Magician's Obsessions

Chapters

Chapter 2: A Student's Dreams
Chapter 3: A New Friendship
Chapter 4: Masked Feelings
Chapter 5: Watering the Seeds
Chapter 6: Teaching new Tricks
Chapter 1: A Royal Audience

Chapter 2: A Student's Dreams

Celestia’s sun loomed overhead, radiating its searing warmth to the well-worked orchards below. The basking heat of the Autumn sun seemed stronger than usual for the season, causing droplets of sweat to form beneath the exhausted farm pony’s mane. She reared up for a final strong buck, impacting the solid tree trunk with a loud reverberating stomp which was soon followed by the cascading sound of apples falling into the awaiting buckets beneath the golden leaves. Applejack brushed her hoof against her damp mane before tipping her beloved hat upwards to view her hard work. Her aching muscles felt well deserved as her eyes panned the horizon, the beautiful sight of every tree in an acres radiance being free of her families apples, the buckets of which were being collected from below by a struggling colt honing the same colours as the season’s leaves. She smirked slightly to the sight of the farm’s weakest manual help in contrast to the ruby stallion pulling the cart full of buckets alongside him with ease before returning her hoof to her mane, clearing more sweat from her blonde hairs. “Couldn’t be a bit cooler today could ya?”

Applejack was preparing to tip her hat downwards once more for shade before an odd sight became visible in the distance, almost like a mirage through the haze of heat rising off the worn cobbled road. The earth pony squinted her emerald eyes in an attempt to make out the approaching figure, before after a short struggle they suddenly focused on the startling image. Applejack knew she could trust her eyes but that didn’t help her with the haunting sight of a glowing spectre approaching from the distance, a large pony approached with its mane ablaze, a ghostly magenta flame coursing through its limbs and surrounding the faceless figure as if suffering an eternal undying agony. The sight spread fear into her heart, but also a deep curiosity. Especially since it seemed to be heading towards Ponyville. The cautious mare gulped the saliva in her throat before taking her first step towards the mysterious ghost.

The orange mare was relieved to not attract any unwanted attention from the travelling pony as she approached, and upon closer inspection her original fears were soon calmed to the unmistakable feeling of magic permeating the air around the ‘spectre’. Though the mare was not deceased it became clear to Applejack that the mare was never alive to begin with, but rather a wooden figure, a doll which seemed to be moving on its own accord. She continued approaching closer to the continuously moving doll before cautiously trailing her hoof along the oak exterior. “What the hay is this?”

The touch in association with her speech suddenly caused the fake mare to rear up into the air, causing the onlooker to back away a few steps before returning still to the floor to dig its wooden hoof along the cobbles. From atop the adjacent wagon a cloaked figure gently brushed sand from her eyes with a quiet yawn before turning to the pony that woke her. She noticed the mare below caught in awe of her wonderful magic, so much in fact that she hadn’t even noticed her examining the admirer’s features for her introduction. “Greetings farm pony! Could you direct this Great Traveller to the town of Ponyville?!”

Applejack was shocked to the sudden voice from the wagon’s seat above before the pieces quickly fit together in her mind. The magician in question clearly being in control of the very odd and elaborate, yet also believable spell before her. She smiled to the knowledge building from her experiences with her friend and the desire to help a pony in need as she replied. “Sure!” She pointed her hoof down the current road to a town in the distance. “Ponyville’s just that town down there, keep following the road and ya can’t miss it, it’s only a short gallop from here.” She smiled warmly as she finished her guidance, being pleased to help anypony in need. “Is there anything else ah can help you with?”

Trixie brushed her mane aside before tipping her hat to the mare beneath her. “Trixie appreciates your desire to be of assistance but she has no need of a guide! But do be sure to return to your town shortly for a spectacular performance!” The hidden magic beneath her hat began to move the wooden pony once more as she left her new admirer behind.

“Ermm, yea sure.” Applejack was slightly taken aback to the surprisingly blunt return against her request to help. She watched the wagon move onwards before turning back towards the farm, as soon as she turned sudden memories filled her mind of the name she heard, and the voice speaking it. ‘It can’t be, why would she come back?’ The farm pony quickly made her way back to the wagon, swiftly catching up with her galloping hooves to approach alongside the wooden mare. “Trixie?”

The showmare heard her name being called from beneath her as she turned once more to the pony requesting to be her guide. “The Great And Powerful Trixie already told you that she does not require a guide!” She raised her face upwards away from the mare beneath her as she finished.

Applejack’s voice suddenly lost its previous helpful tone as her thoughts were confirmed, especially as the mare she remembered hadn’t changed at all with her pompous attitude towards her. “So it is you. What are you doing back here again?”

Trixie could feel the harsh tone of voice being used at her, being used from a farm worker of all ponies. She stared down at the mare beneath her both physically and culturally, as she gazed down at the familiar figure a grinning smile formed across her face. “What is wrong little pony? Did Trixie’s domination of your skills still leave you humiliated after you hopped off her stage?”

“The only one who was humiliated was you Trixie.” Applejack snapped back in response. “Unless you want to be reminded of fleeing from the town ya best stay clear of Ponyville.”

The showmare returned her gaze away from the insulting mare. “She has heard enough of your humility! It would be best if you do not join after all!” She concluded as her wagon sped up, leaving the pausing adversary behind.

Applejack stood still with clear annoyance in her eyes as she watched the wagon slow down again in the distance. “What is she up to?” The sound of large hooves approached slowly from behind, pausing directly behind the orange mare. “I’m going to go keep an eye on her, can y’all handle the farm?”

Big Macintosh withdrew his caring gaze from his sister to look back at her hoof-work at the farm. “Eeyup, ya’ve already done the whole weeks supply.” As the stallion turned back to see his hard working sister she had already covered quite a distance galloping down an alternate path to town. “Far too much energy with her.” He smiled to his own statement before returning to help the struggling colt with collecting his sister’s harvested apples.

Trixie bathed in the attention her arrival brought, milking each gasp and gossiping whisper from her audience as Hilda brought her into the centre of the town, the ghostly flaming illusion around her doll earning looks of wonder and shear amazement from everypony she passed. As she finally arrived at her destination the driving pony reared into the sky and burst into bright flames, hundreds of gasps tore through her audience including the occasional scream, each and every one bringing such enjoyment to the showmare’s mind before she finally ended her spell for the first time since Canterlot. The wondrous magic instantly vanished, the flames dissipated and the crafted oak fell into a small pile with a satisfying clunk before every watching eye. Trixie arose as her entrance came to an end to call out to her admiring fans, speaking aloud and proud to every ear within the town centre. “The Great And Powerful Trixie has returned as promised! Prepare yourselves for a truly awe inspiring show which shall begin in one hour! Spread the word to all of Ponyville! Spread the word to all of Trixie’s adoring fans!” She lowered herself into a bow as she remained on her seat, still being above most onlooking ponies awaiting the inevitable round of applause. As she bowed to the silence fears of her previous visit began to resurface, not aided by the fact barely any cheers or stomping of hooves could be heard over the majority of her onlookers, who merely gossiped among each other as if questioning how amazing her show would be.

The showmare arose from her bow seemingly unaffected by the undesired reactions to proudly leap from atop her wagon, landing gracefully on the grassy floor of Ponyville. The same floor she had previous galloped across as she fled one year ago. She raised to her hooves to trot into her open wagon, closing the door to the world behind her before the panic in her mind could take over her physical appearance.

Amongst the crowd a shy yellow pegasus dodged past other ponies moving into her, not wanting to announce her presence to the oblivious stallions and mares moving inwards for a closer view of the opening stage. The quiet mare apologised almost silently each time she moved until inevitably one pony did knock into her, causing her to fly backwards onto the floor. “I’m so sorry.” She repeated again, this time louder before staring up to the friend that nudged her. “Oh, hello Applejack.”

Applejack leaned down to help her friend to her hooves. “Sorry about that sugarcube.” As Fluttershy returned to her hooves she stood alongside her strong friend for protection from the nudging crowd. “Great, she wasn’t lying.” The earth pony commented with a sigh as she looked at the prepared stage in the centre of town.

“She called herself The Great And Power-”

“Just call her Trixie.” Another voice from above interrupted as a pegasus sporting a bright rainbow mane dropped down besides the two mares, flicking her wings against the wind before she landed beside the more timid winged pony who smiled warmly to the arrival of her best friend. “She’s the only one that cares for that meaningless title.” Rainbow Dash temporarily looked over to Fluttershy before turning her gaze to her other friend. “What is she doing back?”

Fluttershy looked ready to speak before Applejack’s voice took over. “Apparently she just wants to perform again, ah think she didn’t get laughed at enough last time. She still seems to be pleased about what she did to me also.”

Fluttershy started speaking quietly, attempting to get her friends attention. “I think we should let Twilight know...”

Rainbow laughed shortly in response which served to annoy her rival. “That was funny watching her tie you up though AJ, and shoving that apple in your trap.”

“She mentioned she wanted to see somepony called Trixie...”

“Just as funny as watching you crash and get ya flank shocked, Dash?” Applejack responded in turn, grinning as she noticed her rival being reminded of her humiliation.

“If this is her then we should probably let her know...”

Rainbow let out an aggravated huff before replying with an almost serious voice. “Yeah okay, that wasn’t funny at all.”

“It would be nice since she has been mentioning her for a long time.”

“Ah Darlings! There you are.” A beautiful pearl white unicorn made her way through the crowd, each pony moving aside for the graceful lady to pass by uncontested. “I expected to find you here as soon as I heard about her arrival.” Rarity glanced her eyes across her surroundings shortly before returning to her three friends. “Where is Twilight Sparkle?”

“Pinkie’s missing also, they’re probably around somewhere.” Rainbow replied with a lack of urgency compared to the questioning unicorn.

“Oh Pinkie Pie will probably turn up when the show starts, it’s Twilight that I’m worried about! Are you sure you haven’t seen her anywhere?” Rarity could only sigh to the sight of her friends shaking heads. “Oh, she is probably still at home, she’s been so upset lately but this is exactly what she has been hoping for, we must let her know!”

Fluttershy nodded in approval and opened her quiet lips, only to be silenced by a louder voice once more. “Ah know that she’s been going on about her a lot. But ah still don’t think it’s a good idea to let her know. I just saw Trixie on the way here alone and she was still acting like a jerk.”

Rarity gently raised her hoof to her friend’s orange chest, holding her still as she smiled into her eyes. “I know how you feel Applejack, I myself also suffered humility thanks to her, and had a nightmare of a time turning my hair back to its beautiful violet curls. But just think about how Twilight feels, imagine if she was to discover that she missed the single opportunity she was hoping for over the last year!”

“Ah know that, but Trixie hasn’t changed. She will only humiliate her as well!”

“Applejack dear.” Rarity gazed into her worried eyes with her own, hoping to convince her of what she believed. “It may indeed end in a way she hadn’t hoped for, but the worst would be if she never had the chance to make friends with her. We all know how Twilight feels about her lessons on friendship and, even if it isn’t successful, she would still learn from it like Celestia wishes.” She patted her friend’s chest a final time before returning to all fours. “All we can do is hope for the best.” Rarity turned her caring gaze to her other friends, switching between the bolder mares mostly to make sure they agreed as she knew Fluttershy would. “I shall go let Twilight know.”

Rarity distanced herself from the still forming crowd as they closed between her and her watching friends. As their sight became blocked by the increasing premature audience, the beautiful mare exhaled lightly in thoughts of her best friend. She wasn’t sure which she would prefer, if Twilight had never gotten the chance to meet the unicorn she so desired or if she met her, but was rejected.

The old stairs creaked as the dragon’s paws scaled each step on his way to the library’s bedroom, with a light grip on the door handle he made his way into the room that he and his carer shared. The scene was mostly dark with its curtains closed, with only the light of a writing desk’s candle to light the occupying pony. Spike made his way silently to the lavender mare’s side to watch over her as she wrote. “Can I get you anything Twi? I was just about to make a snack if you want one, I could make a sandwich or a salad, might even have some cupcakes spare...” He trailed off his suggestions while his motherly figure made no attempt to answer. “I could maybe get you a new quill?”

“I’m okay with my own.” Twilight Sparkle replied quietly, continuing to write her thoughts on one of her friendship report scrolls. Spike glanced down at the text being written before feeling sadness overtake him, he gently placed a paw around Twilight’s back to support her as she wrote, not knowing what to say any more to cheer her up on the continually worsening subject.

An unannounced knock broke the baby dragon from his stance, accidentally nudging the pony beside him before he regained his stance. “I’ll just go see who it is.” Spike felt worse that the lavender mare remained silent instead of complaining as she usually would to being nudged as she tried to write. Without saying another word to her the dragon quickly made his way to the front door to welcome the visitor, and upon opening the heavy door a beautiful sight graced his eyes. “Rarity!”

“Hello Spike, it is good to see you again. Is Twilight home?” The pearl unicorn questioned giving her usual caring smile to her little friend.

At first Spike smiled to the sight of the pony he had a crush on, before the mention of his carer overtook the smile with grief. “Yeah, she is. Twilight’s really broken up on the whole Trixie thing now though.” He looked around cautiously as if unsure to mention his following statement before entrusting the unicorn to know. “She was crying in bed this morning...but don’t mention it to her, I don’t think she noticed I was awake.”

Rarity’s stomach churned slightly to hearing about her best friend’s grief, before she recovered her happier thoughts of hope. “I am sorry to hear that, but I have good news, or at least I hope it is good.” She noticed Spike’s attention peak to the mention of good news and knew there was no good reason to hide it from him. “Trixie has arrived in Ponyville.”

“What? When!” Spike’s voice suddenly increased in volume to the words he thought he would never hear.

“She just arrived a few minutes ago, she is going to perform in less than an hour. We must tell Twilight.”

“Yes! Wait no.” Spike quickly talked again upon noticing the worried mare’s gaze. “I mean you go and tell her, I’ll go make her something to eat she hasn’t eaten in days.”

Rarity smiled happily to her little friend’s words before quickly making her way upstairs. Without thinking of privacy she burst her way inside the room and threw her hooves around the lavender mare she cared for. “Oh Twilight I have such good news for you!” She ended her sudden charge to examine the mare in her hooves, Twilight was visibly distressed and looking down at her quill and ink pot, the first of which had been pressed against their coats leaking black ink over the lighter hairs, and the later of which had been forced over by the sudden hug to drench her letter, ruining her upsetting thoughts that she wished to send. Rarity giggled slightly to the havoc she wrought before speaking once more. “I’m so sorry Twilight, but trust me this is good news!”

Twilight sighed sadly to the sight of her destroyed letter, which already made it clear to the pearl unicorn how sad she felt if she didn’t scream and threaten to destroy one of her dresses in retaliation. “I suppose it has to be, as I can’t send the bad news any more.”

Rarity grabbed her friend’s mane and pulled her unwitting head against her chest. “Oh Twilight it is just what you waited for! Trixie is here in Ponyville-”

Twilight instantly broke from the hold as she heard the words said, interrupting her best friend instantly. “Trixie? The Great And-”

“Yes Trixie! The only one, she is in the centre of town.” The previously sad pony stared into her sapphire eyes shortly, as if trying to detect a lie, despite her never wanting to lie about such a thing. Within just a few short seconds she was thrilled to see Twilight dart towards the window and pull the curtains open with such speed it threatened to tear them down. The rushing mare shielded her eyes briefly to the sudden brightness of Celestia’s sun before her violet eyes could finally focus on the distant amalgamation of ponies grouped around a stage that looked different, but at the same time so similar to the one she last saw complete a full year ago.

“It’s her!” Twilight pulled her sight from the window to stare at the bringer of good news. “It’s her! It’s really her! She’s back exactly one year after, it makes perfect sense!” Twilight began bouncing around the room in glee as everything she needed and wanted came to her. “An anniversary performance she would of course come a year later, then she will come every year after, I can talk to her now while she is here, then we can get to know each other and we can become friends and then she can become friends with all of you and we can talk and learn from each other and teach each other magic and see Princess Celestia and discover secrets of friendship and write reports and read books and watch movies and play games and have sleepovers and go on adventures and perform shows and eat cupcakes and discover artefacts and go swimming and-” Twilight’s endless list of plans and ideas was silenced by Rarity’s hoof until she stopped bouncing. When she finally removed her saliva tipped hoof ten seconds later the lavender mare calmed herself enough to look over her own body, brushing her hoof across the dampness below her violet eyes, betraying her recent tears. “I, I’ve got to get ready. I can’t see her like this!”

Rarity wiped the dampness from her hoof with a smile as she watched the hysteric mare gallop around her room, grabbing clothing before tossing it aside to then rush to her vanity and begin frantically cycling through brushes. The pearl unicorn approached her friend from behind, causing her to pause in her desperate actions. “Twilight dear, the show won’t start for a long time. Take as much time as you need to prepare, you have all the time in the world. I will take you to her when you are ready.” The generous unicorn smiled to her friend as she took the advice and began brushing her mane with care. She knew it was best to not mention there was less than an hour to go, in an attempt to prevent her overly statistical friend from trying to dissect the hour apart into the durations of each perming activity she would partake in.

Rarity trotted towards the bed to rest her body, as she lay herself down she heard the clattering of cutlery and plates approaching the door. She cast her magical aura over the handle, opening it to the grateful dragon who made his way into the room with a nicely filled tray. As Spike approached his parental figure the aroma of fresh salad caused the hungry mare’s stomach to rumble. Twilight prepared herself to stand to make some food before she saw the tray of delicious goods being carefully lowered onto her vanity. She smiled warmly to her assistant as he responded with an equally caring smile to her. “Thank you Spike, it looks delicious.”

“It’s good to see you have your appetite back.” Spike replied happily as Twilight’s lavender aura scooped up a collection of lettuce, dandelions and hay onto a slice of bread, covering it with another and taking the combination to her hungry lips. The baby dragon turned to smile at the pony he desired, failing to hide his blush before making his way back downstairs to the kitchen.

Rarity returned the good will to the little dragon, as much as she couldn’t see anything serious between them she still found his obvious crush to be sweet. She turned to gaze out the window into Ponyville to the distant sight of the patient audience waiting for the magic show to begin. Twilight began humming a beautiful song as she continued to brush her hair after eating, one that reminded the pearl unicorn that Spike wasn’t alone with having a crush within these wooden walls. Twilight’s delicate voice harboured such warm feelings that she herself didn’t fully understand, her vocals being enough to well tears in the listener’s sapphire eyes. Rarity didn’t know how anypony could not accept her friend’s innocent love, but she did know for sure that she could never forgive any mare or colt that would seek to shatter her friend’s delicate heart.

Chapter 3: A New Friendship

The limited light of her vanity’s candles struggled to illuminate the static unicorn, who rested her weight against the wooden furniture staring blindly downwards into the constricting darkness of her sealed eyelids. Memories of her previous visit gnawed at her shielding personification, which continued to mask the growing threat with overwhelming praise. Trixie knew she was a brilliant performer, she knew that nopony could say any different without being upstaged. But the reaction to her reappearance still haunted her mind. What if. ‘There is no ‘ifs’ Trixie will always be adored and admired!’ Her character interrupted her inner thoughts once more, keeping the vulnerable mare’s mind safe and her approaching performance secure.

She hadn’t noticed as the hour she previously mentioned approached until a louder murmur permeated the oak walls. The murmuring voices of restless ponies, restless fans. She opened her eyes to see the bright smile of the showmare staring back at her, reflecting her knowing expressions into her bold violet eyes. Her adoring fans were restless, they wanted to see her show. As all the fears of her rejection faded once more into her subconscious Trixie’s smile widened to the figure grinning back at her. “It is time for The Great And Powerful Trixie to give her audience what they truly desire!” Just before she could leave her room the showmare returned her gaze to the burnt photograph beneath her spotless mirror. The image of the unicorn that stole everything from her. She steeled herself to turn from the picture, knowing full well that seeing that lavender mare again was the single underlying reason behind her station in Ponyville.

“It’s just about to start, where are they?” Applejack panned her eyes as far as she could through the nudging audience, failing to view anything more than a few meters away due to the crowding ponies attempting to get a better view. “Dash can you see them at all?”

Applejack’s hopes of having an aerial view blew away instantly to the sight of her winged friend showing no commitment to check. Rainbow simply shrugged as she remained grounded. “Probably not, won’t-”

“There they are!” A bright pink figure suddenly appeared without warning, knocking the rainbow mare aside as she pointed her icing coated hoof towards the approaching unicorns sifting their way through the thick crowd, the lavender mare of which saddled her assistant to help him see above the crowd’s tall legs.

Applejack cautiously took her eyes off her spontaneously appearing friend to greet the mare she hadn’t seen for days. “Afternoon Twilight. It’s good to see ya out and about.”

Twilight paid little attention to her friend’s greeting as she desperately scanned the empty stage for any signs of the showmare she was promised. With a silent sigh she turned to her group of close friends to exchange in the pleasantries she failed to accurately hear. “Good morning Applejack, I’m sorry I guess I haven’t been very social lately.” She giggled to her own words, being half aware of how her friends must have seen her solitary actions of late.

“Oh silly Twilight, don’t be sorry!” The party pony snorted a few times as she giggled bouncing around in a tight circle, forcing the surrounding crowd to make more room to avoid their heads being used as stepping stones. “We all need our time alone, how else would we get the time to bake all those batches of cupcakes!” She suddenly paused mid-air with an over-exaggerated gasp as the memory of her last bake filled the pony’s one track mind. She stared down with her wide sapphire eyes which began to tear up in blissful joy as she noticed the bright pink icing coating her equally coloured hoof. “Oh, dinner!” Pinkie finally dropped to the floor with a loud thud after several seconds suspended in mid-air to bring her delicious hoof to her lips, licking herself shortly before raising her icing and saliva coated hoof to her friends. “Want some?”

Twilight grew a smile to her friend’s words and bizarre behaviour she somehow managed to learn to live with. “Thanks, but no thanks Pinkie.” She passed her warming violet eyes over her other friends as they smiled back in turn, before finally looking back up to the vacant stage. “I didn’t miss her did I?”

“Of course not dear, she hasn’t started yet.” Rarity replied swiftly, brushing her hoof across her friend’s leg to prevent the love struck mare from losing any of her happiness.

Rainbow remained in the air since Pinkie’s initial shock, not trusting herself to get any closer to the seemingly harmless mare in fear of one of the many pranks she deserved in retaliation for her own. She scoffed to the notion of the arrogant unicorn’s show once more as Rarity spoke. “You may as well have, it’s not like it will be-” A sudden explosion from the stage behind her melted her own arrogance in an instant, the loud shock and directional force of magic flowing past her caused Rainbow’s wings to collapse in on themselves, forcing her to fall to the nearby floor much to the giggling amusement of the nearby pink menace.

The gossiping voices of the onlookers silenced within an instant as the explosion rocketed outwards, pausing just as it passed the most distant member of the audience to spin with high speed in a grand circle, rotating around the still vacant stage to form a trial of mystical fire, much to the amazement and confusion of the ponies below. Twilight spun around on the spot as Spike clung around her neck, staring in every direction of the growing magenta circle before it finally flew back towards the stage, forcing the wishful mare around in joy. A combined gasp formed between the majority of the audience as every mystical flame combined together, hundreds of flames coiled around each other, dancing and clashing with overpowering force within an effigy of Celestia’s sun. The sight of such an illusion itself pleasing the lavender mare before she could even hear the beautiful and memorable voice she longed for. “Mares and Gentlecolts, unicorns pegasi and earth ponies, rooftop viewers! Welcome all as today Ponyville is proud to present The Great And Powerful!” Twilight’s heart felt ready to cave in as the magenta orb descended to the wooden stage, and upon touching it detonated in a stream of bright light forcing all her viewers to shield their eyes. Upon returning her gaze to the stage she remained motionless to the wondrous sight before her violet eyes. “TRIXIE!” Time seemed to stop for the lavender mare, despite the gentle nudges from Rarity’s subtle flank. The very unicorn she was searched for, the mare she dreamed about on so many nights, the friend she so desperately wanted to make stood before her merely ten metres away through the thick crowd.

Twilight’s mind finally broke free from her stasis to gleefully join in with the thundering of hooves, cheering loudly with all her happiness to be drowned out by the other hundreds of cheers. The showmare on stage raised from her bow to the beloved sound of her adoring fans portraying their joy of her impressive display, the very display she adapted from Celestia’s own spell the night before. She raised her hoof to her audience as she scanned the vast number standing before her. “Greetings Ponyville! Trixie is pleased to return to such a loving audience!”

Applejack quietly commentated on the mare she clearly disliked. “Only so much as they’re kissing your hooves.”

“Applejack!” Rarity replied in an equally quiet but sharp voice as she nudged her friend’s side, moving in to whisper through her rugged yellow mane. “Not in front of Twilight.”

“Trixie is more than happy to show Ponyville more of the Greatest magic it shall ever witness!” The caped mare continued to speak to her adoring fans, unable to hear the quiet objections in the distance.

“But listen she’s just as arrogant as always.” Rainbow leaned in to join in to the whispering conversation. “We can’t just let her say she is better than us, I’m going to go teach her not to be so arrogant.”

“You will do no such thing! Twilight has been waiting for this day and you will not ruin it for her now.” Rarity responded as bluntly as she could to the ponies she cared for.

The show continued into Trixie’s usual routine as the friends argued quietly amongst themselves. The backdrop burst into life with spinning wheels of sparklers gracing the mystical beauty of the showmare’s numerous conjurations and illusions. She summoned forth her magenta aura into a whip to slice through a line of conjured sunflowers, cutting them clean in half to leak streams of her energy into the air forming dozens of darts. The inspiring mare reared herself up as the pink projectiles tore through her body without leaving a mark before each detonating into a thousand strands, and each strand earning a thousand cheers.

The three contrasting friends watched as her unquestioningly impressive routine continued. Applejack couldn’t help but recall how the powerful unicorn upstaged her as she continued to watch the performance with further growing distrust. “What if she humiliates Twilight?”

“She won’t.”

“She did to us what if she-”

“She won’t.” Rarity replied sternly a second time, refusing to think about such an event happening, refusing to think of her best friend’s heart being torn apart.

With a final stream of mystical fireworks firing from her hooves Trixie showered her bewitched audience with a vast quantity of conjured flowers and sweets, her trademark finishing move to extend the joy her performance wrought as she lowered herself into a second bow. Twilight’s was the very first hoof to strike the floor in applause, to which hundreds more swiftly followed. The beautiful sound of hundreds of mares and colts alike showing their gratitude provided the showmare with the very feeling she craved, the feeling of being loved and adored by everypony who could see her perform. It was an indisputable fact that she was truly the most beloved unicorn in all of Equestria.

Trixie returned from her bow to proudly stride across the stage, throwing her hoof up into the air before releasing her grand voice to those below. “Thank you, thank you! Trixie knows how much she means to her adoring fans!” Her voice was interrupted by a sudden series of ‘woo’s coming from the distance, she gazed over slightly confused to the sight of a pink earth pony bouncing above the crowd each time she repeated the same sound of what seemed like a cheer. “Yes, The Great And Powerful...” Her voice continued to be interrupted by the same repeating sound and bouncing coming from her newest, and most notably strangest fan, causing her to cough slightly in response. Trixie levitated a glass of water to her lips from off-stage before continuing, knowing she had no choice as the annoying pony wasn’t going to stop her ‘cheering’ any time soon. “As you have all enjoyed her Grand performance!” ‘Some more than others.’ She thought to herself still staring at the strange mare, “The Great And Powerful Trixie shall take requests from her beautiful little admirers to perform on stage!”

Any requests for suggestions were being instantly drowned out by the loud repeating voice of the same pink fan that seemed to be crawling on the top of other viewers heads in an attempt to be seen, an attempt that clearly didn’t need the additional leverage to be spotted by the increasingly confused performer staring at the fanatical earth pony. Inevitably she knew she had no choice but to ask for her suggestion, if anything just to have a chance to think. “Yes you, the pink one!”

“Do you want to lick my hoof?” Trixie took a step backwards to the very strange question, further added to by the growing apologetic smile on the mare’s face as she realised she already finished off the icing herself. “My bad!”

Trixie quickly levitated over the glass for a second drink before continuing, being thankful that her strange fan returned to the floor. “Are there any more, sane, requests? Or has Trixie already performed every act of brilliance known to ponykind?!”

Rarity placed a hoof over her friend to keep her still. “Come on she’s asking for it!” The pearl unicorn merely shook her head in response, not wanting a repeat of the previous show. She turned her caring gaze to Twilight who stood motionless since the applause, still smiling as she watched Trixie continue her show in silence. She questioned to herself whether it would be a good idea to recommend she ask a question, before finally trusting her friend with the chance.

“Twilight dear, do you have any spell in mind that you wish to see Trixie cast?” Rarity was pleased to see her friend turn her gaze from the showmare to her friend, hanging her head low to think of an appropriate question.

“Oh yes!” Twilight smiled brightly as she raised her hoof into the air, but no matter how high she waved the unicorn on stage passed her by unable to differentiate between the countless hooves. Spike climbed onto his carer’s head in an attempt to make them stand out, but compared to the large stallions around them she could still barely be seen. She contemplated using magic shortly before discarding such thoughts and began to push her way through the large crowd, apologising to each pony she interrupted as she nudged her way through the endless obstacles.

Trixie continued to choose the requests of ponies she deemed good enough to at least have a passable idea, however with each hoof and shout out she listened to it only seemed more and more like an impossible chance. She took another sip of water as she heard the same request to ‘take it off’ that seemed to plague her shows, before dropping the glass to the sudden appearance of her increasingly strange pink fan materialising before her face. “Hi! I’m Pinkie Pie.”

The unicorn almost fell back in shock, being positive that she was nowhere near the stage a second before. “Pinkie Pie? Trixie doesn’t want to lick your hoof...”

The party pony snorted in laughter for a few seconds before replying, wiping some tears from her eyes. “Oh silly Trixie, I don’t want you to lick my hoof. Well I did want you to lick my hoof but then I noticed I already licked my hoof and nopony but me enjoyed my hoof which was sad.” Her happiness seemed to suddenly morph to sadness within a blink of an eye, almost bringing Trixie to feel sorry for the little pest before she popped back to life in her face. “But anyway! That unicorn over there has a question for you.” Pinkie pointed her hoof towards the audience before her eyes welled in tears to the sight of Spike. “She’s the one with the dragon on her HEAD!” The overly pleased mare rolled onto the floor in laughter before rolling off the stage with a highly distinctive thud. “I’m okay!”

Trixie stared down in disbelief to Pinkie’s increasingly bizarre actions and words before returning to character and gazing her eyes towards the unicorn in question. She was unable to see the pony itself but managed to lock her vision on the upper body of a baby dragon, looking as if it was riding a wave of manes. She could hear the soft sound of apologies as the distinctive mare’s voice struggled to pass through her large audience. “Yes you! What request do you have of The Great And Powerful Trixie?!” She remained silent awaiting the request that never came, tapping her hoof impatiently as her choice continued to futilely pass through the wall of stallions in the way. “Stand aside for her to pass!” With a motion of her hoof her abiding fans split themselves down the middle, leaving only a single unicorn and dragon in the magical spotlight that appeared overhead. Trixie paused the gestures of her hooves as her, and all of Ponyville stared at the lavender mare frozen still to the assault of unexpected attention.

Rarity silently prayed for her friend as she stood blushing to the sudden attention being thrown upon her. Her fears were short lived, or at least she hoped they were as the proud voice on-stage called down to her. “Twilight Sparkle!” Trixie finally brought the courage to speak. “Come up onto the stage with The Great And Powerful Trixie!” She watched silently as her rival lowered her assistant to the floor and slowly trotted towards the stage, the face engraved in her memory was filled with both shyness but evidently also happiness. But not the smug self gratified happiness she feared witnessing but rather a cheerful playful, almost sweet happiness. Trixie smiled down to the slightly smaller mare as she stepped over Pinkie, who seemed to roll further towards the audience, and made her way onto the stage. Twilight smiled warmly to the mare she hoped to befriend who motioned her to stand by her side. “Ponyville’s own master of the magical arts, Twilight Sparkle!”

“Here’s where it starts...” Applejack commented fearing the worst.

“Of course her magical talent is inferior to the show stopping power of The Great And Powerful Trixie, but make no mistake! She is still a unicorn of unimaginable power, power that she will now demonstrate for all of Ponyville!” The leading unicorn looked over to her special guest as she bowed away from her, leaving the show temporarily in her lavender hooves. She gazed over to her audience, the audience that gave her the strength she needed as she awaited for the inevitable spell.

Twilight temporarily buried her desire to befriend the unicorn as she felt the eagle eyes staring down at her. Almost every pony in the town turned their unyielding attention to her. She was not a performer like the mare in her dreams, she could barely handle the pressure of a few eyes admiring her work yet alone an entire town. But she knew she had to do something, Trixie was watching and this was her chance to show her how much they could have in common. The unusually shy unicorn gulped down her fears as she began to summon the hidden power within her body, casting her own request as a demonstration of her magic.

Trixie raised her violet eyes to the classic manipulation of water, watching calmly as the small puddle danced around the broken glass before being raised, still dancing, to the sky above the concentrating mare. She was about to open her mouth to speak before the water in the distant fountain seemed to join in, performing the same dance but on a much larger scale. Trixie panned her eyes across the town as Twilight’s lavender aura carried dozens of liquid dancers through the streets of Ponyville from every nearby water source to join them into a single large sphere holding host to an aquatic waltz. The sight of such beautiful magic brought tears to the eyes of the pony beneath her persona, which in turn slowly drifted over to join the grand design. ‘It’s beautiful.’ A series of amazed gasps and murmurs passed through the daunted audience as they wondered if it would be safe to applaud or not to the fragile spell.

Twilight opened her eyes as she finished creating the submerged ballroom, to which a soft round of applause soon followed with light hooves striking the floor in joy to the beautiful sight. She noticed that the showmare herself partook in the applause lightly with clear approval and perhaps also admiration hidden deeper within her eyes. She kept her smiling gaze faced towards Trixie until she turned away to face the audience, to which Twilight soon followed.

“Behold the magnificence of your own master of magic!” Trixie began to cast a conjuring spell hidden beneath her hat as she announced her assistant’s brilliance. “A unicorn who is less Great and Powerful than Trixie!” Her magenta aura surrounded a large forming object to the side of the globe. An object that upon completion spread crippling fear into her guest’s friends. “But is still able to move an audience!” Trixie grinned as she finished her sentence, raising onto her back legs to wave her hooves, performing fake magical gestures as she levitated the large metal pin into the side of Twilight’s sphere of water. Shattering the delicate magical bubble and releasing the large quantity of water to descend mercilessly down to the shocked unicorn below.

Though devastated Rarity had to wrap her magic as tightly as possible around Rainbow Dash, who’s eyes were burning with rage wanting to beat the smug look from the showmare’s face. Applejack merely stood still and watched as everypony around her either gasped in shock or voiced their disgust, as much as she expected an outcome like this she found no joy or pride in repeating her fears.

Twilight held her hoof tightly to her face as the water came crashing down around her, but strangely she didn’t feel anything, either the heavy weight or the cold wetness of the bombardment. As the final sound of crashing water ceased she cautiously removed the protection from her face, and upon doing so noticed a pink hue radiating around her hoof before eroding into thin air. She could feel her hooves becoming damp as her protection faded and could only look over questioningly to the mare she knew was responsible, responsible for both causing the disaster as well saving her from it. Trixie lowered herself into a bow before the equally confused audience and unmistakably smiled. There was something about her smile which soothed any worries attempting to build themselves around the misjudged act of the showmare, something that couldn’t help but cause her own smile to return as she lowered herself into a bow alongside her ‘saviour.’

Rainbow’s attempts at revenge cut short as the audience around her began applauding, and she could see her friend bowing as if pleased with the event. “That wasn’t funny.”

Rarity let go of her friend as she calmed down, nodding in agreement to the view. “I am glad that it was just an illusion, but that doesn’t make it nice to perform.”

“Are you kidding? I was all like.” Pinkie made a gasping expression. “And then I was like.” She followed up with a sad face. “And then I was like.” She finishes laughing on the floor. “It was priceless!”

Twilight smiled happily to her friends, waving to them before turning to continue the performance with Trixie. But as she turned the lavender mare noticed she was alone on stage, she raised her eyes to catch a glimpse of the showmare’s cape passing behind her wagon and instantly galloped towards her, hoping to talk to and befriend the mare she longed for. “Trixie!” Twilight spoke to her for the first time in the year, but her words fell on deaf ears as the door before her lay closed and locked, distancing her from the discussions she so desperately needed. Without thinking she began to focus her lavender aura around herself before a white hoof stopped her spell.

“You cannot just teleport in uninvited dear.” Rarity’s hoof rubbing against her friend’s back helped to soothe her worried mind. “She must be exhausted from her performance, I’m positive you will get the chance to talk later, and in a less show orientated setting.” Twilight rubbed her hoof against the oak door slowly before nodding in agreement.

The student’s other friends soon followed past the dispersing audience, the majority of which seemed to be pleased over all to the show. Though the same approval couldn’t be said for the rainbow pegasus who landed brashly before the ‘special guest’ of the performance with clear distrust in her voice. “Did she hurt you?”

Twilight shook her head to the examining gaze of the pegasus examining each hair on her lavender coat for injuries. “I’m fine Rainbow, I was safe.”

“Safe? You call her destroying your spell and trying to drown you safe?” Rainbow raised her bold violet eyes to stare briefly into her friend’s own. “What if you didn’t manage to protect yourself in time?” Her agile wings almost threw her into the air as she flapped them roughly against her body, still harnessing anger towards the smug unicorn that attacked her friend on-stage.

“No Rainbow you have it all wrong, Trixie was the one that protected me.” Twilight pleaded with her friend wanting to clear the name of the unicorn she admired. But her desire failed as Rainbow continued to voice her harsh views about the showmare.

“She was the one that attacked you! She was responsible for it, you can’t just claim everything is fine because she didn’t have the guts to go through with it!” The angered pegasus let out an aggravated groan before launching herself skywards and speeding off into the distance.

“Rainbow!” Fluttershy called out to her best friend as she flew away, lifting herself off the ground as she did so. “I’m so sorry, she’s just worried about you.”

“I know Fluttershy, it’s okay.” Twilight sighed sadly to the knowledge that her desired friendship with Trixie might be harder to spread than she hoped for. “Go and make sure she’s feeling all-right.” Fluttershy nodded in approval before apologising again as she slowly flew in the direction of her best friend’s rainbow trail.

Rarity gently nudged her upset friend’s flank to gain her attention. “Come on Twilight, I’ll walk you home and we can think about everything there.” Twilight smiled slightly in agreement to the idea, allowing Rarity to walk her though the mostly vacant, but very wet town square with Pinkie bouncing in circles around them as they left the showmare’s wagon behind.

The door of Ponyville’s library opened for the final time to the dark world outside, basking the pearl unicorn in the cold air of the night which crept through her beautiful mane. She shuddered slightly to the change in temperature before return to face her best friend beside her. “Goodnight Twilight Sparkle, we shall go to see Trixie tomorrow.” Rarity wrapped her hooves around her best friend, embracing her warmth and hopefully calming her mind in the process.

A shadowed figure observed the unicorn’s embrace from the distance, watching every light touch and gentle breath between the two friends before the less important mare withdrew from the hug. She waved her final goodbye to the lavender unicorn who slowly closed the door behind her, closing off the watcher’s sight briefly until a new source of light began to glow through the bedroom window.

Despite her friend’s best support and advice, Twilight still yearned for the meeting of minds she was continuously refused. She passed by the kitchen on her way to bed paying no attention to the hunger growing within her chest. A light lavender aura radiated from her horn as she entered the dark room, her magic casually lighting a match to begin burning the wick of her writing desk’s candle once more, dripping warm wax onto the holder as the remains continued to melt. Twilight stared down at the black mess with only a slight frustration as she levitated the still damp, ink soaked letter into a nearby wicker basket, brushing away whatever ink she could from the stained wood before she sat down once more at her desk. Though it was late into the night, the student’s nocturnal nature deprived herself of the current need to sleep as she levitated over a new, blank scroll from her stash. She gently lowered the scroll to the wood in an attempt to lessen the resulting ink stains it would receive, before once again writing her thoughts and emotions to the Princess that helped to calm her mind. The cloaked figure outside her house continued to watch unaware to Celestia’s student as she began to write, closely observing every movement and expression of the lavender unicorn that the stranger was so enthralled by.

Dear Princess Celestia

Today I have great news! Trixie arrived in Ponyville without any warning, I may have missed her if it wasn’t for my friends bringing it to my attention. I even finally got to meet her when she brought me on-stage during her performance. I should be happy to see her again as I have dreamed about for so long, but I still feel empty inside. I tried to see her after the show but she didn’t respond, it was as if she didn’t want to be seen, but when we performed her smile was so open and sweet, but afterwards she just left without a word. Was it something I did?

A distant knock on the library door broke the unicorn from her letter, she turned to her assistant ready to speak before noticing the baby dragon lying fast asleep within a sea of blankets. She exhaled lightly as she levitated the quill to the parchment once more before the repeating knock forced her to place the drying tip into the mostly empty ink pot. “Okay, I’ll get it.” The knock repeated a third time but for only half the duration, leaving the door in silence as the lavender mare made her way downstairs to unlock the closed library.

The entrance slowly opened to the pitch black night, causing the cloaked mare to freeze and turn back to the door she started to ignore. “I’m sorry but we’re closed, can’t this wait until morning?” Twilight paused before beginning one of her usual lectures about business hours to the odd sight of the figure before her, a large dark grey cloak covered her unwanted guest in the darkness of the night. The light from the open doorway illuminated the pony’s visible features, shining against a jewelled clip at the base of her neck which reflected to brighten the light blue coat, and even lighter mane of the mare before her home. Her colours in conjunction with her unforgettable violet eyes soon identified the deeply desired guest to the lavender mare. “Trixie? H, hello.” She paused briefly as the cloaked mare fully turned to face her. “Can I help you at all?” ‘Please say yes!’ Twilight struggled to keep in her overwhelming desire to tightly hug the mare before her as she awaited her delayed response.

Trixie dug at the grassy floor in uncharacteristic shyness, attempting to keep to her persona before repeating the same paragraph she solidified before her mirror. “Trixie heard the judgement beside her wagon.” The speaking mare was too focused on her words to notice the listener’s reactions and personal attempts to speak. “She did not mean to put you in danger or attack you as it seemed the consensus reached, Trixie merely broke your spell in order to shock and thus spread enjoyment to her audience. Perhaps Trixie should have warned you but at the time she was captivated by the performance and knew she would not fail to keep you safe, but it is understandable in hindsight that her act may have appeared unfair or misguided to which she cannot appeal enough her views against.” The showmare dug at the floor a second time as she struggled to complete her apology. “Trixie never had any intention of causing you grief and does not enjoy the thought of you having such a view of her, to which she asks for your understanding and, forgiveness.”

Twilight’s worrying thoughts changed to compassion as her guest’s clearly planned phrase continued, viewing her restless body as the usually arrogant mare struggled to open her thoughts. “Apology accepted Trixie, but I never thought you meant to hurt me anyway, it was just my friend that said such things.”

Trixie raised her vision from her hooves to the understanding mare as a smile formed beneath her hood. “Oh, that pleases Trixie to hear. Do not mind this late intrusion then.” She remained still after speaking long enough to let her host see the subconscious desire to speak in her sparkling eyes, before the cloaked mare finally dragged herself from the awkward meeting to return home.

“Wait Trixie.” Twilight couldn’t stomach the thought of losing the mare she longed for, when she was so close to finally sharing an actual conversation. Trixie halted in her retreat, which soon landed both unicorns into a highly awkward moment of silence.

A chill wind blew through the cloaked unicorn’s mane causing her to subtly shiver, as if refusing to let the warmer mare see any signs of weakness as natural as they may be. “Would you like to come in?” Twilight held the door open as she stepped aside, giving more than enough room for her guest to enter, several seconds passed as they both stood still before another freezing breath finally caused the cautious showmare to accept her rival’s offer. “Can I get you anything? I have some hot chocolate, or some herbal tea, or I could warm up some-”

“None of that is required Twilight.” Trixie replied wanting to limit the obstacles between her and the other unicorn, hoping to shorten the amount of time this awkward meeting would need to last. She noticed her host’s magic light a nearby fireplace before sitting her star graced rump on a soft cushion, the way her eyes gazed into her own filled the cloaked mare with a strange sense of comfort despite the far more awkward nature of this whole event. Twilight gently tapped her hoof on a nearby cushion which Trixie’s weary legs soon dragged her to accept.

Twilight’s desire to hug the cloaked mare only increased as her aqua hoof tenderly lowered the dark grey hood from her mane, and in its place levitating her token steeple hat from under the clothing to warm her ears with more comfort. Although she could control her deep desire to hug her guest it did little to help the silence behind the crackling fire. Twilight tapped her hooves against the soft cushion as she gazed into the tantalising violet eyes of the mare barely a stretch away from her, that was until she finally recalled the fact she also wanted to converse with her. “So Trixie, what brings you to Ponyville then?”

“Her performance, Twilight.” Trixie found it difficult to allow herself to speak openly to the mare that she had such a deep history with, the mare that despite everything still knew so little about her. She could see the eyes of the pony in question well up slightly to her reluctance to answer, forcing her lips to speak to calm the forming sadness. “She is touring Equestria like she did the year before, it was a suggestion from Princess Celestia that she.”

“You know the Princess?!” Twilight’s happiness tore through any sense of doubt as she threw herself towards the startled unicorn, grabbing her hooves with glee.

Trixie shied away slightly to the sudden touch as she confirmed her statement. “Trixie knows of her, both Princesses viewed her previous show in Canterlot, it was her that suggested to return to Ponyville for the next performance.”

The lavender mare’s gleeful expression found itself wrapped in poorly hidden horror as the thoughts of her teacher’s reasoning grew. “Did Celestia happen to say why she wanted you here?”

Trixie contemplated not saying the truth, before realising it may be one of the few times when she would have such a choice. “Your mentor showed Trixie a letter.”

Twilight pulled her hooves to her chest in shame as the situation made itself clear. “This is so embarrassing!” She swiftly returned her hooves to her guest’s, holding them for support as she spoke. “Which one was it? It wasn’t the last one was it? Or no it wasn’t the one after that party was it? I didn’t know Rainbow spiked the punch, I didn’t mean to send that!”

The proud unicorn attempted to gently withdraw from her host’s hooves. “Trixie would not know Twilight, but your mentor mentioned it was the newest letter she received when visiting her after the performance.”

Celestia’s student exhaled in relief as the words reached her ear, knowing she didn’t read the early morning letter she wrote on a tear soaked parchment. “That is a relief, but, then you know of?”

Trixie nodded her head to the unicorn she gave up trying to remove herself from. “Your desires to see, talk and, befriend Trixie. Yes she is aware.” She turned her gaze away from the staring violet eyes in her hooves shortly before returning to the same staring longing void of hope reflecting her own masked feelings, staring endlessly into her lighter eyes awaiting her voice of either approval or rejection. A part of the showmare wished to force the later option to continue her life in the shadows, but a part of her, a large deep part couldn’t bare to think of refusing the caring globes prying open her soul. “Trixie would be, pleased, to accept your friendship.” She could barely finish her speech before the mare lightly holding her hooves threw herself around the startled unicorn, almost forcing her backwards as she wrapped her tender legs around the taller mare. Trixie found herself unable to reply to the unexpected show of compassion, the first hug she could remember receiving being thrown around regardless of whether she cared or even desired to accept it. As the seconds passed she began to warm to the comforting embrace and cautiously wrapped her own legs around her friend’s soft coat.

“Thank you Trixie.” Twilight began to subtly brush her face against the aqua coat of her newest friend, nuzzling the warm chest of the mare she adored. “I’ll be the best friend you could ever wish for!”

The usually solitary mare temporarily lost her defensive character as she enjoyed the embrace, tightening her hooves slightly to hold her first hug even closer, providing the loving care that her wooden doll could never quite give. “I’m sure you will.”

Several minutes passed before Twilight finally broke from the loving embrace, giggling slightly to the fact of how awkward it must have been if she wasn’t lost in thought. Trixie rubbed her leg as she gazed away from the unicorn, as if feeling the same awkwardness returning. “I should probably head back home now, it is getting very late.”

Twilight smiled warmly to her new ‘Great and Powerful’ friend as she rose to her hooves and began to make her way to the door. A lavender trail surrounded the exit to town, opening the way for her friend as she turned with a thankful smile. “I’ll see you tomorrow then Trixie, we can do some of the things I’ve learned about friendship with each other!”

The cloaked mare returned her colourful hat beneath the dark clothing, rising the warmer hood over her beautiful mane as she responded for a final time. “Until then.” Her hooves started into a trot as she finished her farewell in a quieter, almost whispering voice. “My friend.”

Twilight galloped quickly to the door to watch as her new friend slowly faded into the darkness of the night, not noticing the smirking expression forming on the cloaked unicorn in response to the lavender mare’s final sentence. She continued to stare into the darkness until the wind’s icy touch snapped her back to reality, causing her to swiftly slam the door and bounce towards her bedroom with a wide grin. Spike somehow managed to remain asleep despite the giddy giggling of his carer as she crumpled up the previous scroll and rushed to write a new, far happier letter to her ever eager mentor.

Chapter 4: Masked Feelings

The darkness subsided from the bright flashes of the unicorn’s magic, her mystical fireworks detonating into the constricting night revealing more of the large oak stage for a few short seconds until the tendrils of darkness bound the performer once more. Her magnificence radiated forth over the vacant seats of her none existent audience, showering her splendour towards the mere air which could do little to forsake the showmare as her audience had done. Regrettably the blue mare finally lost her enthusiasm, dropping her hooves to the floor along with her head in shame as the final viewer closed the theatre door behind himself. She stood still in silence, regretting her foolish notions of being able to perform in such a setting. The thoughts of her honestly being worth a single viewing eye turning to mock her as she slumped to the floor in defeat.

Through the crippling silence a single distant sound echoed through the abandoned performance hall. She raised her hopeful gaze to the distance where the veil of darkness receded to light a single distant figure, a pony. The only remaining member of her audience, or perhaps never a part of them to begin with. Her hooves trailed the floor one after another, slowly stomping at the carpeted floor with muffled clops. The pony was applauding her, or mocking her for her lack of such applauding from the hating audience. The showmare gazed with mixed thoughts to the distant figure before finally dropping her head once more, awaiting for the usual moment where her nightmare would end. But as the seconds of silence passed the moment of escape she longed for never came.

The applauding became louder, yet still as slow as ever. The showmare raised her vision once more to notice the previously distant figure approaching, its hooves not applauding but rather trotting ever so slowly to the stage. The unicorn attempted to call out to the silhouette but as with her spells her voice remained silent, regardless of the effort she attempted to add to be heard. She could do naught but watch as the darkened mare approached her, piercing the darkness with her amethyst eyes as she gently raised her hoof to the showmare’s face, comforting her with the unexpected and deeply desired affection. The obsidian figure smiled warmly to the upset performer as the shrouding darkness constricted tighter between them, sealing off the world with the final amethyst light fading to the eternal night.

Trixie groggily awoke from her recurring dream, trailing her tired hooves to the pillow against her mane to crush it closely against her vulnerable head, attempting to shield her fluttering eyes from the bright sunlight leaking through the closed curtains. If her mind were more awake she would be thankful for the lack of foals playing nearby, but the sounds of market stalls attempting to sell their produce did little to lower the annoying ambience keeping the disinterested unicorn from rejoining the dreaming world.

Some time passed before the still tired mare attempted to raise from her resting place, her performance the day before still weighing heavily upon her fatigue as she allowed the pillow to fall from her scruffy mane. Trixie cautiously brought her hoof to her cheek, brushing lightly as she recalled glimpses of her usual dream, or rather alterations of it. There was no doubt in her mind to who the shadowed being was, not after so many nights pondering her presence. But those new feelings she awoke to, that warmth. Trixie groaned tiredly as she rolled back beneath the quilt, pressing the overused pillow to the back of her head as she lay face first into the sheets. She knew why her dream had changed, she knew exactly why her thoughts of that mare had changed.

“Why did I say yes?” The aqua mare yelled at herself in the muffling pillow as the previous night returned to her. She finally had the chance to free herself yet instead she bound her own chains. She rolled once more to her back, tossing the second pillow beside her coiled bedding as she began to stare at the darkened ceiling. ‘Why did I say yes?’ She thought to herself once more, this time more curious than annoyed. She had no idea why she would continually obsess over the lavender unicorn as she did time and time again. The amount of times she promised or even begged herself to ignore her, wanting to despise the mare for every inch of hatred she knew she deserved. But she couldn’t, there was no chance of her being able to despise her even after everything she had done. The small glimmer of hatred she depended on shattered when she failed to notice any of the self-centred arrogance and pompous snobbery that her negative mind had painted Celestia’s student as possessing. Seeing Twilight once more simply reminded her of the same beautiful traits she had as a filly, the warming, caring, compassionate traits with none of the undesired taint of her mentor rubbing off on her. Her brilliance was truly undeniable.

Trixie’s thoughts continued uncontested as the tired mare rested on her side, her mind filled with unanswered questions and undesired views blocked away by the constant thoughts of the lavender mare. The time that she spent imagining her warming face only subsided when a quiet knock broke her from her daydream, drawing the resting mare’s weary legs from the bed as she proceeded to the kitchen and with a delicate yawn, opened the top half of the wagon’s door.

“Good morning Trixie!” The cheerful, memorable voice greeted the far less energetic mare with a wide smile. The showmare squinted her eyes slightly to the sudden rush of sunlight before her irises focused on the warming face that invaded her dreams. The lavender mare lowered her hoof after tapping the oak door to await her new friend’s response.

“Twilight? Why are you awakening Trixie at this hour?” The curiosity in her voice remained muffled behind her drowsy lips as she subtly brushed some sand from her eyes. The showmare almost called out a second time to question her guest entering her home before realising she had subconsciously held the door open for her friend.

The lavender unicorn turned as she made her way inside, reflecting her sweet smile once more to her host as she apologised. “I’m sorry I didn’t think I would be waking you. But it is already nearing midday, and I didn’t want to ruin the promise we made.”

Trixie hid another yawn behind her hoof as she began to wake more to the world. “Promise? Trixie does not recall...” Staring into her guest’s violet eyes returned more thoughts of the previous night to her, desires that she couldn’t refuse despite the heavy reverberations from being accepted.

Twilight’s smile only increased in warmth as she noticed her new friend visibly recalling their final words. “I knew we would enjoy being together today so I made us a list of activities!” The giddy mare clapped her hooves together before returning them to the floor. “It’s going to be so much fun! We will love being friends.”

The tired mare sighed silently, turning her head to avoid being seen as Twilight’s words finished. The concept of a list of most likely physical activities did not bode well with her previous plans of rest. “How about we just relax for the day, Twilight?” She questioned as she returned her vision to the enthusiastic unicorn. “You could exchange your thoughts or ideas with Trixie.” She avoided admitting her tiredness, hoping her guest would accept her offer rather than probe deeper into her reasoning, or worse yet feel like she was avoiding her.

Twilight evidently took her request in the best light, almost jumping from her seat by the table as Trixie personally requested the sharing of minds she so deeply desired. “Yes! I’d love that, I have so much I want to know!” The smaller unicorn beamed with happiness as she eagerly awaited for her friend to sit beside her, tapping at the spare seat as she smiled. Trixie felt the radiating warmth of her friend who held keen interest for her, but at the same time regretted her choice upon fearing it would be her that would have to talk. As both mares sat facing each other beside the table Twilight instantly leaped into her first question. “For how long have you been adept at magic?”

The fears of her friend’s probing indeed came to pass, though upon further thought it was inevitable when she requested such a discussion. “Trixie has been talented since she was a filly...” She trailed off her truthful answer, avoiding adding more detail as she attempted to shift the discussion to her friend. “But enough of her Twilight, tell Trixie more about yourself, about your talent.”

The lavender mare shied away, blushing slightly to the interest in her life. “I don’t really talk about myself that much. Being a showmare is more interesting than being a student.”

“Nonsense, Trixie would be most interested to hear about you.” The performer’s masterful plan soon bore fruit as Twilight, ever so eager to spread wisdom, began to inform her friend of her own magical talent. Offering words of wisdom which the blue mare already knew all too well. The familiar knowledge allowed the showmare a brief respite as she rested herself, nodding occasionally to the lavender mare’s endless and aimless words while picking up on the few details that were new to her tired ears.

The student’s sweet voice rattled one word after another, each sounding so calming yet elegant to the showmare who almost found herself ready to seal her eyes closed for rest until the tranquil talking ceased suddenly. She fully opened her less taxed eyes to her slightly upset friend. “What is the matter Twilight?” She asked fearing it was her own resting which caused the unsettling feeling.

The lavender mare gave an apologetic gaze before speaking. “I really want to talk to you more, but I got so carried away I almost forgot I was supposed to meet Rarity today.”

Trixie recalled the beautiful mare she witnessed leaving the library the night before, and the way she touched and held Twilight as close as she did. “The white unicorn?”

Twilight nodded happily to her friend’s knowledge of her best friend. “You met her before when she joined your performance last year, you coloured her hair green.” She subtly smiled in amusement to the memory.

“Yes, Trixie knows of that unicorn.” The image of the two closely embracing unicorns remained burned in her retinas, the thought of which ached her heart as she turned her gaze to the table. “You should not keep her waiting, Twilight.”

The lavender unicorn struggled with her thoughts until the obvious solution to her filled the blank. “You should come with me Trixie. She would love to see you!”

“Trixie does not think that it would be appropriate for her to join you.”

Twilight lightly grabbed her friend’s hooves, breaking her from the upsetting thoughts as she responded now with her full attention. “No it will be great! Rarity has been helping me a lot recently. I’m positive you will like her, she is a very caring pony.”

After a brief pause Trixie exhaled softly, still gazing with a vacant look as she replied. “Very well. Trixie does suppose she should see the mare that brings you such happiness.” A sudden compassionate warmth overtook her as Twilight threw her forelegs around her newest friend, helping to relieve some of the sadness that she couldn’t understand. A few warm seconds passed before Twilight broke from her caring hug to retreat to the door, turning around to patiently wait for her friend who slowly opened her eyes as the compassionate hold left her. “I thank you.” She stated almost silently under her breath before raising to her hooves.

The lavender mare bounced around in a tight circle for a few seconds happily before stopping to stare at her friend. “Come on let’s go and see her, my best friend meeting you, it will be so great!”

“One moment, Twilight.” The showmare turned her vision away before her friend could see her growing smirk as she made her way into the bedroom, swiftly closing the door behind her to avoid her guest’s prying eyes from seeing the real state of her home.

A minute passed before the bedroom door closed once more, gaining Twilight’s renewed attention as she turned to indulge her eyes in the star-graced attire of the performer in her true splendour. “Now we can go see Rarity.” Trixie nodded in approval, tipping her steeple hat slightly as she did so. The comforting familiar feeling and warmth of her costume providing her with her persona’s strength as she left the wagon with her friend beside her.

The streets of Ponyville were far from vacant, with the bold boastful voices of the market stalls calling out to their next customers. Mares and stallions of varying ages travelled between the traders, spying their gaze across the advertised wares before turning their attention to the approaching magicians. Their gossiping voices didn’t hold the same pompous superiority of Canterlot’s unicorns, but despite not having such views their invading observation still threatened to unsettle the showmare who held her head to the skies as they passed by the market. Refusing to allow her protection to fade from whatever slanderous concoctions were being traded between the town’s population. She solidified her persona as she continued to proudly trot alongside her much more open and relaxed friend.

“Howdy Twilight!” An all too familiar voice stalled Trixie in her tracks as the nearby unicorn turned to her side to greet one of the numerous vendors. “I don’t suppose ah could interest ya in some apples?” As Twilight began to canter towards the market stall Trixie’s hidden fears revealed true as the orange earth pony could be seen staring back at her from behind baskets of fruit.

“Hey Applejack.” Twilight greeted her friend merrily before turning to look to the unicorn she left behind, motioning her hoof to beckon her over. “Applejack is another of my friends.”

“We’ve already met.” The farmpony stated with great difficulty to keep her negative feelings inside. She turned her attention away from the unwanted customer to focus on the lavender unicorn. She stumbled words within her mind until her friend answered the question she was unable to ask.

“Trixie’s my new friend!” Twilight exclaimed happily, clapping her hooves before turning to the now adjacent taller unicorn beside her once more. “I was going to tell Rarity first, but it’s just too good to keep a secret.”

Applejack passed her cautious emerald eyes between the two mares multiple times, thankfully noticing no lying within the violet eyes of the showmare despite the clear discomfort from it being mentioned. “Well I’m happy for ya Twilight, it’s always good to have more friends.” She couldn’t bring herself to voice her still existent disapproval to Twilight herself, she loved her friends being happy and refused to ruin that happiness even if she had the unshakable feeling that the arrogant unicorn would do so herself sooner or later.

The prying attention of nearby ponies didn’t help the showmare’s already fading comfort as Twilight continued to commune with the mare she mocked. She was silently thankful for the farmpony not to be mentioning the earlier conflict outside Ponyville, though she could tell from her still iced gaze that her good will was only for the lavender mare. As Twilight continued to talk aimlessly with the merchant, Trixie’s dominant persona found convenient support with standing close to the smaller chatting mare despite not joining in with the unwanted discussion herself. Hoping for an end to the discussion and as a result an end to the unwanted gazes.

“It’s great talking to ya Twi, but these apples don’t sell themselves and I wouldn’t want to keep y’all from meeting with Rarity.” Applejack gave a wide over-exaggerated smile to her cheerful friend, hoping she would take the hint that they both had places to be, and ignore the fact she simply didn’t want to hear about the aggravating unicorn.

“Oh, right I keep forgetting today. I just keep getting carried away.” Twilight returned the smile without the added over-exaggeration to her hard working friend before looking over her juicy wares, and upon seeing the desired meal levitated a small collection of bits from her saddlepack to the vendor. “I’ll take one of those sweet red ones again.”

The orange mare replied with a appreciative smile to her friend’s good taste. “Ah hope you enjoy it sugarcube.”

Twilight surrounded the purchase in her lavender aura as she looked across to the unicorn beside her. “Do you want me to get you one Trixie? Applejack’s apples are delicious.”

The arrogant mare swiftly launched herself upon the accusation of her wealth. “Trixie does not need to have her food bought by another, and neither would she want to buy any tainted produce from such a stall.”

“My families apples are the best in Ponyville! And I’d never ‘taint’ them, not even when selling them to you.”

A thick blanket of tension lowered itself over the market stall leaving silence in its wake. Applejack had to uphold her families honour, but deeply wished she could change what she said when she began to notice Twilight growing a questioning gaze. However before managing to apologise for the sake of the mare she actually cared for, the insinuating unicorn broke the silence herself. “Very well, farmpony. Trixie shall try one of your apples when she desires sustenance.”

Trixie’s response threw the defending mare back slightly as she watched the showmare begin to trot away with the same arrogant pride as before. As Trixie took her leave Twilight seemed to lose the forming sadness from her questioning mindset as she quickly caught up with her new friend. The arrogance of that unicorn wouldn’t usually allow herself to back down from such a conflict she previously created, yet she seemed to leave as if not wanting to fight in front of the innocent unicorn. ‘If she does care for Twilight’s happiness, then she has a very strange way of showing it.’

Twilight waved goodbye to her friend before refocusing her attention to the unicorn beside her who continued to trot in the solidified proud profile which she kept to since the avoided conflict. Though her frown left, the smile had yet to return as the curious mare voiced her concern. “You two don’t get along, do you?”

“She is a good mare, she couldn’t be anything but that if she is your friend.” Trixie continued her arrogant trot, looking down shortly to the drawn eyes of her friend. “Trixie does not apologise to her hecklers, it is them that insult her on stage and it is them that are to blame.”

‘I know you would like each other.’ The lavender mare sighed silently as she thought about the friendship both her friends denied each other. A short period of silence followed Trixie’s final sentence until the smaller mare noticed the unforgettable sight of the Carousel Boutique becoming clearer from the distance. “That’s Rarity’s house!” Twilight proclaimed happily, breaking herself from the previous sadness as the thoughts of her new friend meeting her best friend renewed themselves in her mind.

“A boutique?” The blue unicorn questioned reading the extravagant sign on the overly colourful exterior. ‘Typical considering her beauty.’ The memorised news clippings usually mentioned such a radiant unicorn alongside the other Elements, Generosity if she recalled correctly. Generous enough to spread her love and happiness to the only real friend Trixie had. The strange thoughts eluded her to time until a delicate knock against the boutique’s door returned her to the world.

“It’s open.” A caring voice called out from inside, fuelling the lavender mare to wrap her telekinesis around the handle and gain entrance into the warm store. Trixie was visibly pleased as the door closed behind them to seal away unwanted gazes from the town’s lingering population, returning her eyes to the store’s interior she spotted the large quantity of fashion heavy dresses, posh suits and other ridiculous tastes resting on the numerous mannequins. In the centre of the room near an unfinished dress stood the same undeniably beautiful unicorn she saw the day before. Her pearl white coat reflected the room’s bright lighting, shimmering like the diamonds marking the flank of her perfectly proportioned body. Trying to best such beauty was truly an impossible task, even for one as Great and Powerful as herself.

Rarity hummed the same tune she learnt from Twilight after hearing her sing it on multiple occasions. Her sweet voice matched her equally fine physical appearance as she levitated a spool of thread from the table, threading it through the small needle and passing it through the awaiting fabric, before finally returning the needle from the incision all within a few perfectly timed seconds. “How can I help you?” Rarity’s voice once again spoke in the same sweet tone, interrupting her own tune as she gazed over to her guests. Her face brightened to the sight of the mare she cared for standing before the closed door, but before she could open her lips to speak her sight trailed to the second unicorn standing beside her wearing the all too familiar, yet highly dated, star patterned cloak. She continued to keep silent as she locked her sight between the two mares, looking for any hinting expressions as to the intimacy of the relationship between them.

“Good morning Rarity! I know we were supposed to go and see Trixie together today, but I have even better news!” The giddy unicorn failed to keep in her gleeful happiness as she unleashed cute sounds to the pleasure of both mares. “Trixie came to see me last night and she asked to be my friend!”

“This is wonderful news, Twilight!” Rarity stated swiftly, wrapping her hooves around her best friend, enjoying the warming embrace as after months of supporting the innocent mare’s feelings she finally made friends with the mare she subconsciously loved.

Trixie felt less impacted by the spreading news now that they were in a more private setting, but the warm smile of her host did little to help. Though it was true that this friend of Twilight’s seemed happier about the news than the previous, the over-interested nature of the beautiful mare seemed problematic in its own right as she threw her hooves around the showmare, pulling her into her third hug. She felt strangely unsettled by the foreign touch, as warming and compassionate as it truly was the hug felt somehow wrong compared to the previous times with Twilight.

Rarity removed herself from her new guest, and began to talk before even allowing herself time to return to all fours. “So tell me, how did you two meet last night?”

“It was just after you left, I returned upstairs to write a letter when Trixie knocked on the door.” Twilight began to recite seemingly everything that happened whether important or not.

“Oh, so I just missed the two of you then?” Rarity questioned with slight sadness in her voice, as much as she knew privacy and desired it herself, she couldn’t help but snoop on everything slightly romantic her friends could do.

“Trixie witnessed you leaving before she requested a discussion.” The showmare gave a rare reply to the question, providing the hint towards desiring a private meeting.

Rarity continued her warm smile unhindered to being told of privacy. “Of course, it is highly understandable that the two of you would want to meet in private. But with that said it is also wonderful that you will let your friends know as well. I love to hear about everything that makes you happy dear, so please continue.”

Trixie continued to listen without interrupting the lavender mare, enjoying her pleasing voice and enjoying even more the fact she skipped past her apology in the otherwise highly descriptive list of events. The showmare took this time to explore the store, trotting slowly between the mannequins until she noticed the worktable near the back of the main room. On its top beside the collection of spools and fabrics lay a small picture frame holding a photograph of the beautiful mare herself alongside a small and similarly coloured filly, both smiling happily beside each other in the image.

“That hug is so beautiful.” Rarity stated as Twilight’s descriptions finally reached the end. The beautiful mare was pleased to notice the blush slowly fading from the lavender unicorn as she concluded talking about her meeting with the pony she didn’t understand her feelings towards. Another compassionate hug soon followed to which Trixie once again felt something tug at her heart as she witnessed the exchange between the two mares, the passionate embrace of the unicorns that clearly cared for each other more than friends.

“I am pleased with how happy you make Twilight.” Rarity placed a hoof on the cautious unicorn’s shoulder as she continued to examine the photograph, staring at the filly that shared common traits between the two best friends. “Is something the matter, Trixie?” The beautiful unicorn questioned with genuine concern, caring for the unicorn that she hoped would finally treat Twilight like she wished she could, and like she knew the innocent mare deserved.

“Is she yours?” Trixie questioned bluntly, keeping her eyes focused on the young filly in the photograph.

Rarity pondered the question shortly, following her would-be-friend’s vision to the image of her sister before reacting strongly. “Heavens no! Sweetie Belle is my sister!” She recoiled her hooves to her lips before returning one to the questioning unicorn’s shoulder. “Besides if I WAS to have a foal they wouldn’t be close to her age yet.” The pearl unicorn removed her light grip to face her guest before questioning herself. “Why would you ponder that?”

Trixie raised her vision to the distant lavender unicorn obsessively wiping the surface of her ruby apple in the distance before speaking, knowing that she wouldn’t be able to hear whilst obsessing in such a way. “As Trixie said she saw you the previous night.” She noticed the nodding from her host before continuing. “She saw the way you departed, the way you touched her.”

Rarity almost burnt up inside from knowing her actions were seen, the touches she couldn’t help when alone with the lavender mare. “Trixie please, don’t mention this to anypony else.”

“There is nothing to be ashamed of, Trixie enjoys knowing you can bring her friend happiness.” Rarity could notice the struggling emotions within the showmare as she spoke. “Your sister looked to share appearances with the two of you, it was a simple error.”

The pearl unicorn shook her head briefly, holding her guest’s shoulders to face their eyes into each others. “You have it all wrong Trixie.” She quickly continued to avoid the showmare’s defences from spiking to such an accusation. “We are not a couple, we are best friends, very close friends but that is all.”

Relief drenched the arrogant unicorn as she grew a smirking expression which Rarity could notice a subtle smile within. “Trixie should not have expected anything different. Twilight would never be capable of understanding such relationships.”

Rarity trotted beside her guest as they both turned their sight to the vigorously polishing mare, her attention still captivated on the eternal struggle to make the fruit ‘perfect’. “Oh I wouldn’t say never.” The beautiful mare lowered her sapphire eyes to the unicorn beside her, witnessing the equally captivated violet globes cast their attention over the lavender mare. Rarity’s romantic mind began to bake the scene as she pieced together her guest’s reactions and thoughts. The slight awkwardness she felt hearing Twilight’s words was a perfect base, while her worries of the mare being in a relationship suited the delicious creamy filling. Trixie’s clear interest in her body, gazing her eyes across her coat helped to paint the final touches of icing to the romanticised cake which Rarity’s warm smile served to bake. She prided herself on such detections of her friend’s relations, and already within moments of meeting the unicorn Twilight adored she determined that the same unyielding passion must also exist within the showmare.

Discovering the truth however only solved one problem, albeit an important fact to discover. Rarity knew now that she had two mares with hidden love that she tasked herself with bringing together. The first naive to the notion of falling in love and the second likely too arrogant to accept such feelings. She sighed silently to herself as the colossal task broadened to such extents that her ‘gentle pushes’ never usually required. Her original attempts to gain intimate ground with her best friend were as difficult as they were without the added problem of introducing a magician obsessed with her stage character.

As Rarity returned from her thoughts she noticed the unicorn beside her had returned to stand beside the lavender mare, gazing down at her with the still arrogant smirk as she watched Twilight examine the worn skin of her meal. “Twilight dear, don’t you think you have cleaned it enough?” Rarity commented as she made her way to her friend.

“But it’s not clean.” Twilight huffed beneath her breath as she began to rub at the apple again, attempting to clean the undesired mark until a light blue aura snatches the food from her grasp.

Rarity examined the mentioned filth to only find a single dark spot along the surface of the tasty fruit. “It is perfectly fine Twilight, such marks are natural.” A soft sigh escaped the unicorn’s lips as she turned around from her guests to begin coaxing her light blue aura once more. She kept the apple hidden from view as she began to levitate a small brush into a pot of ruby paint, and while humming the familiar tune secretly brought it to the apple, delicately painting the marked surface before turning around with her usual bright smile. “There! Perfection. Now you can eat it, dear.” Twilight cocked her gaze suspiciously as she looked down to the fruit she failed to clean, before returning it to her best friend.

Rarity levitated the brush out of sight behind herself as she continued to smile. “So Twilight dear, do you have any plans to take Trixie somewhere special?”

The change in topic cut short Twilight’s querying examination, almost causing her to forget about the apple entirely once she heard the mention of planning. “Oh yes, I made a small list last night of the friendship activities we would enjoy together!” Both onlooking unicorns found amusement to the somewhat expected sight of the student unravelling a scroll from her saddlepack, trailing the long list along the floor before beginning to recite her completed activities. “Let’s see, the meeting with Rarity was first.” She drew out a quill to begin marking the boxes beside each listed action. “We met Applejack...went shopping...we talked about ourselves...”

“Oh you talked about yourselves to each other then.” Rarity interrupted quietly to the showmare, enjoying the sight of her tipping her hat to hide her blush.

“It was mostly Twilight who talked about herself to Trixie.”

“Mostly.” The beautiful unicorn responded in a timely manner, earning a renewed awkward gaze from the mare she could now see as a friend.

“That’s all so far.” Twilight prevented the showmare from being able to reply, looking down her still mostly blank tick-boxes. “There is a lot left for us to do. Maybe we could complete trying out dresses now since we are here.”

Rarity approached her best friend, rubbing her neck against her own briefly to attract her attention before yanking the scroll from her hooves. “How about the two of you go and enjoy a nice movie, or enjoy a stroll through the park.” The lavender mare attempted to reach for the scroll as her friend retreated with it in possession. “You could enjoy a nice atmospheric meal yes?”

“I know, those things are on my list.” Twilight reached out once more, as if pleading to have her plan returned.

“I shall keep it safe for you dear. Let Trixie decide on how you enjoy yourselves.” Rarity concluded, levitating the scroll out of sight behind one of the dressing room curtains.

Trixie proudly stood upright beside her friend upon hearing the request. “Very well, Trixie shall take her somewhere fitting.” With that said a magenta aura surrounded itself around the door handle, opening the door with the hidden telekinesis beneath her hat. “Farewell, Rarity.”

The beautiful mare enjoyed the sight and sound of her new friends farewell, noticing the masked good will within her voice. Though it was clear the showmare found it difficult to open up her feelings to others or even herself, she was satisfied with the secretive friendly nature she felt during their meeting. “Let me know how it goes Twilight, Trixie.”

Upon witnessing the two unicorns leave her vision Rarity finally lowered her hoof and returned inside. Allowing for Trixie to have her say in the activities was the first of many steps towards ‘helping’ the mares fall in love. But she knew there was still much more to be done, meetings to be planned and perhaps most importantly, friends to be coaxed in line. The beautiful mare lost herself in thought with how to break such news to her friends who still couldn’t trust the showmare, oblivious to the silently opening door behind her.

Twilight returned the waving gesture to her best friend as they left her field of view. Within seconds of being safe the lavender mare re-opened her saddlepack and to Trixie’s surprise drew out a second, identical scroll to the previous scroll her friend had taken from her. As she jotted down the completed activities once more she levitated the bottom of the scroll to both mare’s vision and ticked off the last activity on the list. ‘Have Rarity confiscate the copy.’ Twilight smiled with a sweet knowing, arrogance to the unicorn above her, who responded in turn while gently nudging her friend. “That is why Trixie likes you, Twilight Sparkle.”

Author's Note

Apologies for the long gap between chapters, should be more fluent from now on unless more problems occur.

Chapter 5: Watering the Seeds

Brightness cascaded down over the kingdom of Canterlot from the open valley, shadowing the mountain foundations as the celestial sphere reached its peak. The sun loomed overhead, radiating its warmth over the thankful population of Equestria’s capitol below. Rays of bright light bombarded the white stone of the castle multiplying their effect to almost be as blinding as the sun itself, the metal tipped spires glowed with such energy that all who beheld the angelic structure could do little but marvel at the sight of the Solar Princess’ palace. The palace that acted as the very shrine and heart of the sun in the worshipping kingdom below.

In the centre of the glowing stone towers lay the grandest spire of the castle, the white stone rose to the tallest point in the capitol city, and at its peak beneath the engraved roof lay the only opening within the stone walls surrounded by an open balcony. The sun’s brightness illuminated the pearl coat of Equestria’s ruler as she stood silently observing her loyal subjects below, her eyes trailing from the grand vantage point to her entire open kingdom. Celestia always found peace gazing across the beautifully coloured lands she called her own. The still grasslands trailing for as long as the eyes could see, the forests rustling to the movements of wild animals within, the gently flowing streams passing beneath her castle, and finally the subtle sound of hundreds of loyal subjects chatting away at the base of her keep. She continued to pan her eyes gently across the wonderful sights of her peaceful kingdom, holding the chest high stone barrier with her hooves as time passed by.

Celestia finally withdrew her hooves to the smooth stone below, turning slowly to leave her observation point as she silently drew one hoof before another. The brightness of the outside world soon faded to the dark room who’s interior lay illuminated by only a few candles and the light breaching through the open door. She took care to make her way silently inside until she could leave the echoing stone floor behind her to be replaced by an extravagant carpet beneath her hooves. Celestia smiled warmly to the smaller mare laying with her violet mouth slightly open as she slept on the large bed serving as the centrepiece of the room’s attire. Enjoying the soft sound of her breathing, the adorable flicker of Luna’s eyelids and her small nuzzles against the lush pillows helped to soothe the waking Princess who could do little but be thankful to have her deeply missed sister so close to her again. Her thoughts remained unyielding even after many months since her faithful student helped to save Luna from corruption, helping to return her to the mare she used to be.

Luna continued to sleep lightly during the daylight, her sleep almost being broken by a stray ray of sunlight shining against her withdrawing face before returning to her shallow rest as Celestia levitated a large curtain to conceal more of the balcony. The alicorn left the second curtain open to allow for the message she was so deeply awaiting, slowly making her way inside the darkness to light another candle to help soothe her need for light. The fact of her polar differences with the mare she cared for was never lost on the Solar Princess, but they had found the perfect ways to live with each other over the length of their extended lives.

Only a day had passed since Celestia last heard from Twilight Sparkle, but the words involved in the highly emotional letter failed to settle well with the student’s mentor. She had examined all the likely possibilities in her mind when she pushed the showmare’s hoof, knowing that Beatrix would never allow herself to ignore another’s pain. But as the hours passed without any word from either of her students she began to grow restless to the thought of any possible error in her usually pristine plans.

“Sister?” Celestia silenced her hooves from their restless pacing as she heeded the soft voice of the waking mare, slowly turning to face the darker alicorn rubbing the rest from her eyes. “Do not wear out our favourite rug with your worrying mind.” Luna returned the almost smirking smile to her sister before tapping the bed with her hoof. “Let us rest together, and soothe your worries.”

Celestia accepted her sister’s request, slowly trotting towards the large bed as her grand wings spread to take gentle flight, blowing a cooling gust down to the bed below as she hovered onto the covers beside the darker mare. Within moments of laying close she found herself naturally trailing her leg around the violet mare as she herself rested her still tired head against the larger alicorn’s chest. “Thank you, Sister.” A long pause followed her gratitude, during which time she merely comforted her heart with gentle strokes of her sister’s purple mane. “It isn’t like her to be tardy.”

“It is also not like Twilight Sparkle to send a letter each day. Her happiness has most likely grown.” Luna replied shortly after, enjoying the compassionate hoof of her beloved.

“I hope that you are correct Sister, Beatrix would surely have wanted to see her. But that character of hers...” Celestia trailed her voice shortly to the knowledge of her student’s fake personality. “It is becoming more of a problem with each passing day.”

“A problem you will need to cope with, Sister. We both know that you have no desire to see her hurt once more.” The Princess of the Moon replied once more, helping to dispel any of the unwanted thoughts her sister refused to allow.

Celestia raised her sight from the beautiful mare to the open balcony, staring out over the skies of her kingdom as she continued to await the mail she deeply desired. “Twilight would be the only pony capable of penetrating her shell without hurting her, if only she was given the chance.” The Solar Princess exhaled silently, disliking the fact that she needed to place her own failed duty onto another.

Luna compassionately surrounded her sister with her smaller legs, hugging her until she reformed her usual smile. “You have never given up on your students, Sister, and neither has Twilight Sparkle given up on her studies of friendship.” Celestia warmed to her sister’s caring words, stroking her own hoof softly across her violet face before a familiar whirling sound interrupted their loving embrace. Luna withdrew from the denied kiss to return to her pillow with a slight frown as Celestia’s concentration fortified itself on the approaching green smoke entering the bedroom, the magical mist coiled around itself above the Princess before flashing into physical existence as a slightly ink stained scroll. Celestia caught the scroll in her hooves and exhaled a deep breath of relief before cautiously unravelling the sought after message before her eyes. Knowing the lettering inside would either spell love between the mares she cared for, or the second broken heart of this generation’s students.

Luna watched patiently as her sister’s expression turned to one of immense happiness, before smirking to some unseen humour. “I take that it is good news, Sister?”

The joyful alicorn turned to face her questioning lover, levitating over the scroll to her awaiting hooves. “It could be better, but it is far from worst. It would seem I overestimated the interference of ‘Trixie.’”

Luna began to read the overly cheerful letter, reading it with less enthusiasm than the exclamation mark riddled sentences would seem to desire. She finished the surprisingly long but sweet message before sighing to herself with a mixture of happiness and disappointment. “I see she has not mentioned anything saucy, or even a word of love. You told me they were in love, Sister?”

Celestia continued to smirk, almost releasing a laugh as she understood her sister’s disappointment. “They are, but Beatrix clearly still refuses to accept it...and Twilight is simply being herself.” She gazed over towards a romance filled bookshelf in the room before continuing. “At this rate I may need to send her a book on the subject, or perhaps just write her a message telling her she is in love. For being my smartest student to date, Twilight is also sadly the most dense.”

The pearl mare raised herself from the bed to pan her eyes over her exotic collection of literature, trailing her hoof past each novel before tapping against a perfect guide book for the subject. Just as her golden aura began to wrap around the tome she froze to a sudden idea flashing within her mind. She swiftly pinned it down before smiling even wider with a mischievous grin. “Sister, may I examine the letter once more?”

“Of course.” Luna freed her grip on the exciting message, allowing her sister to return it to her vision. Celestia skimmed the sentences for the single quote she recalled in her planning mind, and upon seeing it grew the unmistakable grin which Luna had grown ever so used to experiencing. “What devious plot are you concocting now, Sister?”

The Solar Princess turned from the bookshelf keeping her still grinning smile as she spoke. “Do not worry dear Luna, I am aware of how ineffective such forward measures have been. Beatrix is indeed difficult to reach herself.” Her golden aura began to close the scroll, stashing it within her flowing mane as she gazed at her visibly concerned partner. “However I had yet to explore third party involvements, and there is one perfect mare for the task.”

Luna rested her head against the enthralling pillow as she enjoyed the unquestioningly caring aspect of her sister’s expressions facing her, comforting the smaller mare who could always be sure the seemingly devious plans contained the best interests of her students at heart. “But how could anypony be as subtle and inconspicuous as you for this task, Sister?”

Celestia returned the playful grin of her lover mocking her previous visit with the showmare before unfolding her grand wings once more, readying herself to take flight. “We will have to see, won’t we.” She began to hover towards the balcony before a sweet sound caused a pause in her ascent, Celestia gazed down to the beautiful sight of her partner holding her forelegs open, reflecting the equally loving eyes of the mare she cared for from the shared bed. “Of course Sister, I could never leave without saying farewell.” With a gentle motion of her dignified wings the pearl alicorn lowered herself gently to the bed, to share the loving embrace without any scroll to intervene.

Rarity slumped her diamond engraved flank onto the stool before her workbench, trailing her hoof through the collection of fine fabrics and even finer threads as she lost her mind to the increasingly difficult task she threw upon herself. She had struggled with her disapproving friend’s opinions and actions thus far when they only worried about Twilight’s happiness, but now that she was truly falling for the showmare they disliked, their emotions would more than likely erupt in fear for far more than just her happiness. ‘Should I tell them? Sooner would be best, but what if they attempt to sabotage the relationship?’ The white unicorn shook her head shortly to such a notion before lowering her vacant gaze to the table. ‘They would never do such a thing, even to Trixie. Perhaps letting Twilight be the first to announce would be best, but what if she needs their help to feel comfortable to do such a thing?’

The boutique’s door opened nearly silent behind the enthralled mare, closing soon after as the unannounced guest slowly made her way inside the warm shop, advancing through the racks of plush dresses and professional suits to the owner who remained obliviously stuck in thought. She merely gazed down at the beautiful unicorn before her, trailing her eyes along her shimmering coat, from her curled mane to her bright chest, finally trailing her vision along her forelegs as she leaned forward to breathe cautiously along her tapping hooves. As her mouth lay merely inches from the beautiful mare’s sensitive ears she began to softly speak. “Greetings Rarity.”

Rarity’s emotions suddenly peaked with fear and shock as she darted from her chair, almost striking the invading figure with a clean swipe of her hoof before staring at the large alicorn before her, pausing in wonder. “P, Princess!?” The pearl unicorn quickly lowered herself to the floor, submissively bowing her face to the carpeted floor. “I am so terribly sorry! I didn’t know it was you, please forgive my attack.”

Celestia always enjoyed the warming sight of her subjects bowing before her, and the beautiful Element of Generosity was no exception. “There was no harm done.”

“I am still so terribly sorry for such an action, I just did not expect your arrival.” Rarity cautiously gazed up to her dignified ruler, soothing her fearful mind to the sight of the caring eyes cascading affection back down at her, signalling the freedom to rise. “Not that I dislike seeing you, on the contrary I adore seeing you again Princess. But why have you come to meet me?” She looked around herself to the nearby dresses before turning to smile brightly to her important guest. “Would you like a new dress? I have recently been working on a grand design that would be perfect for you!”

“That will not be required.” The Solar mare continued upon seeing the slight sadness form in the dressmakers eyes. “But I may examine them on a more fitting day, when there is less to discuss.”

Rarity’s gleeful smile to the notion of such an important customer faded as soon as it spawned to the wording of the dignified alicorn. The notion of having anything of value to discuss between them was always distant and small, especially considering the only connection they truly possessed was the Elements of Harmony and the lavender mare she adored, of which the most recent changes to the latter became all the more clear as the reason for her ruler’s visit. Just before she could open her lips to speak, Celestia interrupted. “Yes, this is about Twilight Sparkle.”

Rarity’s anxiety caused her to laugh lightly before regaining her composure to reply. “As Twilight’s best friend I will of course assist you with anything you desire for her well being.”

“Then let us discuss the showmare which my student has been sending so many letters about.” The Solar Princess waited for her subject to open her delicate lips once more before continuing. “Or perhaps more importantly, shall we discuss the unicorn who has been mentioned as...” A golden aura surrounded the scroll in her flowing mane, unravelling the message before the unicorn’s sapphire eyes to highlight the words she began to quote. “Always being there to help me with my feeling towards the wonderful mare.”

The pearl unicorn’s emotions swirled together to the mixture of the beautiful letter before her and the clearly lecturing tone of the alicorn standing over her. “As her best friend I have prided myself on always been there to help Twilight to understand her emotions and feelings, as all good friends would do.” She held her hoof to her chest as she spoke, closing her eyes as her angelic words trailed from her equally caring voice. During the silence following her words Rarity cautiously opened her eyes once more to see the unmoving statue staring back at her, prying into her mind in response. “I didn’t make her fall in love, it was her own doing! I merely helped her to understand.”

“Of course you didn’t, you would never attempt to edge your friends into relationships.” Celestia commented in an almost mocking voice, cementing the knowledge of her subject’s actions into each carefully chosen word. “As fate would have it this, assistance, of yours has been most beneficial.”

Rarity’s romance adoring mind seemed to peak to the final sentence escaping her ruler’s lips. “Thank you Princess, I.” Her words cut short to the sight of the dominant figure holding her hoof to the air holding the scroll before her, silencing her gratitude.

Celestia passed the scroll to the smaller unicorn, giving her time to read and visibly enjoy the heart warming message, watching patiently as her sapphire eyes darted across each line as if fearing the letter would be taken from her at any moment. Upon finally finishing with an almost blushing smile the beautiful unicorn glanced back to her ruler, still unsure of why she was showing her such a private message portraying the love between her friends. “I have been looking forward to my students finally falling in love, but as can be seen from this, compassionate letter, it is still clear that Twilight has yet to understand her desires.”

The pearl unicorn returned her gaze once more to skim the letter upon hearing the unsettling view, affirming the sad truth she still knew to heart as her best friend’s lettering failed to contain even a single use of love. “Sadly Twilight Sparkle has never been one to understand such advances...” The beautiful mare’s voice almost trailed in thought about her own desires before she quickly attempted to hide them from the monarch’s mind. “After all Trixie clearly does desire the same herself, but she seems unable to tell her.”

“Yes, both mares are living in ignorance, unaware of each other’s passionate love.” Celestia slowly trotted around her subject as she spoke, toying with the ideas forming the master plan as she released one word after another. “If only there was a way for somepony to make them understand, to guide them into each other’s legs.”

Rarity turned her questioning gaze to the taller mare beside her, noticing the forming smile, almost smirking as she patrolled in thought. “So you came all this way to meet me, for the sole purpose of stringing me along to do the dirty work for you?”

Celestia paused her hooves to the insinuating, and almost blunt phrase of the mare staring up at her, smirking even wider down towards the beautiful unicorn who's eyes reflected her own jewels back to her. “It is far from ‘dirty’, my generous subject.”

A brief blanket of silence descended over the boutique as Rarity’s piercing gaze forced it’s way inside the open eyes of the manipulative alicorn, taking free reign within her unprotected jewels while attempting to observe anything undesirable within her thoughts. As the seconds passed by, the unicorn’s lips slowly began to coil into an equally grinning expression to the manipulative mare above her. “What will you have me do?”

Trixie slowly trotted beside her friend, forsaking some of her usual arrogance from each step as her mind instead began to concentrate on the unicorn beside her, enjoying the amusing sight of her fumbling with yet another list which seemed to dictate times of the day for some unknown reason. The reasons behind such activities held little interest in the showmare’s mind, who instead simply enjoyed the warming sight of Twilight attempting to juggle numerous objects within the same telekinetic field. A small huff escaped the smaller unicorn’s visibly frustrated lips before she flung the parchments back into her saddlepack. “What is troubling you, Twilight?”

The lavender mare quickly lost her aggravated tone as she gazed up to the caring mare beside her. “I’m just not sure what to do next. The meeting with Rarity was meant to last 7 minutes longer, there’s nothing on the timetable for right now.” She left out another almost silent cry of annoyance, hating the fact she didn’t plan a backup event for such an occasion.

Trixie silently smirked to herself, tipping her hat to avoid her expression being seen before speaking down to the irritated mare. “Then it is befitting that Trixie chooses the next location, if you cannot.”

“But I can! I still have them all here, I have the full day planned.”

“Then what shall we do now, Twilight?” Trixie swiftly asked once more, causing the unicorn beside her to almost begin begging for time as she dropped one of her scrolls and the ruby apple to the floor. A magenta hue caught the food inches from the grassy ground, as the showmare slowly levitated the fruit back up to her friend’s lips. “Do not worry about it Twilight, we can simply wait here for the required time.”

The lavender unicorn returned Trixie’s sweet smile, causing the showmare to blush awkwardly in response upon seeing her own reflected in the violet mirrors. Twilight’s worry soon faded to the sweet sight and gladly accepted the floating food before her, wrapping her own aura around Trixie’s weaker magic as she slowly brought the apple to her lips. She froze briefly before her hungry lips surrounded the treat to the sudden strong smell entering her nose, retreating her mouth from the meal she desired to sniff closer along the ruby coat. “It smells of paint...”

Trixie smirked releasing a soft laugh as she continued to hold the apple, enjoying the comforting aura around her own. “Well you did want it to look, ‘clean’, Twilight.” She released another quiet giggle as Twilight drew her hoof across the surface of her magenta aura, tickling her slightly as she scrapped some of the still wet paint off the skin to drip the bright red colouring from the tip of her hoof. “Which is more than can be said for you.” She finished with another light hearted comment, sadly being lost on the lavender mare who seemed to huff once more in annoyance.

“Great, I can’t eat that now, it’s even more dirty than before.” Twilight broke her side of the levitation, causing the food to drop slightly before Trixie returned it to the air.

“It is only a little paint, Twilight.”

“Only a little paint? Are you aware of what paint contains?!” The bookworm began rattling off a series of pointless facts and figures which the showmare merely found increasingly amusing to listen to, enjoying the overblown nature of her argument towards a simple singular drop of paint. She smiled towards the sight of her overworking lavender lips opening and closing in close succession to each and every meaningless comment.

Trixie had begun to subconsciously nibble at the delicious skin of the apple as her friend continued to rant, eventually breaking her from the endless explanations as she stared at the food she wished she could consume being slowly devoured by her new friend. Upon noticing the unicorn’s desiring gaze, Trixie followed her vision down to the apple and blushed shyly before speaking. “Trixie apologises, do you wish to enjoy it yourself? She has opened some of the undesired skin for you.”

The lavender unicorn shook her head slowly in response, smiling sweetly to her new friend as she enjoyed watching her eat. “No, it’s fine. You can continue enjoying it.” The generous lips of the showmare glistened slightly in the midday sun as the apple’s juices reflected Celestia’s beams, leaving her mouth sparkling like the surface of a calm stream. The quiet rumble of the bookworm’s stomach interrupted her pleasurable thoughts before they could fully surface, causing her to lightly rub her chest as she continued to observe the charming unicorn.

The aqua mare pondered the thoughts in her mind before levitating the fruit away from her lips, and smiled to the clearly hungry unicorn beside her attempting to hide her need for food. “Then it is decided, Trixie shall treat you to a meal worthy of her standards!”

Twilight shook her head shortly, still wearing her smile as she attempted to speak in protest to the idea. “I’m really not that hungry Trixie, I’ll be fine let’s just stick to the list.” Her words barely managed to complete themselves before the showmare threw her hoof into the air before her.

“Nonsense Twilight! Trixie has already stated that she would choose the next event, and now is a fitting opportunity to invite you into enjoying the life of Equestria’s greatest magicians!” The showmare’s bragging caught more attention from nearby pedestrians, who she seemed to pay increasingly less attention to over the course of their journey. Holding her nose high as several murmurs attempted to break through her focused attention on the mare before her.

The lavender mare subconsciously smiled as she panned between the onlookers, causing a blush of shyness to the attention they were receiving. “It’s really not needed Trixie, I prefer just eating normally, maybe a little sandwich...” She sighed silently as her attempts to convince her new friend fell on deaf ears, watching the blue mare begin her usual arrogant trot towards the centre of the street. A brief, warming smile formed within her lips as Trixie turned her gaze, beckoning her to join with calming eyes.

As Twilight approached her friend she began to trot slowly down the street, causing the lavender mare to quickly catch up until they could trot beside each other. Twilight felt an unusual calmness within her mind as she continued following the lead of her newest friend, a sense of calm which reduced her usual need to portray facts and figures to oppose the choices the arrogant mare made as she scanned each and every store window, searching for a fitting restaurant while passing up many places she herself would personally choose. After only half a minute however Twilight already found herself needing to break the comforting silence to once again speak out in protest at the idea of needing a meal. “Trixie...”

“This looks perfectly fitting!” Trixie interrupted her best friend with her loud statement, causing the usual glances towards her from a queue. The lavender mare turned to stare at the exceedingly posh restaurant, fit with firefly lanterns and even a roped section near the door which multiple couples stood patiently within, waiting for their own turn to enter. She noticed the satisfied expression on the showmare as she proudly trotted up to the waitress beside the door.

“Trixie, there’s a queue!”

“Greetings doormare!” Trixie stated loudly with her usual show-boasting arrogance as she stood before the unicorn levitating a clipboard between them. “May you stand aside and grant passage to Trixie and her companion?”

The guarding mare placed her hoof out to block the passage of the unicorn attempting to walk straight past the queued couples. “I beg your pardon Miss, but the two of you should join the queue before entering.”

Trixie scoffed shortly before performing more of her boasting before her audience. “The Great and Powerful Trixie does not need to ‘queue’, she is here by order of the Princesses themselves! Her companion is also of a Great position within the royal circle!” The aqua mare turned full circle to finally face the waitress’ eyes again. “Trixie admires your determination, but she must request you stand aside for Equestria’s Greatest Magicians!”

Twilight felt uneasy to the attention Trixie was creating, feeling the eyes of the couples queueing staring at her and the showmare with clear disapproval, a part of her wished to flee the scene or speak out against it, but she couldn’t leave Trixie alone to deal with the resulting outcry. She swallowed her nerves to trot beside the showmare, who looked back to her as she approached with a cocky but warming smile.

“I am afraid you are not on the list Miss Trixie. There are others who have been waiting and unless I receive word of your appointment I cannot let you in without waiting your turn.” The waitress used her vast experience to remain calm against the showmare’s words, keeping herself stood high to not show the weakness that crept into her mind.

The showmare returned her gaze into a scoff once more, refusing to give up before the now large audience forming behind them. “The Princesses will not be pleased to hear of this-”

“Ah there you are!” A beautiful voice from behind broke Trixie’s trail of thought as an equally beautiful unicorn strode up to greet the three mares. “I did not expect you two to arrive so soon.”

The waitress felt relief as she gazed towards her friend approaching, breaking the clear tension that was being thrown upon her. “Welcome Lady Rarity, do you know this customer?”

Rarity smiled warmly as she gazed between her best friend and her would-be lover before replying. “Of course, they are dear friends of mine, you have already met Twilight but this is Trixie.” She cautiously paned her gaze between the building crowd and the clearly dissatisfied customers before speaking once more. “I take it they haven’t been let inside?”

“I am afraid not my Lady, Miss Trixie has claimed to be on the list but her their names are not present for today.”

Rarity merely smiled, enjoying the arrogance of the showmare attempting to cheat her way inside. “They are with me, I apologise for not being here to begin with but I asked them to go on ahead whilst I finished a dress.” Rarity’s beautiful lips smiled warmly, winning over her friend as she stepped aside. “I am sorry for the commotion, but Trixie can be a little vocal.”

“It is forgiven Lady Rarity, please enjoy your meal.” The waitresses’ voice grow silent as the three unicorns made their way inside the warming restaurant, Trixie proudly walked forward to find a seat as Twilight sighed quietly to herself beside her best friend.

“Thank you Rarity, I’m so glad you came when you did.” Twilight thanked honestly as she gazed into her friend’s eyes, returning a sweet smirking smile.

“Don’t mention it dear, I am also glad I caught up when I did. Trixie really can get herself into some sticky situations.” Rarity giggled lightly with her friend as they both stared warmly to their new friend.

“She is really sweet, but she can be so awkward at times...” The lavender mare trailed her voice as she continued to warmly stare at the showmare trotting around a vacant table and looking back to her, meeting their violet eyes across the room.

“Come on dear.” Rarity nudged her best friend’s flank, hiding the pleasure she felt as she returned Twilight to the waking world. “Trixie’s waiting for you.”

Twilight shook a strange feeling from her mind before making her way to the vacant table. Approaching a free chair before being stopped by a magenta glow pulling out the oak seat for her. The two unicorn’s traded glances as she accepted the seat her new friend provided for her. Scooting herself in slightly further after Trixie’s magical hue dissipated. “Thank you Trixie.”

“It was Trixie’s pleasure to assist you.” The arrogance faded from her voice as her lavender friend returned the same deed, levitating the chair for her to gladly lower her flank upon. “Trixie thanks you, also.” The showmare quietened her voice as a cream coloured mare approached the table carrying a silver platter on her back, with the helpful pearl unicorn behind her.

The waitress reached over for the drinks on her back, before turning happily to the usual assistance of her favourite customer levitating the glasses of garnet wine to the table. “Thank you Rarity.” She turned her gaze back to her less common clients before continuing. “Welcome to The Starlight, would you like me to take your orders?”

“Where is the posh menu?” Trixie questioned to the new pony before receiving a levitated menu from Rarity as she sat beside her friends. Rarity thanked Twilight as she received the same caring treatment to her chair as the showmare attempted to read the list she could barely understand, after struggling to find any mention of food she knew she eventually tapped at one of the options with her proud hoof. “Trixie will have one of these, it will best befit her high-class taste!”

The waitress noted down the expensive option before turning her attention to the lavender mare. “I’ll just have a heart salad, and some dried hay please.” Twilight smiled to the serving pony as she jotted down her cheaper meal.

“Twilight, Trixie brought you here to eat as she does...” Trixie trailed her voice off as she silently wished she could have chosen a similarly ‘normal’ meal.

Twilight sighed lightly before speaking in protest once more to the pony she cared for. “I just prefer the more simple food Trixie. I don’t have the same rich taste as you or Rarity.”

The earth pony hid her growing need to laugh at the clear lovers as she glanced to her friend, who she noticed held in the similar need. “And the usual for Rarity?” Her caring smile grew as Rarity returned an agreeing nod before heading to the kitchen.

Rarity bided her time as her lovestruck friends continued to gaze into each other’s violet eyes, helping herself to the delicious wine as a calming silence graced the table. She sipped shortly at the ruby drink before finally speaking to quell the silence as the showmare brought her own glass to her parched lips. “It is great of you to bring Twilight here, The Starlight is the most romantic restaurant in Ponyville, perfectly fitting for your date.”

Rarity earned the satisfying result she aimed for as Trixie almost released her filled mouth in shock to the unicorn’s unexpected words. Trixie attempted to speak in protest to the notion, but found herself unable to speak before the pony she cared for responded for her. “I prefer eating elsewhere but I do like this restaurant, it is warming.”

Trixie felt a strange sense of sadness as Twilight ignored the notion behind Rarity’s words. She gazed back to the white mare who seemed to stifle a giggle, reminding her of the previous words spoken about Twilight at the boutique. “It is warming.” Trixie repeated, feeling the sadness overtaken by an equally strange warmth.

Trixie continued to dwell on the notion of the romantic meeting as Creamed Filling returned to the table with three meals. Once again being pleased to have the levitated assistance of her friend to ease her job. Twilight smiled happily as the delicious salad was placed before her, but the showmare herself gazed awkwardly at the shrivelled orb descending onto the table in the place of her requested meal. She almost spoke out in protest to the horrific looking excuse for food before Rarity swiftly interrupted her. “These all look excellent! Thank you for bringing us them dear.”

“Always a pleasure to be of assistance, enjoy your meals.” The waitress stated happily as she made her way to the next new customers.

Trixie kept in her views of protest as the posh unicorn stated what she had been given was apparently normal. She continued to stare at the off-looking food on her plate before poking it cautiously with her aqua hoof. “Is there a problem with your dried apple, dear?” Rarity questioned, correctly guessing her new friend clearly had no idea what she had ordered.

“Dried apples? Why are they not fresh?” Trixie stated even more concerned.

“Sun-dried Ambrosias, grown in Sweet Apple Acres and basked to chewy perfection by the sunlight soaked through the honey glazing, they are a local delicacy.”

Trixie cautiously gazed around to notice several couples looking back, forcing her to attempt to consume the apparently healthy food. She wrapped her magenta hue around the dried fruit before lifting it to her lips. The strong smell of honey permeated her nostrils as she carefully scrapped her teeth along the shrivelled surface, biting down into the chewy exterior to release the tangy interior juices down her throat. Instantly regretting her choice of meal as she pulled the unspeakable dish away. After half a minute of difficult chewing she finally swallowed the small bite with a a visible expression of disgust, releasing the apple to fall back to the plate. “That didn’t taste like an apple...”

Rarity surrounded the dried fruit in question with her light blue aura, levitating it swiftly to her lips to test the taste in question. Shocking Trixie as she clearly enjoyed eating a third of the forsaken leftover before wiping her lips with a napkin to speak. “On the contrary dear, that is one of the nicest I have ever had!” Rarity quickly recomposed herself, placing the unwanted treat onto her own plate.

Trixie’s awkwardness to the scene soon faded as Twilight’s giggling broke the tense atmosphere. “Rarity tried to get me to eat one of those once too. We just don’t have what she would call a ‘refined taste’.” Twilight’s words soothed the showmare’s heart as they shared a giggling laugh. Surprising the pearl unicorn as she heard The Great and Powerful Trixie giggling for the first time, almost sounding as sweet as Twilight herself.

“Trixie does prefer the more natural tastes herself.” The showmare admitted as she finished her out-of-persona laugh. She trailed her vision from her friend’s eyes to her lips, her own mouth grew more damp as she watched Twilight bring some natural hay to her opening lips.

The lavender mare began to nibble at the straws of hay, enjoying the almost bland taste before noticing her new friend’s words and hungry stare. “Would you like some Trixie?” She asked expecting a yes as she already began to levitate some of the hay from her lips to the aqua mare. Rarity almost exploded in joyful glee as Trixie gladly accepted Twilight’s food. Opening her lips to allow Twilight’s lavender aura entrance. She giggled quietly as the showmare’s moist lips surrounded her magical essence, tickling her horn as it rippled through her body causing her to recoil to the foreign but strangely alluring touch. “Trixie...stop it.”

“It is you that is using your magic, Twilight Sparkle.” Trixie responded happily, enjoying the soft sounds of her friend as she finally broke the levitation spell to stop the ticklish sensation. Both mares simply gazed at each other before Twilight noticed the attention they were receiving from the other customers and shied away from the locked gaze to continue sharing the meal they both adored.

The pearl unicorn rushed her own dish as her friends continued to share their own, swallowing the final bite of the dried apple as she patted her beautiful lips clean with a finely sewn napkin. “Excuse me girls.” Rarity pardoned her leaving as she rose to her hooves, trotting slowly over to the waitress in the distance.

Twilight simply smiled to her friend as she left, returning her still smiling gaze to the showmare as she levitated the final leaf into the blue unicorn’s lips. A soothing sensation passed through her magical aura as the ticklish reaction began to fade away, enjoying the soothing nature of Trixie’s lips taking the leaf from her grip. As both mares began to finish their shared meal Rarity made her way past them towards the entrance. “Goodbye Rarity.” Twilight bade happily to her friend as she began to leave.

“Goodbye dear, oh and do not worry about the payment, I just handled that for you.” Rarity smiled with a grin as she heard Trixie attempt to make a comment against her paying, not providing her with the ammunition to complain as she proudly made her way outside.

“Trixie isn’t poor...” Trixie sighed as Rarity ignored her attempts to defend her livelihood. The slight annoyance and sadness it brought soon being cured by her friend’s sweet voice.

“Dear Princess Celestia, today I learnt that it is always good to help your friends even if they say they don’t need it...” Twilight began to recite a lesson of friendship, only to be interrupted by a giggling laugh from her evidently cheered up friend.

“Oh Twilight...” Trixie composed herself, tipping her hat to hide her slight blush. “Thank you.”

The lavender mare blushed herself as she levitated her wineglass to her lips. “I am happy to be able to help The Great and Powerful Trixie.” Twilight’s blushing intensified as an aqua hoof graced her own.

Trixie gently rubbed her hoof along Twilight’s lavender leg as she gazed towards the mare she cared for. Before breaking herself swiftly from her unacceptable thoughts to stand before the blushing lavender mare. “Trixie has greatly enjoyed our time together today! She will look forward to the next time we meet, Twilight Sparkle!” The showmare smiled down to her still seated friend before quickly turning to the door, rushing her way to the safety of familiarity to leave her unconscious actions behind her.

Rarity felt the fresh air blow against her pearl coat as she left the restaurant. Smirking to the tall cloaked figure before her as she made her way across the street, as she approached the cloaked figure a dignified voice escaped the dark hood. “How are they doing?”

“They have became very close friends, however they still have a ways to go for accepting their love.” Rarity responded, gazing up into the dark hood to see the radiant face of the Princess staring down at her with lecturing jewels.

“Did you not knock them into each other’s hooves? No forcing of kisses? No touching of their-”

“Celestia, please. You asked for my experience in this field.” Rarity stated slyly staring up to her ruler, enjoying her own feeling of superiority for this single moment. “The seeds exist, but you cannot force the plant to grow. We must water the seeds of love and nurture the growing buds of passion, before it can finally blossom as the beautiful flowers we all desire.”

The cloaked mare merely smiled in return to her subjects words and tone. Enjoying working with the manipulative unicorn who continued to remind her of herself. “Very well, we shall take it the slower way, perhaps that will be best fitting for them.” She nodded in approval to her subject’s actions as she began to walk away from the scene, escaping the range of the growing curiosity from the nearby queuing couples.

‘You can trust me, they will fall in love.’ Rarity smiled to herself as the Princess left, turning slowly to begin making her way back home to continue her interrupted dressmaking.

“Rarity.” A familiar voice stopped the beautiful mare in her tracks, as she returned to face the showmare behind her.

“Ah Trixie, have the two of you finished-”

“That meal was not a date! Trixie did not take Twilight Sparkle on a date, Twilight simply needed food as she was hungry.” Trixie stated with a serious expression, forcing her stern view towards the pearl unicorn. “That is not to say she didn’t enjoy the meal, but it was not a date!”

Rarity kept her expression still as Trixie attempted to stare her out, watching as the showmare began to crack beneath the pressure of her own words, clearly not agreeing with the view her persona voiced. “Yet you were unable to say this when inside, and you kept my single innocent comment in your mind after all this time.” Rarity smiled warmly to the unicorn before her, speaking once more as she noticed Twilight leaving the restaurant behind her. “I trust that I need not say more. Farewell Twilight!” She began to take her leave, satisfied with the knowledge that Trixie knew her own feelings.

“Bye Rarity!” Twilight yelled happily from across the street before galloping up to Trixie who swiftly turned to face her. “That meal was wonderful Trixie, thanks for taking me.”

“It, it was Trixie’s pleasure, Twilight Sparkle.” Trixie struggled with her words as she gazed at the mare before her who simply gazed back innocently, having no apparent understanding of what the meal had truly been. “Trixie will see you again another day, Twilight.”

“Tomorrow! Let’s meet tomorrow, we can continue my list!” The lavender mare clapped her hooves together in excitement to the notion of continuing her perfect plans, much to the amusement of the showmare who enjoyed her exalted voice.

Trixie smiled happily in response to her friend’s enthusiasm. “Very well. we shall meet tomorrow.” Her thoughts attempting to distance themselves from the problematic mare soon faded from her mind as the lavender unicorn wrapped her forelegs around her, brushing her comforting hooves against her crystal blue mane. Twilight smiled happily before galloping home to begin planning the next day, leaving Trixie to return to her wagon with the lingering feeling of Twilight’s embrace. The aqua mare turned to watch as the mare she cared for galloped off into the distance, her delicate, beautiful body galloping elegantly into the horizon.

Celestia continued to oversee her student’s well-being, growing a satisfied smile beneath her dark hood as the three unicorns took their leave. Observing Beatrix’s blooming happiness as she began to make her way home, noticing the subtle movement of her hoof tipping her steeple hat, the clear tell-tale sign of her attempting to hide her blushing face. “Subtlety can indeed work wonders, but there is still a little room for a nice gentle ‘push.’” Celestia’s smile formed into her usual devious grin as she turned from her selfless student, trotting slowly towards Ponyville’s library, taking the time she needed to concoct her next flawless plan.

Author's Note

Huge apology on the lateness of this chapter, irl issues with work dragged me down, will continue to make chapters on a usual basis now!

Chapter 6: Teaching new Tricks

The slowly dimming light of Celestia’s sun radiated through the open curtains of Ponyville’s unusually vacant library. The absence of customers, friends and most notably the librarian herself had allowed for a calming atmosphere to truly appreciate the wonders of the literacy bestowed upon the occupant. The baby dragon found much needed time to relax and enjoy the bright pictures of his tome, pulling at the page’s tab with his claw to enjoy the majestic sight of the cardboard dragon breathing fire towards the fleeing timber wolves. Smiling in glee as the fair maiden threw her hooves around the dynamic dragon with the pull of the second tab.

The quaint oak door opened for only the third time in the day, allowing for the large cloaked figure to duck her way inside, almost hitting her horn against the low frame as she entered. The unannounced visitor cautiously looked behind herself as she closed the door to the outside world, before finally removing the unwanted disguise from her graceful body. Celestia examined the quiet interior of the home her student had clearly not changed over the last year before spying out the small sign of familiar life curled up behind a writing desk. “My hero! You saved me from the vile beasts!” Spike stated with a feminine tone as he read aloud the few words adorning the pop-up page. “Do not fear Lady Rarity! Your knight shall keep you safe from harm!” He finished with his own words before starting to change the page.

“Hello Spike.” The playful tone of the Princess alerted the young dragon to her presence, causing him to instantly close the nursery book with surprising force before gazing up to the mare with a clear disregard for personal space.

“This isn’t-Oh, Princess Celestia? Hello?” Spike’s words luckily changed with seeing the identity of the nosey mare, noticing the playful smile radiating down at him. “Is there anything I can help you with?”

“Do you happen to know if Twilight Sparkle is home?” The solar mare asked, still gazing down at the little dragon and the book in his possession, noticing him quickly attempting to hide it upon her closer inspection.

“Oh Twilight?” Spike stated with clear joy. “Yes she came back a while ago, she bounced around all giddy-like talking about her date before heading upstairs.” He lost himself in thought for a few seconds, enjoying knowing his mother figure had found such joy before quickly returning to his senses. “Oh...she told me not to tell anypony about that...”

Celestia merely smiled in response before starting to make her way to the stairs. “Do not worry Spike, I’ll just tell her I guessed.” Twilight’s assistant was unsure how to take the sincere smile of his carer’s mentor, knowing she clearly enjoyed what she heard, but at the same time fearing how exactly she would use the information. The Princess’ majestic hooves echoed through the steps of the tree as she made her way out of vision, leaving the baby dragon to himself once more. As the seconds passed by and the thoughts of Celestia’s meeting with Twilight waned, he simply shrugged and began to open his hidden tome once more.

The Princess slowly made her way up the arched steps towards her student’s room, her present desires being mostly for her student’s relationship and happiness, but also holding her usual thoughts of maintenance, wondering how the little bookworm had taken to living on her own accord. From the surface at least the library seemed to be even more spotless and tidy than when the previous librarian had left it, but as with Beatrix before her, her student’s bedrooms always portrayed the truth. Celestia climbed each step with ease before finally reaching the bedroom door, and before knocking, she placed her majestic ear against the oaken wood to listen in. Not noticing any warning signs of privacy she forsook usual manners and quietly opened the door with the smallest amount of magical energy it required.

Celestia’s plans for infiltration were instantly dismantled as the room’s occupant immediately threw herself around her teacher’s pearl coat. She could barely hear the muffled stage name of her selfless student escaping from Twilight’s misinformed hug as she rubbed her face along Celestia’s chest. Several brief, but warming, seconds passed before Twilight withdrew herself almost as quickly as she first tossed her body against her, and blushed deeply rubbing her front hoof along her back leg in shyness. “So sorry Princess, I thought, you were~”

“Somepony else?” Celestia gently patted her student’s mane as she gazed down compassionately into her violet eyes.

Twilight responded with a deeper blush as she spied Celestia’s knowing glance, recalling the letter last night she had sent to her tutor. She merely nodded in response, unable to say anything that wasn’t likely already known. “So ermm, what brings you here Princess?” The lavender mare noticed the same half smirking smile staring back at her as a wordless response, causing her to shy away again. “Right, I guess that was a silly question...”

The Solar Princess gently brought the tip of her hoof beneath her student’s chin, rubbing softly to comfort the little mare, “I’m not here to tell you off Twilight Sparkle, on the contrary, I came to listen to your feelings first hoof.” Celestia’s warm smile brightened Twilight’s still shy face as she returned her hoof to the floor. “Shall we take a seat?” Twilight nodded in approval as she began heading back to her bed, on the way Celestia finally caught the opportunity to look around her faithful student’s room, as a direct contrast to Beatrix’s the lavender mare had kept almost everything immaculate, as if picked clean by the dust that would usually retire against the surfaces. The overall cleanliness clearly pointed out the few places she commonly used, the writing desk as one, with multiple ink stains littering the papers from some unseen accident and a wicker waste basket filled with scrap scrolls most of which were either looked fully written or discarded immediately one line in due to a spelling or grammatical error. The vanity also showed some lesser signs of use, but most of all lay the bed which Twilight now sat upon, showing clear signs of tossing and turning through numerous dreams both good and bad. As Celestia sat her sun adorned flank onto the bed the sweet fragrance of the bedding still permeated from the sheets as if in direct opposition to the stress the bedding seemed to have received.

The lavender mare sighed softly, birthed more from uncertainty than any negativity, gazing off to the walls of her room as she apologised. “I’m sorry about the lack of letters about my studies of friendship recently...” She trailed off with another quiet sigh, trying to avoid eye contact to show her uncertain thoughts. “I’m just having difficulty focusing on them lately, whenever I try~” Twilight’s voice suddenly lost volume as she began shying away during her words, slowly rubbing her leg in shyness as she almost whispered the final section of her apology. “Thoughts of Trixie end up filling my mind...I don’t know why, I just sit down to write a letter about friendship and suddenly it is just several pages about her!” Twilight gives an almost forceful stare at Celestia as she finished with surprising volume, before swiftly turning her gaze away and quieting back down in awkwardness. “It’s like, she’s all I can think about...”

Celestia remained with her caring but silent approach, simply sitting beside her student while gently rubbing her back to comfort her as she always used to, waiting for the little mare to finally calm enough to speak her own, conclusive response. “It can be hard to come to grips with, but speaking to you face to face dear Twilight Sparkle, it does appear like you are finally discovering the most intimate aspect of friendship.” Celestia paused her slightly manipulative lecturing briefly to smile warmly to the sight of her student’s face, slowly growing brighter with a building blush as she clearly took in her words. “I do enjoy hearing about your loving friendship with Trixie.”

“She’s a good friend~” Twilight’s voice almost began croaking as she struggled to keep the flimsy posture she barely managed to keep intact with subconscious fidgeting.

“Yes, Such a special friend, who you can enjoy a romantic date with, sharing food under candlelight.” The pearl alicorn smirked happily as her ‘guess’ evidently pulled the lavender mare’s heart strings. Causing her to almost open her mouth in objection, before silently closing it muttering only a few words which managed to escape.

“It, was a date?” Twilight quietly asked, as if only looking for clarification with what she struggling to understand.

Time passed, during which Celestia continued to softly comfort her student who remained in thought, while her own mind filled with memories of her own past, and the chance she took with Luna shortly after her return. The light of her celestial body in the sky began to shimmer as the hours of sunset approached, causing Celestia to finally raise to her hooves. Smiling down lovingly to her heavily blushing and temporarily shy student before her, satisfied with her questionably less evasive and forceful approach compared to her involvement with her other student. “I must return to Canterlot for my duties, it was a pleasure to see you again, my faithful student.” Celestia made her excuses as she began to leave, slowly trotting towards the bedroom door before finally turning her gaze back to the lavender mare still lost in curious yet happy thoughts. “Such brilliant mares come along rarely Twilight Sparkle, don’t pass this chance up. You two are beautiful together.” Celestia lectured her student a final time before leaving, her voice and face reflecting a degree of seriousness and caring compassion that the lavender unicorn had never seen nor heard from her mentor before, as if holding something personal within each word, within moments the royal composure returned and the Princess of the Sun retreated through the door, leaving Twilight Sparkle alone once more with her emotions.

Several minutes passed as the lavender mare simply stared at the door, before squinting slightly to the presence of moisture gracing her cheek. Twilight softly brought her hoof to her face to rub gently along the wet trail leading from her violet eyes, watering with tears of some unknown sadness she felt within Celestia’s words, reflecting within her own previous fears of being unable to befriend Trixie. She rubbed her lavender hoof across her delicate eyes to quell the flow of such thoughts before bursting out the room, and almost tripping as she descended the stairs with speed to find her assistant. “SPIKE!”

The little dragon fumbled forwards off his cushion, landing roughly against the flimsy cardboard of the fair maiden. He swiftly brought himself up, scratching at the side of the nearby table to lock his gaze on his worried foster parent. “What’s wrong Twilight?” Spike responded with a much quieter yell than the attention fuelled scream before it.

“”Oh Spike! Great!” Twilight responded gleefully as she spied her scaled assistant. “Is the Princess still here?”

Spike sighed heavily before gazing down to the tome he was coveting, withdrawing his foot from the page to notice it grabbing at the now torn pop-up scene. He managed to stifle the sudden rush of annoyance and grief by gazing around the room for any signs of the tall mare he was too occupied to notice leave. “Doesn’t look like it.” Spike continued to look around for any signs of adhesives to fix his story before noticing the lavender mare releasing a prolonged but quiet groan. “Is something wrong Twilight?”

“Yes, everything!” The worrying unicorn began pacing around the room as she trailed off a quick list of seemingly random phrases and words with little conjunction before finally reaching her main point. “So what am I doing to pass Trixie up?! I’m already her friend and we’re meeting tomorrow and we get along perfectly! What more am I meant to do?! Arghhh!” Twilight threw herself down back first onto a luckily placed cushion, bringing her hooves to her aggravated face to hide herself from the world.

Spike quietly hummed to himself as he began trying to glue the cardboard back in place. Finally finding a gap between groans, huffs and puffs to reply. “I think the two of you are going at a nice pace to be honest.”

“Oh a nice pace, sure... except for Celestia telling me I’m going to be wasting my friendship if I don’t somehow do more!” She tossed herself around to face down into the beaten cushion, muffling her words into the velvet lining. “And then everypony keeps calling it a date...I’ve never even been asked on a date...”

Spike added the finishing touches to the cardboard, sighing upon noticing the glue merely stuck the piece in the air rather than raising up and down. He closed the book onto the surprisingly strong structure leaving the tome slightly ajar before deciding it was best to just leave the mess alone before it got any worse. “Your description of the date earlier when you came back was very sweet.” The baby dragon replied smiling to his carer.

Twilight managed to bring an eye from the cushion in an attempt to object, until noticing the happy gaze of her assistant looking back at her. With a quiet sigh of resignation she tumbled herself back around to lay facing the ceiling. “I just don’t know what to do...”

“Hello? Magical fire breathing letter delivery-dragon here!” Spike waved his arms briefly before smirking down to the lavender mare, who responded with her own agreeing smile shortly before leaping back to her hooves, and making her way to the library’s writing desk.

Spike hopped upwards multiple times in an attempt to read the scroll the determined mare was busy writing. “Come on I can’t see.”

“I’m just writing a formal letter Spike~” Twilight replied briefly

The baby dragon gave a coy expression as he noticed the blushing cheeks of the lying mare. “Just a formal, passionate letter.”

“It’s just a normal letter...” Twilight began giggling as the baby dragon leapt onto her back and tried climbing onto her mane for a better view, causing her to blush further as she fell to the floor with her assistant scrolling the letter with her lavender aura. “Done! There you can send it.”

Spike returned to his feet, grabbing the letter from the air as the magic faded around it continuing to mock his carer. “You always spoil the fun.” Upon finishing his words he began breathing in deeply, before exhaling his lungs through his fire glands, causing the lightly moisturised breath to engulf in green flames and cascade over the message, coiling it with emerald flames, binding the message with Draconic magic turning the paper into a cloud of ash which began flying towards the window.

Twilight began hopping in circles giggling like a filly as she waited for her friend. While Spike merely watched on happily, enjoying the sight of the unicorn finally enjoying herself, even if in a slightly awkward way. Suddenly a fumbled knock reverberated through the oak door, the sounds of proud but cautious hooves tapping against the wooden frame. “Trixie’s here!”

“I only just sent it...” Spike spoke to himself confused as the lavender mare’s magic quickly threw the door open to the startled cloaked unicorn who was about to repeat the knock.

“Greetings Twilight Sparkle, Trixie received your letter-”

“You came!” Twilight threw herself around the cloaked magician who almost fell to the ground in shock, before cautiously returning a hoof to grace the hugging pony’s back.

Trixie found herself becoming increasingly uncomfortable in the prolonged hug, with every new gaze locked onto them by wandering ponies crossing through the centre of town. “Can we take this inside please, Twilight?”

The lavender mare withdrew herself slowly, looking past her friend’s figure to view the build-up of ponies staring back at her, causing the situational shyness to return as she quickly stepped aside for Trixie to pass her. “Yes of course sorry!” She almost whispered with quick speed as she awkwardly walked backwards into the library with her desired guest, closing the door in front of her.

Trixie sighed in relief as she noticed herself alone with her friend, away from the public gaze. She brought a hoof to the dark hood, pulling it back over her mane to reveal her beautiful features to the adoring unicorn beside her, levitating her magical magenta aura along the gemmed clip to pull the cloak from her body with a single dynamic sweep akin to the pull of a strong gust, to land the warm clothing onto the floor beside the door, missing the coat-stand completely. The showmare kept her arrogant expression even upon noticing the failure of her act, luckily her host didn’t seem to notice as she trotted alongside her, brushing her soft tail against her azure coat before sitting down on a nearby cushion, facing Trixie with a happy smile and open hooves. “You asked for Trixie to come over then.” She simply stood in place by the closed door, looking on confused to the younger unicorn’s actions, watching as she simply opened her forelegs up facing her. “What are you wanting, Twilight Sparkle?”

“You said we would continue hugging when inside.” Twilight replied gleefully.

The showmare took a step backwards awkwardly before speaking again. “Trixie never said-”

“You said ‘Can we take this inside please Twilight,’ so ‘this’ would mean the hug as we were hugging at the time, so you said we would hug when inside!” Twilight interrupted to quickly explain, earning a confused looking stare from the defeated pony.

Trixie scrapped her hoof against the floor silently in the uncharacteristic shyness that seemed to dominate over her emotional and passionate embraces in the last few days. Attempting to think of anything witty to reply back with. “But, it would be you, that would be hugging me...” An alien voice suddenly caused the showmare to freeze.

“I’m really starting to see what the Princess meant.” Spike sighed almost silently under his breath from behind one of the library’s many piles of books. Trying not to be noticed by the naïve young couple.

“Who’s there? Show yourself!” Trixie commanded fearing being spied on by anypony especially during such activities.

“Oh, that’s just Spike.” Twilight replied for him as the little dragon gave an almost sheepish smile as he came from around the book pile to greet Twilight’s new friend.

“Hey I’m Spike, Twilight’s assistant. Pleased to meet you my Lady, I love watching your shows.” Spike spoke with the same voice he used during his novels, bowing before the unicorn he hoped to befriend.

The azure unicorn enjoyed the bowing presence of her admirer before her, responding with a satisfied and cheerful smile to her loving fan. “Trixie is pleased to hear that, all should enjoy her performances as much as you do, little dragon!”

Twilight giggled briefly to the overplayed greeting from her assistant, gazing lovingly along the azure coat of her new friend, enjoying the beautiful sight of it glistening in the candlelight without any of the magician’s garments to hide her appearance. The lavender mare continued to keep her hooves stretched out before her, causing the showmare to dig at the wooden floor again.

“I’ll just go get some snacks for us.” The baby dragon called out in a loud voice, clearly wanting to make his absence heard. As he turned towards the kitchen Spike could see a thankful gaze return to him from their guest for not staying to watch.

Trixie didn’t say anything, instead she just approached her friend and leaned towards her cautiously to get the hug out of the way, as her hoof gently graced Twilight’s lavender back, her friend’s hooves wrapped around hers in return, embracing each other in a long cuddling hug. Unlike the previous time being alone allowed the showmare to enjoy the comforting privacy, softly caressing Twilight’s back with one hoof, gently brushing their manes against one another.

Spike quietly entered the room with a plate of assorted snacks and drinks, placing it on the library’s writing desk with silent precision before turning his gaze to the cuddling unicorns. He enjoyed the sweet sight of the warming embrace but inevitably had to interrupt it with a purposeful clatter of the plate to alert the older unicorn to his presence, not wanting her to object to the thoughts of being spied on again. The azure unicorn swiftly withdrew from the hug, shyly withdrawing her gaze from the mare she cared for. “So we have some cookies, a few sugar cubes, some hay sticks, and this one cupcake I think Pinkie must have-”

The library door burst open as a pink projectile shot through the library with enough speed to cause a sudden torrent of wind, blowing the unicorns’ manes across their faces as the party pony stopped without any deceleration directly before Spike. “There it is!” Pinkie stated with overwhelming joy as she dived her head against the plate, pulling out with her mouth filled to the brim with sugary goodness. “ah fort ah lefft’t ere!” Pinkie exclaimed with her eyes closed in bliss, spitting out crumbs as she spoke.

Trixie quickly turned herself around to face the unknown threat, before raising out from her defensive stance upon noticing her strange fan suddenly staring directly at her chewing with her mouth open. “P, Pinkie Pie?”

Pinkie swallowed her cupcake, licking her lips with overzealous use of saliva, causing the showmare to step back worried by her fan’s previous request wanting her to lick her hooves. “Hay Trix! Hay Twi! Hay Spike!” Pinkie began bouncing around merrily with her newly gained sugar energy, giggling as she spoke. “What’s this super duper secret meeting about then?!”

Twilight placed a hoof on Trixie’s shoulder to help reassure her against the strange mare invading their privacy. “Oh it’s not really that secret, we are just getting acquainted with one another, since we’re new friends and all.”

Any reassurance Trixie felt from her friend’s words instantly vanished as Pinkie ran directly up to her face, gazing down with a stern expression directed straight at the showmare. “You are Twilight’s new friend?”

Trixie found herself attempting to retreat downwards from the invading gaze, but found herself unable to move, and only able to mutter a single word quietly under her breath. “Yes.”

Pinkie kept her stern face, growing more serious by the second as she lowered further towards the quivering unicorn. “WEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEE!!!” Pinkie’s grabbed the now startled unicorn in her hooves as she leaped into the air in blissful joy. “Twilight has a new friend!” The two mares shot out the open library door, leaving behind a mixture of worried objections and manic cheerful laughter.

Twilight sighed, giggling between her breaths briefly as she waited for the mare’s to return, within only a few seconds the pink pony returned into the room laughing loudly, releasing Trixie from her hooves to bounce around in circles. As soon as she released the unicorn from her captivity, Trixie instantly threw herself towards the lavender mare’s hooves for defence from the pink menace, nervously shaking in fear from having her private space so violated by the mare she barely knew throwing her around at alarming speeds. “We totally have to set you up a welcome party! No wait, or will it be a new friend party?! Or maybe both! A DOUBLE PARTY!” Pinkie screamed happily as she bounced out the library door.

“Bye Pinkie!” Twilight called out before using her lavender aura to close the door once more. She gazed down lovingly into her worried friend’s face, enjoying the way she held her closely. She returned the embrace softly stroking the unicorn’s back to reassure her, as Celestia always did for her. “Pinkie Pie is a good friend, she is just, a bit hard to get used to.” Twilight giggled briefly before noticing Trixie’s nervous shaking, responding with a reassuring hug. “I’m sorry, I probably should have warned you about her.”

Trixie breathed deeply to slowly regain her composure, and though she wished for her comforting costume, she enjoyed the nostalgic hug in it’s place. Softly brushing her face against the embracing unicorn before opening her eyes to notice the three of them alone once more. “Is there any more of your friends you need to warn me about?” Trixie questioned as she withdrew herself from the warming hug.

“Not really, Pinkie is the most...” Twilight paused for a moment to think of the nicest word to describe her random friend. “Unique, of them all. You already met my best friend Rarity.” Twilight continued to smile happily as her new friend began pacing around the room, noticeably smiling to the mention of the generous unicorn. “She has always been really nice to talk to about everything.”

“Unicorns always are.” Trixie responded idly, resulting in a short giggle from her friend who enjoyed her usual arrogance.

“Then there is Applejack, who you also met earlier...” Twilight trailed off still cautious about the azure mare’s feelings towards her honest, but a little too blunt friend.

Trixie paused her pacing to return her eyes to the worried lavender mare, silently remaining in thought before returning her hooves to motion. “So she’s your last friend?”

Twilight couldn’t help but feel saddened by her new friend’s words, feeling a sense of the loneliness she must have lived with. “No Trixie, I have more friends I can introduce you too...like Fluttershy, she is a little withdrawn, but she is very kind and considerate and spends her time caring for animals, you would like her a lot.” The lavender mare’s face brightened to Fluttershy’s description clearly resulting in a positive light with her the showmare, only wishing she could also build such views of Applejack. “Then there’s Rainbow.”

“Rainbow?”

“Oh sorry, Rainbow Dash.” Twilight finished breaking from her mind, fearing how to put across her other upstaging friend. “You also met her...”

The showmare paused her pacing to query her host further. “Trixie doesn’t recall the name.”

“She was the pony you met last year, the pegasus who went up on stage-”

“Oh, that arrogant pegasus thinking herself better than Trixie? Such pompous boasting!” The sudden outlash from the showmare brought Twilight into bursting laughter as she realised how much the two personas had in common. “What is so funny?”

“Oh, it’s nothing...” Twilight replied still smiling. “I was just thinking of how great the three of you will get along, especially with how much Applejack and Rainbow already obsess over who is best.”

“Trixie does not affiliate herself with such hecklers!” The showmare stated loudly, stamping at the floor in objection, pausing briefly to stare into her host’s unwavering smile, causing her to shy away with a scoff. “...Trixie already knows she is the best anyway.”

The lavender mare giggled a little more as she toyed with her new friend. “I don’t know Trixie, I had to save you from the Ursa Minor.”

“That was different!” Trixie yelled in objection, before remaining silent blushing deeply as she attempted to find some excuse in her usual story telling.

Twilight casually trotted over to the worrying magician, enveloping her azure coat with her forelegs. “You will always be the best in my eyes, Trix.” Twilight quietly purred into her ears.

Trixie enjoyed the mixture of bodily and intellectual warmth, giving her the praise she needed. “Of course Trixie is the best in your eyes, none can match her magnificent magical talent.”

“Your spells are amazing.” The bookworm replied, removing herself from the loving embrace to begin clapping her hooves in blissful educational joy. “I’ve never seen such beautiful illusions, everything in your show forced my attention, I was never taught how to make such dazzling spectacles!”

The showmare’s persona lit up brightly to the words of the fellow student, declaring such wonder for her own ability. “Then perhaps it is something The Great and Powerful Trixie can teach you?” She barely had time to finish her sentence before her friend squealed in joy.

“I’d love it!” Twilight stomped the wooden flooring multiple times as she hopped in place, her eyes remaining wide and locked on the showmare awaiting one of the things she dreamed of. “When can we start?!”

Trixie’s heart warmed further as she gazed around herself to the unusual building built within the tree, the large open space surrounded by sturdy thick oak providing the perfect venue for such a small, private performance. Her desire to prove her dominance over her peer swiftly silenced any problems the unicorn’s mind wanted to address as she threw her leg to the air, pointing to the somewhat empty space around them. “We shall start right now! This room is befitting for such demonstrations!”

Spike slowly nibbled away at the cookies he brought, remaining purposefully oblivious to the actions and words of the two love-birds until he found the books he was previously standing on being ripped from under his feet. “Hey what gives?” The baby dragon questioned to no pony in particular, soon discovering the culprit as his guest’s magenta aura flew through the air, grabbing and tossing countless books haphazardly out of the way, clearing a large flat surface between the door and stairs. An action that would usually annoy the hard worked assistant if he had actually done the book sorting today. Spike watched on as his carer trotted over happily to the messy magician, before shrugging again with a sigh to begin rummaging through the pile of books.

The azure mare levitated one of the glasses her fan had brought, bringing the transparent glass to her lips to quench her vocal cords as she watched the lavender unicorn approach. She returned the glass to the table, clearing her throat softly before speaking. “Approach Twilight Sparkle!” The showmare’s enthusiastic persona became fuelled by the new show, casting her hoof horizontally across to her ‘student.’ “Join The Great and Powerful Trixie on stage!”

Spike finished his rummaging, managing to grasp at his heavily battered storybook, saving it from beneath the crushing weight of the pile before turning to redirect his attention to the unexpected performance, laying back to relax on the surprisingly comfy pile of literature.

Twilight happily nodded as she joined her new friend for the second time on stage, standing beside the showmare, earning a warming blush from the arrogant mare. “Good.” Trixie cleared her throat once more subtly before throwing her forelegs into the air, standing on two feet as she continued her act. “Observe the Brilliance of Trixie’s magic! Do not blink for even a second, or you will risk missing the most awe inspiring spells known to ponykind!

Endless magenta illusions radiated within the large oak, brightness reflecting from every surface as flashes and explosions rocketed the usually quiet library. Both the lavender mare and purple dragon remained speechless enjoying the demonstration of magical prowess, the resulting light and sound of which began to attract many passing ponies to gaze through the windows which leaked bright flashes into the now dark skies of Ponyville. The showmare continued to perform without noticing her additional viewers, waving her hooves as they trailed bright streams of magenta with each majestic gesture. Her horn glowing with mystical energies as she finally brought herself to the end of her routine, waving her hooves in circles before materialising a conjured bouquet of flowers which she held against her chest with one hoof, allowing her other three to rest against the floor in silence, signalling the final curtain to her private audience. Trixie remained with her head down, awaiting the inevitable applause she relished, and within mere seconds she grew a warm, satisfied smile as her admirers began cheering, clapping claws and stomping hooves in approval. She opened her eyes to the sight of lavender legs before her, raising her face to view her happy friend staring back at her, reflecting her own pleased face in her cheerful violet globes. “That was brilliant Trixie!” Twilight threw herself around her skilled friend, hugging her tightly in both approval and adoration.

Trixie’s happiness began seething out of control as she finally received the praise from her rival she so desperately needed, her denied dreams and thoughts she previously feared ever attempting now being a reality as she enjoyed every second of the lavender mare’s affection. She withdrew herself from the hug, gazing down at the bouquet against her chest, before passing it over to her friend. “And now, you, Twilight.”

The bookworm openly accepted the sweet exchange of conjured flowers, smelling the scent of her friend’s magic before very softly levitating them down on the table beside the other snacks. “Where do you want me?”

“Right beside me.” Trixie replied with a caring passionate tone, pleasantly surprising the lavender mare as she nodded in approval, standing close to her friend as she regained her character. “Anypony can make can illusion...” The showmare began to lecture to the willing student as the two mare’s stood together, the older mare softly lowering her horn to meet Twilight’s own. “A simple illusion alone could never impress, there is no realism within it, no risk, no sense of danger.” The azure unicorn’s horn began to glow with a gentle magenta hue, radiating along the horn tip’s surface before enveloping Twilight’s own magical conduit with her knowledge, causing the younger mare’s eyelids to flicker to the unusual sensation. She began to understand the spells she had witnessed, piecing together her own ideas with the stimulation from the magician teaching her. Feeling each thread of the spell winding around them as they continued to embrace the building magic. “They claim it is fake, that they are just illusions.”

“But deep inside, their hearts know it’s real.” Twilight concluded. Their horn tips remaining locked together as her own lavender aura began to embrace her friend’s magic, as they continued their magical embrace the resulting aura began to form an illusion around the two unicorns, flowers of both colours began growing and blooming around them, encircling them in bright purple petals which began to fall from the plants which vanished as swiftly as they appeared. Twilight’s eyelids flickered more as her mind filled with the upkeep of the spell, still not used to such an elaborate decorative conjuration. The petals began to spin rapidly around the two mares in an unknown breeze, turning into a torrent as the petals gained in speed, spinning violently around the vulnerable unicorns. The blades sliced through the air with a loud sound of rushing wind, violently churning the space around the two embracing mares. Twilight could visualise each of the magenta and lavender petal blades that spun around her as her eyes remained closed, the hundreds of deadly blades dancing to her own whim, with a final burst of power and trust shared between the two mares, Twilight rose to her backlegs along with her new friend, raising their forelegs to the sky as the petals tore through their presented targets sending shivers through every inch of their vulnerable bodies before exploding into bursts of bright light, filling the room with fireworks of their respective colours.

Twilight fell to her hooves gasping in shock to the previously unknown sensation which rocketed through her body. Breathing heavily to recompose herself as her friend knelt down to offer a hoof to help. “Did you enjoy it?” She questioned in a curious yet playful tone.

“It was...unusual.” Twilight replied, happily accepting the help to raise back to her friend’s level. “You feel this each time?”

“You get used to it, it is the best way to give an audience what they truly want.” Trixie began brushing the remaining magical residue from her friend’s coat as she concluded her lecturing. Her usually dormant openness being reborn from the memories of her days being Celestia’s most prized student. “You are talented at learning new spells, second of course to Trixie’s ability.”

Twilight couldn’t help but blush to the praising words, rubbing a hoof along her leg in shyness. “Well, I’m sure there is a lot I can teach you also.”

The showmare scoffed more playfully than objectively to her friend’s words. “What could you possibly teach The Great and Powerful Trixie, Twilight Sparkle?”

The lavender mare pondered over her options, greatly desiring to share her magical knowledge. “You’re adept with the illusion and conjuration schools...” She brushed her chin briefly before gazing back up in triumph. “Oh I know! I could teach you some mysticism, or alteration!”

The showmare scoffed once more, cockily returning the gaze to her host as her magenta aura radiated from her horn to surround the nearby bouquet she previously conjured, lifting the flowers delicately into the air as she levitated them before herself. “Trixie can handle such simple manipulations.” Her arrogance soon wavered as a bright flash burst forth from the flowers, causing them to vanish from her grasp before re-materialising several paces away in lavender hooves.

“I don’t recall seeing you teleport.” Twilight stated with a slight tone of arrogance picked up from the unicorn before her.

“Of course Trixie can teleport!” The azure mare’s voice squeaked slightly as she badly attempted to lie. “She teleports into all her performances!”

“Running during bright flashes and smoke bombs isn’t quite the same thing, Trixie.” Twilight replied with her own supply of cockiness, before toning it down to support the magician she cared for. “It may be difficult to master, but it’s still the same school, I’m sure I could teach you in no time!”

The usually arrogant mare turned her gaze away briefly to consider the choice, as much as she hated wanting to admit needing or desiring help, the choice to finally learn such abilities was too much to ignore, especially coming from such a caring and appreciated source. She returned her gaze to Twilight’s own to reply with an equally pleased smile. “Very well.”

“YES! I’m going to teach Trixie!” Twilight yelled happily hopping in circles before landing on all fours, and with deep concentration empowered her horn and vanished. Trixie barely had time to worry before another bright flash subsided behind her and she felt a hoof grace her shoulder. “Okay Trixie, I picked up how to teach from Princess Celestia so this should be great!” The lavender mentor soothed her pupil as she rested her head alongside Trixie’s own, keeping their horns level and close as her magical aura levitated the blooming flowers onto the table beside them. “Now just concentrate on the flowers...” Her voice soothed the showmare further as she spoke in a low quiet tone. “Fill your mind with the flowers, their essence with your own.” Her own aura faded from the conjured plants as Trixie’s magenta hue began to envelop them, basking them in latent energies. “The stems are your body, the water your blood, the petals your hair.” Trixie’s eyes closed as she concentrated her will onto the bouquet, empowering her energy to conceal them in brightness. “The flowers are you, Your will, shall be done.” Twilight moved her own horn over to Trixie’s to embrace her friend’s magical power to share her knowledge.

A sudden jolt of knowledge shot forth into Trixie as she opened her glowing eyes in shock to the unexpected sensation, the entire table the flowers rested on immediately disappeared from sight in a bright flash, and within milliseconds a loud shattering sound emanated from the oak walls, the glowing in her eyes subsided to the horrific sight of wooden splinters falling from the thick tree’s interior, the flower petals vanishing from existence as the magical energies collided with the solid wall. Watching on in horror as the results of her spell littered the floor in debris. “That was amazing Trixie! You teleported the whole table!” Twilight responded gleefully clapping her hooves despite the deadly demonstration.

“Amazing?! If that was me-”

“Oh, don’t worry about that Trixie.” Twilight replied in a caring, supportive tone. “You weren’t expecting it so you kind of accidentally teleported the table into the wall destroying it...But you can’t do that to yourself as your magic won’t allow it!”

“How positive are you of that?” Trixie questioned still feeling unsafe to the idea.

“Well, Celestia told me, and ermm, I haven’t read of it happening.” Twilight replied with a still cheerful smile despite the violent accident. “Are you ready to teleport yourself?”

“Not really...” The azure mare attempted to think of another spell to attempt before finding herself surrounded in another hug.

“Come on, it’ll be fun!” The lavender mentor refused to accept anything except for a yes, withdrawing from the supportive hug to once again stand beside her student. Trixie gulped down her nerves as she stood beside the mare she now entrusted her life to, standing flank to flank touching their horns together to begin casting. The room fell silent as both mares concentrated on the magical energies they began to share, embracing one another with both their minds and bodies to empower the brewing knowledge within the azure unicorn. “Imagine yourself where you are, and where you want to go.” Twilight continued to lecture as their eyes twitched to the spell that she herself has cast many times, fuelling her experience into the older unicorn. “Just a few steps, no more, no less.” Trixie began to glow with an increasingly brighter light as the teleportation began to take effect, clearing taxing her energy to the still alien spell. “Imagine yourself standing right before us.” Twilight concluded as Trixie vocalized a long pained groan as she maximised her potential before finally disappearing in a bright flash of white light, causing the lavender mare to avert her eyes before returning them to where her friend would appear. But despite her best cheerful expression, nothing appeared. “T, Trixie?”

The large crowd outside the library watched on in shock to the previous event with the table, and as a result everypony breathed in deeply in suspense as the magician disappeared in the bright flash. Keeping their lungs filled to brim in shock as the mare vanished. A light blue pegasus with a rainbow mane scoffed to the sight of the magical act as she returned to the ground from her vantage point. “Well obviously she got scared of the last attempt and fled. I have to admit though at least THIS time the fleeing makes sense.” Rainbow Dash folded her wings back against her coat as she concluded her opinion.

“Come now that is not fair on Twilight, she only wants to help.” Rarity responded.

“Like when she helped you fly in Cloudsdale?” Rainbow retorted without missing a beat. “I’ll be the first to admit I really like Twilight, she’s great. But I’m not going to let her magic get anywhere near my wings! The next thing you know she’s going to randomly spawn a sail on my back.”

A quiet screaming voice emanated from far above as the friends below began their arguing, an azure unicorn began falling from far above Ponyville, she attempted to build the newly found magical attunement within her horn to teleport her to safety, sacrificing her remaining energy with multiple short bursts which caused her to appear closer to the ground each time, but still falling as her remaining energy left her powerless to the descent. Twilight Sparkle left her library home in search of her missing friend, before noticing her friends outside. “Oh, hey everypony. Have you seen Trixie?” She searched around noticing almost the entirety of Ponyville turning to face her, feeling uneasy to the attention. “Also why IS everypony here?”

“Good evening Twilight dear.” Rarity greeted her best friend warmly. “We were just enjoying the spectacular show the two of you were performing inside, we knew it was a private event, but that is why we didn’t want to interru-”

Twilight’s ears tweaked to the approaching screaming voice, instantly turning her gaze upwards to the skies to notice the dim flash of Trixie’s final attempt to teleport to safety, her eyes instantly growing wide to the sight. “Get out the way!” Twilight yelled loudly as she stomped down on the floor roughly to keep herself stable, empowering her horn with a sudden burst of desperate energy, shooting a beam of violet towards the falling mare, catching her with a powerful levitation barely above the height of the library, slowing her descent dramatically over the next dozen meters before landing her softly against the floor in a thick lavender crash mat.

Twilight Sparkle breathed deeply as the toll of the vital but sudden spell sapped her energy, she made her way as quick as possible to the unicorn in her magical pillow, embracing her with her hooves as her lifesaving spell evaporated. “Are you okay Trixie?” As soon as she embraced the azure unicorn, she swiftly grabbed Twilight’s legs and threw her face into her saviours chest, brushing herself against the younger unicorn for safety, an action which seemed to not only please Twilight herself, but also a vast majority of the audience which collectively moved from an initial cheer, to a mass swoon to the adorable sight. Upon noticing the attention the two of them were receiving, Twilight raised back to her hooves, levitating her seemingly uninjured friend onto her back before starting to back away from the crowd. Knowing that Trixie wouldn’t want such attention especially at a time when she seemed so vulnerable. “Thanks for coming to, ermm, enjoy our performance! With practising a play.” Twilight slammed the door behind her as they entered the library once more, closing shut the curtains to prevent the audience from watching anything else.

Twilight sighed in relief as she lowered her new friend onto a cushion, brushing her hoof along the azure unicorn’s face as she opened her eyes to gaze up to the lavender mare. “You saved my life, Twilight.”

Twilight blushed deeply to the thankful praise before replying. “Well, it was mostly my fault, I’m sorry Trixie.”

Trixie placed a hoof against her saviour’s lips to silence her before speaking again. “You saved my life twice, first from the Ursa Minor falling on me, and now from falling myself~”

The lavender mare continued blushing in happiness as the older unicorn embraced her. “I couldn’t just let you get hurt. I couldn’t allow that to happen to anypony, especially not to you.”

Both mares continued to embrace passionately until Trixie released a soft yawn, the resulting energy loss from the chained teleports clearly taking it’s toll on the inexperienced unicorn. “I should be getting home...” Trixie stated with clear sadness in her voice between more yawns.

“Don’t leave Trixie.”

“I need to go to bed, Twilight.” The azure unicorn responded again. “I’ll return tomorrow.”

“You can sleep here with me.” Twilight responded without any time to think on the response. “I mean, we can have a sleep over, I have a spare bed and I’ve done one before so I know what to do!”

Trixie kept her gaze locked with the bookworm as she levitated over a book from a shelf, which seemed to hold the word ‘sleepover’ from as much as the tired unicorn’s eyes could identify. “Okay, lead the way Twilight.” She responded with a grateful and happy smile as she began trotting groggily over to the steps, following the bookworm’s more energetic hooves. Leaving behind the sleeping baby dragon slumped over the pile of books as if it were a bed of golden coins.

“This is my room” Twilight happily stated as she greeted her guest inside, who seemed to be completely unable to notice the host’s words and long descriptions of activities and games they could play. Instead simply trotting over to the star patterned bed and slumping her exhausted flank against the quilt. “Oh, that’s my bed Trixie.” Twilight felt a slight sense of regret as her words caused the unicorn she cared for to leave her bed and slowly trot to the spare bed she was promised, before collapsing against it in tiredness. “Okay, so we can play truth or dare, or read some scary stories. Oh I know a good one about the headless horse!” Twilight’s words fell on deaf ears as she noticed the azure unicorn had already fallen asleep, underestimating exactly how much energy she had put into trying to save herself. She quietly made her way over to the sleeping mare, softly pulling the spare quilt from beneath her resting friend to cover her in the the coldness of the unused bedding, leaning down to kiss her forehead. “Goodnight Trixie.”

Twilight blew out the candles on the bedside table, laying herself down in her warm bed, reaching out with all four hooves to wrap herself warmly in the star patterned quilt. The library was completely silent, only the distant hooting of Owlowiscious serving to show any signs of life in the late night home. Thoughts of her day with Trixie continued to fill her mind, but the more she thought of her, the more lonely she felt. The naïve unicorn still couldn’t fully understand the full extent of her feelings she had for the unicorn she longed to be with. Her thoughts continued uninterrupted until noticing herself being softly nudged, she turned over to notice her friend nudging her way into her bed, a sight that pleased the lavender mare greatly as the feelings of loneliness disappeared. “Trixie?” Twilight softly spoke.

“I was cold.” Trixie replied softly, climbing her way up to the pillow beside her, earning a warm smile from the mare who’s privacy she had clearly violated. Being pleased to notice no objections.

“Oh, right. I forgot I don’t really use that bed at all.” Twilight giggled briefly, before soothing herself with brushing Trixie’s silky mane. “You can sleep with me then, Trixie.” Twilight replied warmly, embracing the tired mare in her legs for extra warmth and comfort, as both mares swiftly fell asleep to sweet dreams within their warming embrace.

Author's Note

Work and Illness may cause delays, but they are only delays, and hopefully new writing techniques will prevent them being as bad.

Chapter 1: A Royal Audience

The quiet sounds of foals playing echoed through the hard wooden walls, their soft laughs penetrating the hidden ears of a figure buried deep beneath a constricting array of quilts and pillows, her vain attempt to remain asleep swiftly shattered by the sudden impact of the foals ball striking against the hoof-crafted oak, the resulting reverberations breaking the drowsy pony from her slumber. Apologies echoing through the woodwork continued to deny any attempts to return to the preferred dream state, slowly forcing the unicorn from her comfortable bed as a pillow fell unnoticed from around the mare's horn to rest scruffily against the sheets. The same lack of care which looked to identify the rest of the unkempt bedroom, who's floors lay littered with varying costumes which the tired mare carelessly waded through to reach her vanity. The only area of the the sunlight deprived room to be graced with the light of candles. Though she could see herself clearly in the spotless mirror the mare refused to look, preferring instead to gaze along the magnitude of photographs and newspaper clippings, as unsettling memories of her recurring dream replayed through her mind.

The unicorn managed to form a brief smile to the sight of some of her positive reviews, breaking her from her thoughts. 'A must see show!' 'Able to move an audience!' and her personal favourite. 'Could she truly be the most magical unicorn?' The mare closed her eyes slowly as her horn glowed brightly in the dim light, a pink hue radiated from her light blue horn gently breezing through her lighter mane to gather around the most cared for costume in the room. Her aura cautiously levitated the purple star-graced cape over her back, clipping the jewelled brim beneath her neck as an equally styled hat gently descended over the magician's horn. As she felt her costume complete the mare smiled brightly to the sight of the magician standing before the mirror. "The Great And Powerful Trixie is indeed the most magical unicorn!" Trixie spoke with charismatic flare as she distanced herself from the mare she refused to see reflected.

Trixie glanced her eyes back along the short percentage of her vanity she cared to look at before turning around with a stern and definitive stomp to the floor, proceeding to proudly walk towards the front of her wagon and opening the bedroom door to show a drastically different room. The walls all coloured brightly with the curtains opened allowing sunlight to radiate through the guest friendly abode. The unicorn levitated a small bag of coins beneath her cape as she gazed out the window into the streets of Canterlot, memories of her previous visits both good and bad warped through her mind before recalling the name of the nearby store she desired. With another definitive stomp the showmare proceeded outside into the extravagant town centre.

As soon as Trixie left her mobile home she could already feel the gazes of the posh upper class unicorns staring at her, their high priced clothing and jewellery surrounding them, giving them a sense of superiority which the showmare could feel leaking from their eyes. However all such gazes were powerless compared to the most magical unicorn in all of Equestria, and though she may be poor and not have a fancy life, Trixie still knew she was greater than any of the posher unicorns that attempted to stare her down. She continued with her proud trot towards Caesar's Dressing.

"Greetings Caesar!" Trixie proclaimed loudly as she entered the restaurant, causing annoyance to some of the customers before gaining the attention of the owner who returned to the counter with a warm smile.

"Ah greetings, Trixie wasn't it? What brings you back to Canterlot?"

"Trixie has returned to perform her awe inspiring magical talents once more!" The bragging unicorn continued with her volume despite visual protests by other, less powerful clients. "But first! Trixie has come to indulge once more in your beautifully fine hay smoothies!"

"A mare of taste you are, Trixie. I am pleased that even after the years away you have remembered my exquisite recipes and ingredients." The well permed colt motioned for one of many chefs to join the two ponies at the counter. "Ah Trixie, any flavour specifically you would enjoy?"

"There would be no finer smoothie than the one you made for her last time!"

"Then Monsieur would make for you the finest of hay en vanilla with a dashing of caramel." The owner nodded to his staff who returned quickly to the kitchen. "A gentlecolt would never forget the order of such a beautiful mare."

Trixie tipped her hat with a hoof to hide her slight blush before replying. "Of course you remember the finest drink you serve! but-"

A young mare returned through the kitchen doors levitating a silver platter, on it resting her smoothie in a disposable cup fit with straw, a beautiful solitary rose and a delicious sparkling apple. Carrying the platter past the stallion as he took the red fruit in his own aura, slowly floating it towards his customer. "A gentlecolt never forgets. What would you say to me seeing you tonight?"

"Of course all of you may see The Great And Powerful Trixie perform tonight!" The young mare stated loudly to all the restaurant, placing a bountiful supply of bits on the counter before making her way outside with her purchase, making as much use of the faked misunderstanding as she could. "The Grand performance will inspire All who gaze upon it!"

The cloaked mare exhaled lightly to the awkwardness as she left the restaurant before swiftly regaining character, enjoying the delicious smoothie as she trotted proudly once more to her quaint abode. However she didn't make it far before another colt, less interested in her flank, appeared before her blocking her way. "Are you the mare responsible for that, shack in the town square?"

The showmare removed the straw from her lips before speaking powerfully in response. "It is a Wagon! And it does indeed belong to The Grea-"

"Whatever it is that thing is hideous, do you have any clearance for having such a poor thing in our beautiful town centre?" The old colt questioned sternly as all nearby eyes clearly focused on the confrontation.

Without thinking of the reply Trixie kept to her stage persona and dealt with the heckler before all who watched. "The Royal Sisters have given The Great And Powerful Trixie full performance rights in Canterlot! Both Princess Luna and Princess Celestia have told her that ALL deserve to watch Trixie's awe inspiring show!" She stood still with her head held high as she heard the whispers flow between the onlookers of the conflict, spreading thoughts and gossip about her truly admirable talent. Within a few seconds the colt withdrew and moved aside, allowing the bragging mare to make her way proudly back to her wagon. Just before entering she turned once more to her fans and spoke aloud. "When the Moon has been raised take seat before the stage and you will see the Greatest Show in All of Equestria!"

The boasting unicorn slammed the door shut behind her, breathing deeply as she levitated her beverage to the centrepiece table before bouncing up and down multiple times, giggling like a little filly until she held her hat firmly, calming her as she closed her eyes speaking proudly to herself. "Was there ever any doubt to Trixie still having her flare?!"

The cloaked mare sat down at the table as she began nibbling along the surface of her meal, staring blankly at the rose before levitating it into a bowl of mixed salad beside the sink, preferring it as a quick snack over a token of unwanted affection. Trixie continued to slowly enjoy her meal as thoughts of her first returning appearance filled her mind, she had truly set up the expectations of her audience, especially with the added lying hype of the Princess' involvement. But all the while as she solidified her act and persona in her mind, Trixie stared through the wall of her bedroom to the picture by her vanity, and though she could not physically see it, the image remained burned in the showmare's mind.

As night fell upon Equestria a large crowd formed before the dropped down stage of the showmare's wagon, so large in fact that several pegasi had retreated to view from atop the nearby rooftops to allow for all of her adoring fans to see her show in its full glory. As the final members of the audience took their place a sudden darkness filled the sky, a thick cloud rose before the moonlight to cascade total darkness on the town centre. After several seconds allowing for the audience to begin gossiping sudden streams of light shone forth from the stage. "Mares and Gentlecolts, unicorns pegasi and earth ponies, rooftop viewers! Welcome all as today Canterlot is proud to present The Great And Powerful!" The streams of light centred on the centre of the stage, lighting it from all angles as a sudden burst of light formed causing all onlookers to shield their eyes before seeing the main attraction of the show standing mid stage on her back legs with her hooves held high. "TRIXIE!" A burst of energy rocketed through the backdrop of the stage, lighting a magnitude of pyrotechnics, spinners spinning and streamers streaming. A vast array of bright and colourful pyrotechnics fuelling the crowd's excitement before finally, with a wave of her hooves masking her real magic beneath her hat a large firework shot into the air and within a few seconds detonated, sending a roar of colour and music through the sky and clearing the dark cloud. Shining Luna's Moon back over the audience.

A loud stomp of applause pleased the showmare as she took a bow, deeply enjoying each and every hoof of her adoring fans sending their thanks to what was only the start of her grand performance. However when returning to thank them with her own gaze an unexpected sight almost gripped her in fear. In the back of the audience surrounded by a guard each side sat the Royal Sisters. 'They obviously know what I said, but they haven't stopped me...yet.' The fears soon faded to the sight of Luna smiling, enjoying her performance. Trixie knew she had the Mare of the Moon in her grasp, and she loved it. "And of course we thank the Great Princess Luna for this wonderful night!" She pointed towards the back of the audience, shining a magical light over the Princess of the Moon who reacted nervously to the sudden attention from the crowd and show. Trixie began to conjure some flowers into Luna's hooves before noticing a very clear and stern gaze from her sister, the same gaze that she had seen before on multiple occasions causing her to suddenly return to her usual routine, fading the illumination from her sister but not before noticing Celestia whisper something into her ear.

Despite her lack of recent performances, the showmare's enthusiasm and determination drove her on stage, her own arrogance and superiority blinded the unicorn to any doubt of her power. Trixie's awe inspiring feats fired off consecutively one after another as she strode defiantly across her wooden stage. Mystical fireworks blazing from her hooves, illusions of fire and ice streaming before the admiring audience's very eyes. Conjuring flowers and sweets from the very air around her and spreading them over her viewer's manes as they watched in shear amazement. Her adoring fans stood before her bewildered, their jaws hung open in what might have been speechlessness but noticeably also hunger for her treats. Trixie truly felt alive once more, to the sight of a whole audience for her small stage, of what must have been in the hundreds if not even more. The showmare simply lowered herself into a bow as her short but fulfilling routine ended, and while she hung her head low the sound she so desired, the sound she so desperately needed burst through the silence. Hundreds of hooves stomping at the grassy floor brought a new warm smile to her light blue face.

As the stomping and cheering began to lessen Trixie brought herself back from her bow to stand before her admiring audience once more. The mare soaked in the final traces of appreciation for her routine before speaking aloud to the collective ponies. "The Great And Powerful Trixie is pleased with your appreciation and admiration of her show!" The mare slowly trotted around the stage as she continued, holding her head high and occasionally waving her hooves, spreading seeds of awe overhead. "There is only one thing that Trixie could do to make up for your approval, and that would be to inquire into requests for The Greatest Equine who has ever Lived to perform on stage!"

The showmare's arrogant nature caused her to voice a self-proclaimed title once again, being to enthusiastic to please her audience to notice before several of them began to murmur between themselves as she attempted to perform. "Well? Is there nopony out there that has anything they wish to see?! Or has The Great And Powerful Trixie already performed every act of brilliance known to ponykind?!"

Trixie looked away pompously during the ensuing list of ridiculous requests, most notably the request to 'take it off', finally as she turned around she saw a colt within the crowd holding his hoof to the sky. "Yes you, a colt with manners! What is your request of the most Magical unicorn in All of Equestria?!"

The light orange unicorn grew a sarcastic smile as he spoke, which Trixie soon picked up on. "Well 'the great and powerful' Trixie, I was wondering why for somepony claiming to be the greatest and most magical equine you aren't one of the Elements of Harmony, one of which is the Element of Magic if I so recall? Owned by another unicorn?"

The showmare felt the full brunt of the insulting question and swiftly attempted to respond to the heckler in turn. "Trixie does not need to be one of those-"

"Yeah, they just beat Discord and saved Equestria!" Another colt interrupted.

Princess Celestia leaned down to her sister, who was visually distressed by the heckling against her new favourite performer. "Word of those events gets around fast."

"You did summon the nobility to the celebration sister. Only one of those attending needs to have a gossiping lip." Luna spoke back up to her sister, without physically moving her eyes from the worried showmare to do so.

"Yes I know of her she was a student, Moonlight Sparkle wasn't it?"

"Her name is Twilight Sparkle!" Trixie yelled loudly interrupting the unwanted discussion which instead faced back towards her, glaring their grieving eyes on the caped mare, causing her to step backwards before replying. "Trixie knows of her, but though she is powerful herself she is still NOTHING to the Great And Powerful Trixie! All of those Elements together don't hold a candle to her Absolute Unbridled Power!" She made a deafening stomp to the unfortunate wooden floor of the stage, almost breaking a hole through the planks. She kept her powerful stance as she finished despite the incredible pain that coursed through her leg due to the impact.

The pain in Trixie's leg escalated violently within a few seconds to the point where she could barely contain her cries of distress any longer, but just then a bright explosion of light magic detonated above the stage, shocking the heckler's next comment out from his mind before his open lips could speak it. The showmare gazed up at the sudden sound and light of the glowing magic, the sphere of light winding within itself and detonating into a ball of bright yellow flame. She knew this wasn't her own work, and that only one pony in Equestria had such an aura. Trixie stifled her tears to take another bow, taking advantage of the Celestial gift to trick both her audience and herself into believing it was all a part of the show. The distant sound of stomping hooves fulfilled her hopes as the Princess of the Sun began celebrating with her sister in tow. The adoration of Equestria's rulers swiftly descended over the rest of the sheep who celebrated the end of the performance.

The wounded mare arose back onto all fours, making sure to rest her weight on her good legs as she wished her audience goodbye, saying as few words as possible to avoid identifying her pain. "Farewell, you have been, a great audience! Trixie, shall return!" As the mare finished her sentence, three figures carefully approached the front of the stage. She glared down at the almost crying face of the older mare being supported by a stallion, and another much closer to her age standing guard behind them who looked ready to pounce on her at any moment. After only glaring at her for barely ten seconds the showmare slowly turned around and limped away from the stage, leaving her cheering audience behind wishing for an encore that would never come. The crying mare took a step forward towards the distancing unicorn before the strong legs of her partner kept her still, gently leaning her against his chest as she wept.

Trixie exhaled deeply as she made her way out of sight, resting her body against the side of her oak wagon where nopony could see her. As she rested a looming figure approached from the night's darkness. "Good morning Trixie."

The shocked mare turned around quickly to the sudden unexpected voice, the firefly lamp above her wagon's door illuminated the figure of the local restaurant owner approaching. "Caesar? The middle of the night is far from morning." The mare stated, slowly backing away from the still approaching stallion.

"Of course it is now, but when you awake in my legs it will be far into the morning." He rubbed his hoof past her cheek as he spoke, seemingly not caring about her reluctance. "Remember that I said we would see each other tonight?"

"Trixie said you could see her perform as all others did!" Her attempts to back away failed as the invading stallion took hold of her foreleg.

"Yes and now we are going to have the greatest performance are we not? One just between us."

"Trixie is not interested! Leave her alone at once!" The mare struggled in the stronger stallion's grip, as his face advanced closer to her own she began to feel a strong presence of destructive magic building in her horn, her stronger magic subconsciously surfacing to strike at the invading threat. Just before her missile released itself from her horn's confines a tall looming shadow descended over both ponies, causing the struggling mare to stare in unexpected relief.

"I believe the mare said she wasn't interested." The bold voice caused the stallion to stall and turn around, the tall figure of the Princess of the Sun stood dominating overhead. "I dislike my dungeons being empty, do not give me an excuse."

Caesar quickly let go of the mare he desired and slowly backed away from the scene. "I get it, only the powerful get to have the beautiful." Celestia took a defiant step towards the stallion in response, and within a few seconds the unwanted company had fled from sight.

Trixie's subconscious defence slowly fizzled out from her horn, returning itself to her body as she breathed lightly in relief for not having to use it. "Trixie thanks you Princess, but she could have handled it on her own."

"I know all to well." Celestia turned back to look down at her subject. "But you wouldn't have slept soundly." The Solar mare's mane continued to flow in the glistening night as she herself remained still. "You should know better than to be courted by such a stallion."

"Well Trixie is sorry, Princess, but she wasn't exactly trying to be 'courted'." The limping mare brought herself back to her hooves as she levitated open the door to the kitchen. "Again she thanks you, but now Trixie could do with a rest." As soon as the door lay open she was aggravated to see the Princess duck her head and climb inside the open wagon before her. 'You are worse than that stallion.'

"A little cramped." Celestia commented as she sat down on one of the two chairs surrounding the centrepiece table.

"That's because it's not meant for Alicorns."

Celestia grinned slightly to her subject's tone of voice, levitating a flower from the table vase to her lips. "Oh? Then for who is this second chair meant for? A unicorn, or a pegasus. Or perhaps an earth pony?"

"None of it is your business." Trixie snapped, grabbing the flower from her unwanted guest before tossing it inside the open salad bowl, at the same time removing the rose from the stallion that tried to take advantage of her and tossing it into the bin.

"Do not forget I am your Princess, and I never gave you the permission to perform. I believe I can make anything my business, isn't that right, Beatrix?" Celestia levitated a second flower to her lips, nibbling slowly on the bland petals.

Trixie sighed lightly stopping her actions as she stared at the floor. The sound of her real name being spoken by one of the hoof-full who knew it breaking her from her stage persona. "What do you want to know? That I'm alone? That I don't care for having anypony else in my life? That I am happy just being Trixie?!" The aggravated mare turned around to face her target before continuing brashly. "That I don't demand such answers from a younger mare when I myself am over a thousand years old and don't even have a colt myself? How about that Celestia?!"

Celestia kept her expression constant despite the added hurtful question at the end of her rant. "When you outlive your fifth partner you lose the desire to settle down."

The previously aggressive unicorn lost her hateful tone upon hearing the reply. "I'm, sorry. That wasn't tasteful."

"You are right it wasn't. But besides now that my dear Luna has returned to me we have kept each other company."

Trixie released a quiet expression of amusement before replying. "Yes, I'm sure you do."

"There is nothing wrong with it Beatrix, love is love. I would rather be with my caring sister than the local mare enthusiast forcing his way into my wagon." Celestia continued to eat the flower in her lips as she levitated a third onto her subject's plate.

The noticeably uncomfortable unicorn tapped at her plate for a few minutes as her guest ate, Celestia's continued attacks against her unwanted meeting outside the wagon continuing to unease her as she wished to sooner forget about it. Eventually the mare stood onto her hooves and began pacing around the kitchen, minding her painful leg as she moved. Finally she stood still in her tracks and questioned the unwanted guest. "Look, do you want something?"

"I merely wished to talk to you, it has been a long time since we last saw each other."

"Yes it's been years since you last abandoned me!" Celestia didn't reply to her statement, instead she simply continued to nibble at another flower's petals. Infuriating Trixie as she had to back down, knowing she would not be getting a reply as much as she knew she deserved it. "But what do you want? You could have talked to me before this what is so special now? The fact I have returned to my tours? As you never talked to me when I first began them."

Celestia finished her new flower, swallowing the remains as she levitated a small napkin to her lips before speaking. "There has been a, development, that I can no longer turn a blind eye to." The Solar Princess looked over calmly to her host, the devious grin that previously coated her face lay replaced by a serious, yet also surprisingly caring gaze. "I am sure you are aware of Twilight Sparkle?"

Trixie's heart wound within itself to the mention of the lavender unicorn. Countless emotions and feelings of polarizing diversity threatening to tear out from her vocal cords, barely containing themselves as she struggled to respond. Relying once more on her persona to help smooth the thoughts, acting as if they were not her own. "Trixie is aware of her."

"We both know you are far more than aware of her, but I ask, how much you still think about my faithful student?" The alicorn responded staring deep into her subject's eyes, slivering into her hidden mind.

The unicorn faked a laugh to the notion. "Why would The Great And Powerful Trixie ever need, nay why would she ever want to think about such an inferior unicorn to herself?! She is the most magical equine to ever live! She has absolutely Nothing to do with such an overblown mare!"

Celestia's gaze coiled around her target's lying features, listening patiently to her words and spying on every detail her expressions leaked. As she finished with a soft stomp, not wanting to damage her other hoof, her subject held her head high and proud. Proclaiming her defiance, but also her weakness as her eyes subconsciously darted towards her bedroom wall, as if staring at something away from sight. "Gotcha." The alicorn stated victoriously as she stood to her hooves, making her way to the door. As the Princess approached her light aura surrounded the handle before swiftly being surrounded by a stronger pink sphere of magic. She looked over to the nearby mare attempting to hide her spell beneath her pointed hat and simply smiled. "You are aware that there is no way you can stop me, Beatrix? I would rather we didn't destroy your door." The light pink hue faded from around her own magic shortly after finishing her sentence, allowing the invading mare to open the desired door unhindered. The Princess made her way inside the well lit room, treading carefully over a neatly sorted pile of spell books and into the centre of the room itself. Casting her knowing gaze across the tidy room before locking herself into position, rearing up onto her hind legs the alicorn drove her powerful horn into the air, and with a single swift motion carved the magical field in twain. Trixie took a step back in shock as her illusion shattered before her very eyes, revealing the real room to the increasingly nosey monarch.

"That is much better." Celestia stated through her satisfied smile as she examined the room of her old acquaintance. From what little light existed she could decipher the large array of torn, useless or otherwise discarded costumes, the crumpled sheets of the bed, and the general lack of imagery or decorations over even a single wall. Exactly as the alicorn remembered. That was until she gazed her eyes to the light source of the room, seeing a vanity far more decorated than she had expected. "This is unique."

"Of course it is!" Trixie replied loudly trotting cautiously into the room to stand before her vanity, looking up at her own reflection before turning around, refusing to look at anything else on display. "Only Trixie's mirror is clear enough to reflect such a beautiful face!"

"I am referring more to the news clippings." Celestia responded as she began to skim the magnitude of pinned clippings, notes and pictures surrounding the mirror.

"But of course! Trixie collects all her wonderful reviews! It is the norm betwee-"

"The Eternal Night has ended, and the Princess of the Moon has been returned. All thanks to the courageous activity of six mares... Chaos has been vanquished. Once again the Elements of Harmony have saved Equestria... An interview with the Element of Magic, Twilight Sparkle..."

Trixie cautiously looked towards the clippings in question before returning back, attempting to keep her arrogance firm. "Trixie likes to keep up to date with important news, as all ponies do, but unlike others The Great And Powerful Trixie only cares for the most vital and Equestrian breaking news!"

"Exam tips for first time students, with special guest Twilight Sparkle." The Princess replied looking down with a questioning gaze.

The unicorn hesitated briefly before almost wishing to scream in response to the constant accusations. "Fine so Trixie keeps an eye on that unicorn! Twilight Sparkle steals all the fame she deserves with her inferior talents and that is all!"

"So there is no added agenda?" Celestia questioned sternly.

"That. Is. ALL!" The showmare stomped her hoof once more to the floor, holding her head high with her muzzle tall, refusing to acknowledge any more.

Celestia withdrew herself slightly in response, scanning her eyes across the base of the vanity to the highly pronounced photograph resting beneath the mirror. "Very well." The alicorn levitated the image into the air, slightly out of reach of her subject as her eyes began to glow with bright fire. "Then there is no reason you should keep this pointless picture."

Due to the sound of her ruler's threat and the sudden warmth being drawn into the air the previously self-centred mare discarded her refusal to co-operate, replacing it with an uncontrollable fear to the sight before her eyes. "What are you doing?! No you can't do this!"

Celestia kept her ground as her subject attempted to claw her way up the large pearl mare's chest. "I am just getting rid of an insulting image for you, after all, it is completely worthless to you." Within a few seconds the very air around the photograph changed in pressure before bursting into flames.

"NO! That's all I have of her!" The weaker mare frantically struggled to reach the burning frame, watching helplessly as the landscape around the beautiful lavender mare began to smoulder and ruin. Upon seeing the flames touch the mare herself a sudden stream of destructive magic built up in her horn and unleashed itself against her ruler. The missile struck the more powerful mare, forcing her away from the vanity and down to her knees having barely enough time to defend herself from the brunt of the attack.

The startled mare soon recovered, raising her sight to her subject stomping on the photograph to dispel the fires. But as she arose to her hooves an unexpected sight filled her eyes, her previously solitary acquaintance dropped down to the floor in tears, brushing her face against the mostly intact image of Celestia's student in her singed hooves. As she continued to watch Trixie holding the picture to her body the truth of her feelings soon became clear to the Princess, and the resulting implications spawning from them. "This could be a problem." Celestia stood still, losing herself deep in thought as memories of her student's letters filled her mind, the way they were written, and the words involved... She smiled warmly to herself as her experienced mind filled in the gaps of her glorious plan. 'Oh perhaps, it could be better than I had ever hoped.'

The Princess slowly approached the crying mare, waiting patiently while she brushed the tears from her eyes, and speaking just before the first word escaped her lips. "As I wished to mention earlier there has been a development with Twilight Sparkle, one that affects you Beatrix."

"What is it?" Trixie replied, rubbing the final tear from her eye as she brought her gaze up to the pony that destroyed her possession. "That she didn't want me to have a single trace of her left?"

"Be reasonable. You know she would never want such a thing. It was the only way to gain your full attention on the matter, and most importantly see the result of taking her away." Celestia replied swiftly, looking down as the unicorn continued to hold the burnt frame.

"And what did you find? That I fell into an emotional mess as you took what I cared for away?"

"Yes, that is exactly what I found." The pearl alicorn replied quietly, before making her way over to the candlelight of the vanity, and levitating an unsealed scroll from under her armour. "Which makes this all the more interesting." She gazed down once more to the unicorn on the costume laden floor before unravelling the scroll, clearing her throat silently as she began to read the message.

"Dear Princess Celestia. It has been almost a year since we crossed paths, and though we knew each other so briefly I find no way to lessen the thoughts of her in my mind. Nay I wish never to forget about her. The Great And Powerful Trixie, a name she gave herself..." Celestia paused her reading as she felt the gentle nudging of her subject pushing it's way through her legs, the Mare of the Sun stepped backwards, allowing for the seeds of her plan to become implanted in the showmare's mind.

'Nay I wish never to forget about her. The Great And Powerful Trixie, a name she gave herself likely out of nothing more than a desire to be known and loved by anypony that could hear her unique title. But all I did was ruin the very thing she desired, ponies forgot or worse yet laughed at her as she left focusing only on me and my own exploits. Every day I am haunted by the knowledge that I never ran after her, I never understood she simply wanted a friend until it was too late. I have searched through every newspaper and asked every pony I could find, but now that almost a year has passed since that day without a single trace of her, I fear I am losing hope of ever seeing the mare of my dreams.' A tear dripped over the forming smile of the Unicorn as she finished the relevant section of the letter, placing the singed photograph back beside the scroll to gaze lovingly at the smiling lavender mare. "Oh Twilight, will you never change? Your arrogance thinking you know everything about everypony else, and your endless obsessions..."

Celestia kept in her urgent desire to cockily state the similarities between the unicorns as she spoke. "That is the most recent, and alarming letter about 'The Great And Powerful Trixie' there are many more in my chamber, all relating to her feelings about you from as soon as the night she last saw your face."

Trixie failed to hide her warming smile as her increased happiness brought back her defensive character wall. "Well then you have been hearing a lot about Trixie from your student, who happens to be her greatest fan."

"I wished to sit back and observe my student's growing feelings, but from her most recent letter it has become apparent I can no longer simply hope that destiny's would intertwine."

Trixie stared blindly through closed eyes as the recent thoughts built with her memories, feelings being forged through a meander of experiences. "Trixie shall add Ponyville to her tour..."

"Tomorrow is the anniversary of your previous visit."

"Trixie has not been keeping track." The light blue mare replied before freezing to the sight of the Princess tapping her hoof at the marked calender beside her vanity. She gently sighed as she looked off to the side. "That location wasn't exactly smooth last year, even without the Ursa."

"So, is it a deal?"

The cloaked mare gazed down to Twilight's scroll once more before replying through her smiling lips. "A rather one sided deal, but it isn't like Trixie has a choice."

Celestia tracked her subject's slowly retreating movements from her wagon before perusing her to the stage. 'You will learn just how even the deal is.' The streets of Canterlot lay silent and vacant in the dead of night, with all the local posh unicorns either sleeping in their beds or engaging in one of the distant ballrooms. She watched silently, adding to the atmosphere, as the showmare levitated the stage floor against the backdrop, resting it behind a descended copper bar to keep the wagon's stage whole. With a careful eye she looked over each of the wheels and supports using the magenta aura of her horn to examine in the darkness. Pleased with the maintenance she made her way to the front of the wagon, standing before the reins and a pile of oak as Celestia calmly followed to her side. "I don't take you as much of a workmare with those legs."

The showmare smiled to the knowledge she could amaze a Princess once more. A cool wind blew through the unicorn's mane as she gently closed her eyes, feeling the mysticism flowing through her body, the new aura permeating her horn and flowing into the cool air. The winds of magical energy danced amongst themselves in a spectacle of glistening stars before descending to the grassy floor, circling and coating the hoof-shaped oak as her eyes opened to view her telekinetic beauty. Each piece of solid oak arranged itself to the aid of the dancing pink flames forming the figure of a wooden pony, the limbs all remaining detached by all but the light streams of the unicorn's magic giving the figure an almost lifelike appearance. Upon completion the wooden mare casually dug at the floor, showing a keen desire to be given a task as Trixie gently brushed her face against her wooden pet's own, receiving an equal motion in return.

"Very impressive, Hilda, isn't she?" Celestia enjoyed watching as the unicorn's embraced, not receiving any word of correction to her memory. "She has grown much from your old doll. It is good to see that you still practice the same mysticism."

Upon hearing the confirmation of her oldest friend, Trixie gently patted the side of her featureless oak face, in close succession her magic coursing through the frame caused the mare to begin moving forward at a gentle pace, slowly pulling the wagon from it's resting place. The showmare avoided the hooves she herself was moving before leaping onto the seat above, minding her injured hoof as she landed on the comfortable cushioning surface surrounded by her hoof-crafted intricately engraved seat, holding the reins loosely in her hooves as Celestia casually trotted beside her through the streets of Canterlot. As they travelled side by side she heard a quiet yawn from her subject. "It will be light by the time you reach Ponyville."

The tiring unicorn lay herself down on the warm seat, nudging into the corner to get herself comfortable. "Do not worry, Trixie has grown used to relocating as she rests. These journey's are one of the few times when she finds the peace to rest her head." The journey continued without words for a few more minutes until she finally spoke again, surprising the older mare who figured she had fallen asleep. "Though Trixie can still scarcely believe she is actually returning to that town..."

Celestia kept her gaze forwards to her steps as she replied in her usual, knowing tone. "You just needed an excuse to see her again, and that I have provided."

Trixie yawned once more, quietly and subtly as she finished making herself comfortable under the moonlight. "Perhaps, or maybe you are just looking out for your faithful student's well being, never wanting her to be upset."

Celestia slowed down to a stop as the wagon departed through the gates of Canterlot, and began following the road slowly towards her student's town. As the distant glowing magical fires vanished into the darkness the Princess exhaled silently in relief. "She is not alone in receiving my eternal care, my selfless student."