dark magic! I went too far!” The magician stomped a fore-hoof angrily. “And let’s say you did play nice instead, how awake do you think you’d be right now, huh? I don’t recall Tempest being gentle or careful when you two left, and it certainly doesn’t seem that way right now, either!” Tempest groaned out loud, sweating heavily, panting, flailing her limbs. “No… no…” she muttered. “Find… way out…” “Nightmares, most likely,” Starlight mumbled quietly. “I wanted to make her suffer… I wanted to… to...” she put her hooves in her hands and began sobbing, tears of shame falling. The magician wanted to scold Starlight again for her graciousness towards a fallen foe, but instead wrapped her cloak around the soft pink-purple unicorn, hugging gently. “Let’s just get out of here, and give you the chance to recover! Right, Twilight?” “Not without her, Trixie,” sighed Starlight. “She’s not going to be able to do anything on her own, not for awhile anyway.” She stared at the delirious dreaming mare. “We won’t be able to wake her up, either. She will be stuck in her dreams for… possibly days…” Twilight’s disapproving frown caught Starlight’s eye, ears drooping in dismay. “Just let me get Tempest… I mean Fizzlepop… under control. I’ll have to keep her in a protective sphere for n-” “Forget her!” snapped Trixie angrily, clenching Starlight protectively to her chest. “She had her chance!” “Trixie, you know we shouldn’t do that…” Starlight looked up in scowling disapproval. “After all the chances we have had ourselves.” Trixie stared, then turned up her nose, snorting. “Fine, whatever! I still hate her...” “Be that as it may,” Twilight decided, a raspberry-colored field of magic encasing Tempest, “I consider her my responsibility. She is my friend, after all.” she reminded sharply, glancing over her shoulder. “I want to be her friend too… even now,” Starlight admitted. Trixie glared at them both and huffed indignantly. “Great, let’s save the mean brat then. Can we please go now?” Sighing in unison at Trixie’s ire and rage, Starlight and Twilight teleported the four of them away from the deep desert, and back to the comfort of Twilight’s castle. Tempest Shadow’s arrival and condition were kept secret, until she could open up her eyes once more. Deep into the canyon she fell… escape was absolutely impossible. And then she landed… it hurt more than all the pain she ever felt. The breaking of bones, and tearing of muscles, familiar but worse. Nothing could compare to the special pain of these hollow depths. She was alone, deep in the ancient underground. There was a light, somewhere, maybe… but that faded, like her hopes… Never to see the sun rise again, to forever be lost, to the deep darkness, blind and unknowing. Ancient power flows within her. Power she will never access, by much of anything. Voices whispering, chilling and dusty: Contemplate Eternity, Child of Darkness. Social Interaction, Unbearably Obnoxious, For You, Oh Powerful Struggler. Failure to Find Solace, Now Seek Lunacy. Darkness Consumes Your Heart and Mind. Never Do Such Deeds Again, Unless Suffering is Your Fate, and Your Purpose. Familiar voices mumbled above Tempest, in a brief, motionless moment of vague wakefulness. Are you sure it’s safe? What if they just fight again? Yes, I trust her ability. Besides, she can reach Fizzlepop’s spirit in ways that you and I can’t. Um, really? And why would that be? Because she truly is a great and powerful pony. Just, in ways more subtle than obvious. Alright then, I will trust your judgment. Let us hope it does them both good. I’m sure it will, but when this is all over, I hope Fizzy can forgive me. Tempest Shadow woke up, or at least, she thought she did. Unless, the nightmares were still consuming her soul. Where am I? She wondered… so dark, so hot, so cramped… panic rising, struggling… a loud thud, as hooves hit solid wood. “Oh, finally awake, are we?” scoffed the great magician, from nearby, in a muffled tone. Her voice from directly overhead. Was she trapped inside a trunk? “Get off me!” howled Tempest, exhausted from her prison, and her accursed slumber. To finally be awake and still seeing darkness, after dreaming of so much... A harsh cackle in reply. “Oh, don’t be so fussy! There’s plenty of air-holes for you to breathe, this is a stage performance trunk, after all.” Trixie knocked on the top firmly. “Just let me out of here! Now!” Tempest begged, voice filled with resentment and desperation, sweat getting in her eyes. “Fine, but only because I’m not as mean as you.” Trixie tapped her hoof on the back panel, unlocking and revealing an ‘escape route’ for the occupant. “You are free!” The dark orchid pony crawled wearily out with a groan, sprawling on the green grass, panting. “Wait,” she growled in confusion, “I was in a desert. Where are we?” Trixie smirked wickedly, looking up at the trees towering overhead. “Deep in an ancient magical forest. Far from pony lands. Just you and me!” she chortled with glee. Tempest stared at her captor, chest heaving for breath. She was certain she could defeat Trixie in combat, but she was in no condition to satisfy her smoldering rage. “So, I’ve been meaning to let you know,” Trixie rambled casually, ignored Tempest’s hateful gaze. “You’re a coward and a fool.” “What did you say?” demanded Tempest angrily, astounded by this audacity. “I’m a coward and a fool too though, so it’s fine.” Trixie sarcastically reassured her, leaping up onto the roof of her wagon with a daring somersault and striking a dignified pose, “Tada!” she declared, staring up at the vast trees. “Have you been this far, this deep in the forest?” Tempest shook her head, finally getting to her feet. The sun was starting to descend on the horizon, between the trunks. “No. Well… long ago. I can hardly remember.” Trixie cackled, twirling her cape with gusto. “I come here every few moons…” she looked up at the foliage, dark and ominous above the campfire. “It brings me joy.” A veil of shadows fell from the disfigured unicorn’s eyes. Fizzlepop beheld the world about her, as though perhaps she could find peace, if she dared. “Alright,” she growled. “Why did you bring me here? Don’t you hate me?” “I mean, I do,” Trixie agreed without hesitation, venom in her voice, “But I guess Starlight is too powerful an influence on me, so, I’m trying not to…” Tempest remembered the fire in Starlight’s spirit when she came to protect Trixie from the broken unicorn’s wrath. The deep anger and malice when they fought… but she wanted Trixie to get along with her foe? Whatever friendship Tempest had with Starlight, it was surely broken now… “Do you know why she’s such a great pony?” Trixie pressed the point, leaning over the side of the wagon’s roof and glaring down, purple eyes welling up with tears. “Because Starlight Glimmer gave me a reason to live! She showed me that I can be a great pony too, without changing the core of who I am.” Tempest Shadow felt a shudder of shame,those words conjuring a vision of the princess of friendship, for but a sparkling moment of emotional twilight. “I… I want to hate you both,” she admitted. “You and Starlight. Because… I…” she choked up, tears in her eyes. Trixie burst into laughter, cackling with glee. “Oh wow, this is just magnificent,” she declared, gazing down from under her hat with arrogance. “You are jealous! You want to have your precious princess friendship, and be a monster too!” she taunted, the blue pony propping hooves on her hips for extra sass. “You’re just a whiny, selfish brat who always expects to get her way!” The solitary warrior ground her teeth, crackling energy glowing from her broken horn, bunching up her legs, and leaping up onto the wagon with a loud thud. “Unlike Starlight, you seem eager to piss me off! You don’t know when to stop!” The blue magician struck a daring defensive pose, arms outstretched and legs bent. “You don’t scare me this time!” she blinked, “I mean, I was more surprised than scared last time, anyway, really… but nonetheless, do not underestimate the resources of a stage magician! At any moment you may be defeated and dazzled, all at once!” Tempest’s horn sizzled magic, scowling irritably at her captor. “Why did you bring me here?” she demanded. “What is your problem?” Trixie gasped and crossed her forelegs over her chest, deeply indignant. “Ohhh, I’m sorry… did I magically or physically attack your best friend Twilight Sparkle only a few days ago, just because her way with words was greatly annoying me, as it often does? Oh, I didn’t?” the magician smiled and battered eyelashes. “THEN DON’T ASK ME ABOUT MY PROBLEMS!” she shrieked with fury. Tempest clenched her eyes and hunched down, frustrated and ashamed, all at once. Her mind swirled, to all those instances in her life, when violence was the chosen recourse of the crippled unicorn. To inflict her will upon the world around her with brutality. To hide from her own suffering, by inflicting more... “Awww, what’s wrong?” Trixie leaned forward, interrupting her thoughts with her flamboyant, mocking tone. “Does the violent brat want to hurt Trixie again for speaking the truth?” Laughter echoed upwards across the forest leaves. Fizzlepop privately acknowledged that Trixie was indeed powerful, in her own way. “Yes, but… I won’t.” she answered firmly. She did not rise, as though afraid of her own body. Of how she would confront power, with her own crude methods of domination. Trixie tilted her hat back and spread her cape, fluttering in the breeze, putting on her best winning smile, “Then bask in the wonder of the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria!” Fizzy sighed heavily and shook her head… she had slept for so long, yet already she felt tired… “Just stop, please, you’re making me angry again...” Trixie demanded no less than an absolute apology. “You’re angry? Can you feel the rage in Trixie’s heart, you merciless mercenary moron? You have put my dear Starlight through much grief and pain! I have every reason to be angry at you right now!” she stomped a hoof down, tears welling up in her eyes. “Your stupid selfishness, and stubborn righteousness! Your rage and your misery! You can wallow in it all you like, but don’t you dare take it out on those who are only trying to help you, those undeserving of your wretched petty problems!” Fizzlepop trembled, staring down at the wagon’s roof. A warm breeze blew past her mane, the trees rustling all around them. How could this be? To feel so angry, so sad, so broken. And yet, and yet she could not lash out. Would not lash out. “I can’t fight you, and I can’t atone,” she muttered, collapsing with a heavy sigh, Twilight’s smile and kindness in her mind once more, then fading. “I will never have friendship…” “Umm, wow.” Trixie muttered, moving closer, gently nudging Fizzlepop’s flank with a foot. “Hey, cut that out! It’s kinda awkward. What happened to Miss Badass, huh? I mean, still excluding the kicking of my own ass, thank you.” Tempest sighed again, shaking her head. “No, it’s just… if I did attack you now… what would that accomplish? My rage would be sated, maybe… momentarily… before it will come back again,” she felt wetness on her cheeks, breathing heavily. “And it would just prove your point too...” Trixie put her fore-hoof just above Fizzy’s broken horn, ignoring the tensing flinch. “You must be in a lot of pain,” she said softly, the first gentle words she gave her captive. “Look, as angry as I am, Trixie can’t hate someone as powerful and beautiful as you,” she confessed, “Not forever, anyway. You may not realize, but Starlight forgave you too, so stop moping and being hard on yourself, okay? That’s my job. The being hard on you, I meant, not the moping.” she looked away, “Besides, it makes me nervous to see you weak, same as when she acts like this…” Fizzlepop laughed bitterly, but with a smile. Why did Starlight’s friend have to be so crazy? “You really don’t have any filter, whatsoever,” she accused, looking up at Trixie. “You expose everything in your heart to everyone.” Trixie huffed. “Not everyone! But Starlight did say you were becoming a good friend, so I thought I could try to be one too…” she glared again. “But instead you attacked me!” Fizzlepop stood up then, making the magician hop back, but she walked to the front corner of the wagon’s roof, looking out over the green of nature. “Hey don’t ignore me!” she snapped. Fizzlepop didn’t look back. “Now I know your game,” she declared. “You’ll have to try harder, if you want to upset me now.” Blushing like a violet, the blue unicorn fumed. “What do you mean game? If you mean like a stage show performance, this was all very serious! I’ve been giving you a piece of my mind!” “I know, and thank you.” Fizzlepop replied warmly. "I appreciate all you have done here.” A magical entity appeared by her side, a blue pony with deepest purple eyes, hidden depths shrouded in that soul. “It’s not often I meet a truly solitary pony like myself,” Trixie confided, placing a hoof gently on her back. “You and I have much in common, you just haven’t figured that out yet.” Solitude. Loneliness. Confidence. Arrogance. Ferocity. Bravery. Mystery. Madness. Fizzlepop felt that she was looking upon this pony with new eyes, a spirit far more kindred than she could admit before. “I think I’ve figured out quite a bit. But I still dislike your lack of shame.” A fire rose up in those amethyst eyes, a glowing power. A majesty of magic. “Do not be so bold, broken brat.” snapped Trixie the Great and Powerful. “To presume that my shining spirit must grovel in atonement, for as long as you see fit!” Fizzlepop chaffed, “And yet you get to insult and degrade and shame me all you like?” Trixie smiled and winked roguishly. “Well, you have permission to do likewise now, if you want.” The hardened mercenary unicorn frowned. “You are certainly difficult to deal with…” Trixie grew somber, a quiet strength. “I refuse to bend or break my will for anything… anything but my friends.” Fizzlepop laughed. “Guess I will have to become your friend then.” Trixie looked expectantly… both blushing… “Really? We’re friends already? But you hated me…” those purple lights were doused of fire, at least momentarily. “And now,” Tempest reminded gently, “you hate me too. Isn’t that so?” The wandering magician paused, struggling with pride. They sat quietly, as the woods made its presence known, roaming beasts calling out nearby, yet leaving them be, as the last rays of sunlight broke upon their backs, like the burdens in their little pony hearts. “I would rather be your friend,” Trixie admitted, with some reluctance. “You already have the talent for great and powerful stage performance, after all. And besides,” she looked upon Fizzlepop. “You deserve to have friends as powerful as you.” Fizzlepop sighed in relief, blushing in surprise at her own happy reaction. “Then, all is forgiven?” Trixie nodded eagerly, lunging out to give Fizzy a huge hug, feeling the warrior’s muscles tense up in surprise. “Well maybe I’ll be angry later, but for now…well, I know what it’s like to not have friends, so I… I…” Fizzlepop relaxed, overwhelmed with exhaustion, held in Trixie’s warm embrace, enshrouded by a cape of flowing stars, the patterns of magic cloaking her drowsy mind in something almost resembling peace. “This forest… on further consideration, I’ve been here after all, I’m sure,” she muttered. “It must have been while I was on some bounty hunting quest or another...” Trixie chuckled dryly, leaning in for a whisper in the dark purple ear, “We’ve met here before.” The startled Tempest looked up in shocked surprised, invoking a giggle. “Well, it was very brief, and very long ago. But, you did leave quite an impression, what with being such a unique unicorn. I still haven’t met any other that fights with their body instead of their mind. But really, all you did was ask for directions towards some monster’s lair, and off you went.” Fizzlepop shook her head. “I don’t remember any of that, sorry… I was probably focused on the hunt.” Trixie giggled, giving her a pat. “You didn’t seem to care about anything but yourself and your goals. I recall how awesome and powerful you were, and still are.” she smirked at the purple blush creeping onto Fizzy’s cheeks. “In any case, you should just relax up here for now. I will have some great and powerful soup ready, sooner or later.” with that, she cast down a smoke bomb, a flash of light and puff of smoke, a loud yelp, as she fell off the edge of the wagon. “Trixie meant to do that.” she grunted, getting to her hooves. “Oh yeah, and don’t presume the best from me, either. Trixie also hasn’t entirely forgiven you.” Fizzlepop frowned in puzzlement. Why was this pony so strange? So bold yet so friendly? But she nodded solemnly. “Alright. I won’t hold it against you.” The magician ‘hmf’d! “I should hope not!” And then trotted off into the woods, even as it grew darker, to forage for supper’s ingredients. The ferocity of Trixie felt more familiar than the softness of both the princess and counselor of friendship, but the wandering mercenary did not expect the wandering magician to be so resourceful, too. “I should not underestimate her strength… or her compassion.” she decided, humbled and yet content. The last vestiges of nightmares had drifted from her mind, and finally, a deep peaceful calm, in the early hours of a starlit twilight.
