Rise of Ruinous

My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic: RISE OF RUINOUS

Chapter 9 - Genesis: SINCERITY

The time: A week after Virtuna got her Element of Harmony.

The combination of Virtuna getting her cutie mark and being recognized as a Bearer of Harmony has resulted in a sharp increase in patrons at her arcade.  Trixie smiles as she walks past it.

Trixie: Wow, V!  There's almost enough coming in to justify an expansion!

Virtuna: Yeah, Trixie, ain't it great?!

Both mares laugh, then.....

Pony 1 - pale orange with red-blue mane/tail: Ex-CUSE me!

Pony 2 - deep plum with grey-white-grey mane/tail: *snort*

Pony 1: When somepony tries to block, SHOW THEM THAT YOU ROCK!

Trixie and Virtuna exchange "WTH?" looks before seeing the orange pony chomp on the plum pony's tail, swing him around like a bola and hurl him halfway to Baltimare!

Virtuna: ............

When that pony gets to the front of the line,.....

Virtuna: *puts her natural front hoof up* Excuse me, sir, ya can't come in with that attitude.

Pony 1: Ex-CUSE ME?!

Trixie: HEY!  *points to Virtuna* HER arcade, *Virtuna* HER rules, now *behind the orange pony* LEAVE!

The pony walks off, shocked at having been out-played by Trixie.  Virtuna looks at the showpony.

Trixie: *giggle and blush* Where'd THAT come from?

The rest of the day went off without a hitch, Verdescale bringing in the mail, which contained a pamphlet for Iron Will's assertiveness training program.

*INTRO SEQUENCE*

The next day, Trixie and Virtuna head to Sugar Cube Corner, where Pitstop, Pinkie Pie, Rarity and Fluttershy are.  The two are talking about the pony that caused the disturbance.

Trixie: That guy was MILES out of line.

Virtuna: And what a cheesy line!  "When somepony tries to block....."

Fluttershy: *gasp!* Show-'em-that-you-rock! EEP!

Fluttershy runs around, boarding up windows and battening down hatches like Hurricane Katrina was arriving in 30 seconds!  She was so frantic, multiple attempts by Virtuna, Trixie and Pitstop to talk to her fell on deaf ears until Trixie immobilized Fluttershy with her magic.

Virtuna, Trixie and Pitstop: FLUTTERSHY!!!

Fluttershy blinks at the trio.

Pitstop: Put it in neutral and tell us what happened, luv.

Fluttershy: Well, I was only looking for tips on how to be more assertive, and this minotaur Iron Will molded me into - how-can-I-put-this..... A total monster.

Trixie: Whaaaaaat?  *sets her down*  You?  *Fluttershy nods*  A-monster?  *Fluttershy nods again*  HOW?

Fluttershy: Well, he gave me all sorts of one-liners to say whenever somepony needed to be "put back in line".

Trixie: And that line about showing that you rock was one of them?

Fluttershy: *nod* There was "You make me lose, I blow my fuse", "You laugh at me, I wrath at you", he filled me with so much rage, I was hulking like a monster.

Fluttershy breaks down and cries a bit.  Something in the kind pegasus made Trixie mad and she walked to Verdescale as he was about to throw out the pamphlet.  She takes it and reads it.

Trixie: Lessee..... "Assertiveness training, don't be a doormat..... Hedge Maze Center."  Typical.  *looks at Fluttershy*  Mind taking a walk with me?  Trixie wants to give Mr. Cow-Boy a taste of his own medicine!

Trixie stomps out of the bakery, the other ponies following her.  The unicorn seemed to walk with a purpose as she headed to the hedge maze.  When they got there, they could see a fresh batch of ponies willing to take Iron Will's advice.  Trixie growled and - using her magic - sent the ponies to either side, like parting the Red Sea, until there was a lane for her and the others, the showpony glaring directly at Iron Will!

I.Will: *blink* Well-now!  YOU sure don't need training!

Trixie: Trixie's sorry, did Trixie forget to say, what-was-it, "When somepony tries to block, SHOW THEM THAT YOU ROCK!"?

I.Will: How'd'ya know that?

Then, Iron Will noticed Fluttershy.

I.Will: Oh.  Hey there, Fluttershy.....  How are ya?

Fluttershy: Fine.  I see you didn't put "No means no." in your repertoire yet.

Trixie: Trixie a-grees.  Just as abrasive and intimidating as usual.

I.Will: I call it "assertive".

Trixie: Assertive?  You mean that pony we saw in line yesterday?

I.Will: Ah, one of my star pupils!

Trixie: Star pupil?  THAT pushy pony?  THAT pony who sent somepony else flying almost over the whole Everfree Forest for being one spot ahead of him?  You're PROUD of that?  Trixie wouldn't be proud of that.  In fact, Trixie would be ashamed of herself for galavanting around like Trixie's better than everypony else, for one thing, and furthermore, you're just in this to squeeze money out of ponies.

I.Will: *chuckle* Heavily opinionated, aren't'cha?

Trixie: YOU can call it opinionated, Trixie call it speaking her mind.  You only help ponies become BIG bullies like YOU!

Goat 1: HEY!  You don't speak to Iron Will like that!

Trixie: And another thing: You got those two goat-things so brainwashed, they think you're as flawless as Princess Celestia herself.  If THEY REALLY knew how you operated, this "assertiveness" thing would be a solo project, as in your fan base AND operation would be "solo" you'd be out of business!

Fluttershy had to at least crack a grin at Trixie's one-liner.

Trixie: As far as Trixie goes, you are nothing but a big bully.  You don't know what it means to be assertive, just mean.  Not only that, you almost lost Fluttershy two of her best friends since you turned her into a hulking monster!  Satisfied?!  You thought she was SATISFIED!?  Not only would the Great and Powerful Trixie NOT be satisfied, she'd've had you written up!  NO PONY SHOULD EVER TRUST YOU!

The showpony storms out of the hedge maze center, followed by the others.  Several ponies that were waiting to participate in Iron Will's seminar also left.

I.Will: HEY!!  Who are you gonna trust, me or the (whiny): wittle sissy pony?

That cleared the whole center as the entire herd walked out.  Later that day, in Twilight's library, the ponies discuss.

Fluttershy: That was amazing, Trixie.

Trixie: *blush* Daw, Fluttershy, he needed a stern talking-to.

T.Sparkle: I never knew this about you the first time you came here, Trixie.

Trixie: Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie has ALWAYS been honest with her feelings to others.

Rarity: HOW honest?

Just then,.....

N.Moon: *teleports into the room* INCOMING!

Trixie looks at Nightmare Moon, then outside as small crystals encircled her in the same way they did Virtuna.  The others were shocked as the showpony was surrounded by the shards of stone, a necklace appearing on her with a charm that looks like the wand of her cutie mark!

Virtuna: Oh-my.....

T.Sparkle: Trixie?

Trixie: Y-yes?

T.Sparkle: You're-a.....

Trixie: *looks up with a happy tear in her eye* Trixie knows.

Former rivals, Trixie and Twilight Sparkle embrace, laughing as they all celebrate another Bearer of Harmony found.  Not long after, the two princesses land nearby and Princess Celestia gasps.

P.Celestia: I KNEW you were special, Trixie, but this exceeded my expectations.

P.Luna: I agree, I saw your little tirade at Iron Will, especially how you were honest with your feelings.  That means you, Trixie, are the Element of Sincerity.

Trixie: *blush* Daw, shucks, thanks, Princess.

T.Sparkle: What? You're not gonna say something like, *whips her blanket around her, like Trixie's cape* *Trixie laughs* "Did you expect anything less from the Great and Powerful TRIXIE!"?

Twilight Sparkle's impersonation got everypony laughing.

Trixie: Trixie only speaks like that on stage.

T.Sparkle: Oh.

Both unicorns laugh again as Spike tries to get a parchment and quill out.  Trixie smiles at the little dragon.

Trixie: *clears throat* Dear Princess Celestia,

Today Trixie learned that it's important to speak your mind and not to hide your feelings.  When others see your view on a situation, you may find something else you have in common, and that can help make your friendships stronger.

Sincerly yours,

The-Great-and-Powerful-Trixie.

As Trixie dashes out of Twilight's library,.....

T.Sparkle: HEY! *chases her* You said on stage!

The two unicorns laugh as they run around chasing each other.

TO BE CONTINUED