Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 5 - Return of the Great and Powerful

The time: One month after the Wonderbolts exhibition.

Twilight Sparkle's studying in her library when she hears a triple-loud WHOOSH! outside her window.  The window rattles but doesn't break, but the window could've shattered into a million pieces and Twilight Sparkle wouldn't've moved a muscle.

T.Sparkle: Those three.....

Twilight Sparkle hums Rainbow Dash's section of "At the Gala" as she moves to a quieter reading spot, making Spike chuckle.  Outside, Spitfire, Rainbow Dash and Pitstop fly around in formation - that is, until Rainbow Dash stops and spots something she never expected to see.....

R.Dash: No way in Equestria.....

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

Later that afternoon, Rainbow Dash, Spitfire and Pitstop were seated around a table eating.  The seasoned Wonderbolt looked at the weather pony.

Spitfire: So, what'cha see that made you look down?

R.Dash: *gulp* Ever have any ponies that blow their skills up WAAAAAAAAY more than they are?

Spitfire: All the time, Rainbow Dash.  That's why we hold the tryouts.

R.Dash: Well, not long after Twilight arrived in Ponyville, there was this rather bragadacious unicorn that showed up.  Her name was Trixie and she CLAIMED to have fought off an Ursa MAJOR, but an Ursa MINOR almost scared her cutie mark off her flank.

All three pegasi chuckle a bit.

R.Dash: So, when Trixie came in, EVERYpony thought she was just ridiculously overpromoting herself.....

Spitfire: *nod* Yeah.

R.Dash: .....And they ALL turned to Twilight to shut her up, and she did.  She..... Well, I wouldn't say CONQUERED the Ursa Minor, but she sure SOOTHED the thing.  After that, Trixie ran off and was never seen again - well, until this afternoon when I just happened to look down and I saw her just walking into town with nothing she had before.

Spitfire: Sounds kinda sad.

Pitstop: Yeah, luv.  She need cheerin' up?

R.Dash: Maybe, but I dunno who'd give it to her other than Virtuna.

The little mare herself was humming as she got some of the machines ready for the day's customers.  Without thinking, she began putting lyrics to her melody.

Virtuna: (singing):

When a problem seems to much to solve,

and it's really puzzling you

sometimes it takes a fresh approach

to see the whole thing through

And sometimes when you need a friend

it seems like no one cares,

But if your down you can count on me

'cuz I'll always be (holding note): there

When conflict raises its ugly head

and you need a new point-of-view

just call my name and I'll be there

my heart will see you through

Just come to my place in Ponyville

you will be glad you came

your problems will be a thing of the past

and that's the object of my game!

You can rely on me to be that voice

of reason on which to depend

there is no case too big or small,

your bridges I will mend.

It's all-right to ask for my help,

there really is no shame

I can handle anything

and that's the object of my game

Whether your conflict spreads a million years

or it just happened last week,

I can help iron it out

with my sought-after technique

So whoever the pony, whatever the problem

My goal's always the same

I make enemies friends and friends even more so

and that's the object of my game!

As the music ends, Virtuna spots Trixie standing in her arcade, without her hat or cape.

Virtuna: *smiles* Hi!

Trixie screeches and runs outside, leaving a stunned Virtuna.

Virtuna: *cocks her head* Was-it-somethin'-I-sang?

Later on, Twilight Sparkle and Rarity stop by Virtuna's arcade.

Virtuna: Heya, girls!

Rarity: Hello, Virtuna.

T.Sparkle: How's business?

Virtuna: Oh, it's GREAT!  Everypony's so nice, well.....

Rarity: Go on.

Virtuna: There was this blue unicorn that stopped by.  Dunno if she was nice or not, but she sure was jumpy.

T.Sparkle: *blink* could it be.....?

Virtuna: Could it be who, Twilight?

T.Sparkle: Uh, n-nopony.....

Twilight Sparkle heads back to her library.  When she gets there, she opens a chest near her bed and removes a purple cape and hat with stars emblazoned on it, sighing.

T.Sparkle: Could it possibly be.....  No, Twilight, you're imagining things, that pony Virtuna saw couldn't POSSIBLY be.....

Twilight Sparkle looks outside with a loud gasp.  Walking through the center of town was Trixie!  The purple mare flew to the door and opened it.

T.Sparkle: Trixie!

Despite the fact that Twilight Sparkle was smiling, all Trixie had to do was see her and she was scared enough to run again!

T.Sparkle: Trixie, WAIT!

Twilight Sparkle chased Trixie all over Ponyville, but between Trixie's magic and a few wild twists and turns, she was unable to catch up to the fleeing showpony.  Twilight Sparkle soon found herself out of breath and surprised.

T.Sparkle: Trixie, I.....

Twilight Sparkle sighs, then heads back to her library.  Meanwhile, Trixie bolted out of Ponyville and into the Everfree Forest with no sense of mind to where she was going, so without knowing it, she collided with Nightmare Moon, who was trotting back with some teas from Zecora's place!

N.Moon: AH!

Trixie: UGH!

Both mares flew backwards, landing hard on the ground.  Trixie moans as she slowly gets to her hooves, gasping at the alicorn before her as she checked on her saddlebags.

N.Moon: *mumbles and hums* Good, all still there.  *She looks up at Trixie and cocks her head*  Where are YOU off to in such a hurry?

Trixie: .....

N.Moon: Oh, calm DOWN!  I'm not gonna nail you with your worst nightmare due to an accident!

Trixie: Well, it's something..... I've-done.....

N.Moon: *blink* Oh?

Trixie: *nod* You see, Trixie was a showpony and an excellent one.  Trixie was the top act in Fillydelphia.  *N.Moon nods a bit, her horn shimmering slightly*  Trixie REALLY thought Trixie could take her act all over Equestria, and be the greatest magician that ever lived!  But-when-Trixie-came-to-Ponyville.....  *sigh*  Trixie failed.....  *Twilight Sparkle emerged from behind a bush, holding Trixie's hat and cape aloft with her magic*  Trixie made herself up to be... *sniff*  ...the greatest that ever lived, like Trixie did SO many times before and..... no-pony believed Trixie and... nopony came to see Trixie's show.  It was all due to... that Ursa Minor and..... how-Trixie-was-so-scared-to-face-it, thank Celestia for Twilight Sparkle, Trixie.....  *Twilight Sparkle had to smile a bit at that*  Trixie really thought she was going someplace and-Trixie.....

Trixie broke down and cried, Nightmare Moon whimpering a bit.  Twilight Sparkle also felt bad for the bawiling unicorn and she decided to help her former rival.  First order of business to her was giving Trixie back her hat and cape, which she did slowly.  As soon as the hat and cape touched her, Trixie gasped.

Trixie: what the..... My hat?  My cape?  How.. did.....

Trixie turned and saw Twilight Sparkle standing there.

Trixie: How much of that... did you hear?

T.Sparkle: Enough.  Listen, *walks slowly to Trixie* EVERYpony has that dream to be the best, but the best thing about a dream like that is having friends to share the laughter and the tears along the way.  You can't just make yourself out to be larger-than-life, otherwise ponies aren't gonna take you seriously.  Everypony has a special talent, an ability that set them apart from others.  The important thing is to learn to respect those differences, and not make fun of those ponies that don't share your passion for magic.

Trixie looked down at the ground, as if thinking about what Twilight Sparkle just said.  After a short while, Trixie ran into the embrace of the purple mare.

Trixie: Trixie-is-so-sorry, Twilight.  Trixie didn't think Trixie came across as somepony like THAT.

T.Sparkle: I understand, Trixie.  Coming from a big city like Fillydelphia, you had to really put yourself out there.  C'mon, let's go back to Ponyville.

Trixie: ...........*nod* ok.

As the trio walked to Ponyville,.....

Trixie: So, how'd'ya handle that Ursa Minor?

T.Sparkle: *chuckle* Just something I threw together.  I kinda hate to brag, but *both unicorns giggle* it WAS kinda easy - seeing-as-I-DO-have-Princess-Celestia-for-a-teacher.

Trixie gasps, glaring at Twilight Sparkle in disbelief.

Trixie: You..... are-taking-lessons..... from PRINCESS.. CELESTIA?!

T.Sparkle: Yeah?

Trixie: WOW!  Trixie is impressed!  You MUST be really special, Twilight!

T.Sparkle: *blush* Aw, shucks.

All three mares laugh.  The first pony to spot the trio as they walk back to town is Virtuna.

Virtuna: !!!  Hello.

Trixie: H-Hi.  Sorry about before, Trixie was just nervous.

Virtuna: Nervous?  Haystacks!  WHY would you be nervous around me?

Trixie: *points a hoof at Virtuna's artifical leg*  That, for one.  Trixie has never met a pony like you before.

Virtuna: *laugh*  Few have, but I help them see past it.

Trixie: *smile*  Ya know, you're something special, as well.

Virtuna: Aw, thanks.

The four mares hear that same triple-whoosh again, this time, Spitfire, Rainbow Dash and Pitstop land nearby.

Trixie: WHOA!  So you FINALLY got in, eh?

R.Dash: *chuckle* Yeah.

Pitstop: Bit of a tale, luv.

Trixie: Luv?

Spitfire: She's from Trottingham.

Trixie: Gotcha.

R.Dash: So, learned your lesson about bragging to everypony about how you're the best in the world?

Trixie: *nod*  Indeed, and Trixie is grateful to Twilight Sparkle, Rainbow Dash.

R.Dash: *smile*  You know, you're kinda cool once you drop the superiority act.

Trixie and Rainbow Dash laugh.

Trixie: So, Trixie wonders if she could try putting on a magic show again.

R.Dash: You promise not to hog-tie Applejack.

Trixie: *laughing fit*  Trixie can't believe you still remember that!

R.Dash: So does Applejack!

Everypony laughs it up.  That night, a stage was set up for a magic show.  The Mane 6 ended up in the front row as Trixie comes out.

Applejack: *blink* OK?

N.Moon: Hey, AJ, calm down, she's changed.

Applejack: I'm still kinda skeptical, Nightmare Moon.

N.Moon: Oh, come ON!  You're acting like she wanted to bring eternal night to Equestria!

Applejack smirked at Nightmare Moon as.....

Trixie: Welcome one and all!  Are you ready to be mystified?

The crowd responds favorably.

Trixie: Then be ready to be amazed by the Great and Powerful Trixie!

T.Sparkle: Her stage name has ALWAYS been that?

Nightmare Moon nods.

Trixie: *looks at Twilight Sparkle* Besides, in a big city, Trixie can't just call herself "Trixie".

Twilight Sparkle nods understandingly, then Trixie goes into her routine.  Everypony was struck by not only Trixie's magic, but how toned-down her self-bravado seemed to be.  Right near the halfway point.....

Trixie: Now, Trixie need a volunteer.  *points a hoof at Applejack*  You.

Applejack slowly gets on stage.

Trixie: *blush* Trixie hopes you brought your rope.

Applejack: I did, indeed, show-off.

Both mares laugh, then Trixie clears her throat and her mind, concentrating.  The rope lifts off the stage and slowly takes the shape of Applejack's Element of Harmony!

Applejack: Land sakes!

The audience was in awe as Trixie bows a bit, then makes the rope take the shape of the other Elements of Harmony, first Fluttershy's, then Rarity's, Pinkie Pie's, Rainbow Dash's and finally Twilight Sparkle's.  Everypony applauded and Trixie took a well-deserved bow, then her horn's glow intensified!

Trixie: AH! *Nightmare Moon blinks as she watches this* This-isn't-part-of-my-act!

Trixie screeches as the rope soon makes other symbols, slowly picking its way through.  Nightmare Moon teleports the princesses over just as they're about to have tea.  As the Mare in the Moon points to the stage and the princesses look, the rope makes a picture of a controller with a red heart, a yellow star, a green apple and a purple six-pointed star as buttons, then two flags crossed at the flagpoles, then a sun design similar to Zecora's, then a crystal, then a wand similar to the one that makes up part of her own cutie mark - which makes her audibly gasp, then a crescent moon with a star, then an open present!  All three alicorns were shocked!

Applejack: whoa..... nellie.....

Trixie's gasping and panting like she ran a marathon full-speed, not even noticing Princess Celestia or Princess Luna until they were onstage in front of her.

P.Celestia: Meet us in Twilight's library.

Trixie: y-yes, your highness.....

Princess Celestia and Princess Luna walk to the library, passing bowing ponies the whole way.  The Mane 6 follow them, followed by their new friends and Nightmare Moon.  When Trixie walked into the library, she was magically brought in front of the other ponies, seeing Princess Luna levitating the book on the original Elements of Harmony and Princess Celestia levitating the book Zecora had.

P.Celestia: Do you know what these texts are, Trixie?

Trixie: Trixie knows *looks at Princess Luna* THAT one, Princess, that is the book on the original Elements of Harmony: Honesty, Generousity, Kindness, Loyalty, Laughter and Magic.

P.Luna: Correct.  We are refering to the book my sister has, though.

P.Celestia: This book..... chronicles-a-cataclysmic-event.  It talks about an ancient foe that brought about the end of the world at one point.....

T.Sparkle and P.Celestia: Ruinous.

T.Sparkle: I've-read-about-him.....  That-volume-is.....  It's the end of the world.. right?

P.Celestia: *slow nod* Essentially.

Rainbow Dash looked at Nightmare Moon.

R.Dash: I figured that walk in the Everfree Forest wasn't a field trip, but.....  I never realized it was because of... THAT.

N.Moon: *nod* I'd rather this DIDN'T happen, tell you the truth.  Ruinous is absolute evil.

P.Celestia: Right..... and it was VERY important that the new Elements are safeguarded.

Trixie: *GASP!*  Are you saying my trick..... FORETOLD THE END OF THE WORLD?!

T.Sparkle: Trixie, don't panic!!  We'll beat him.

P.Celestia: It'll take more than just you six to beat Ruinous.

T.Sparkle: We'll just have to find more then.  I don't care if it takes 100, we HAVE to do something.

Princess Celestia looked in the eyes of her student.  She saw how unwilling Twilight Sparkle was to even the thought of giving up..... and she was most impressed as she smiled.

P.Celestia: And THAT is why you're my prize pupil.

Teacher and student hug up - well, as well as they could - then Trixie spoke up.

Trixie: Uh, s-s-sorry, Princess, but..... When-can-Trixie-be-a-prize-pupil?

Princess Celestia blushes a bit, heading for the showpony.

P.Celestia: Follow me, Trixie.

Trixie nods as Twilight Sparkle hugs her.

T.Sparkle: You'll do just fine, Trixie.

Trixie: Trixie hopes so.  *The princesses and Nightmare Moon head for the door, Princess Luna carrying the black book, Trixie following, then she stops in the doorway*  Oh, and Twilight?  *smiles*  Thanks.

The two unicorns rear up and smile, then Trixie heads to the royals' chariot and gets in.

P.Celestia: Next stop, Canterlot!

The chariot flies up to the castle.

TO BE CONTINUED