All the Difference

by Tavi n Scratch

Rating: teen
Tags: Dark, Nightmare Moon, Trixie, Princess Celestia, Alternate Universe, Twilight Sparkle, Sad, My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic
Length: 3355

What if the Sonic Rainboom happened five minutes later, during the entrance exam of a one Trixie Lulamoon

The Sonic Rainboom didn't happen when Twilight needed it to, and thus she failed her entrance exam. Now, just minutes later, Trixie's test begins, and an unexpected explosion taps into her full potential.

I wrote this as more of a challenge to myself to go against Trixie stereotypes, and as such it will be quite short.

Published 2013-02-20 20:40:01 UTC
Last updated 2013-02-26 19:06:16 UTC

The Exam

It was about fifteen years ago. I was just a nervous filly, waiting outside of the classroom. It was almost my turn to take the entrance examination for Princess Celestia’s School for Gifted unicorns. A minute before I was waiting out here with another little filly who introduced herself as Twilight. I was quite a bit older than her, almost three or four years I’d say. At that moment she was testing, a couple examiners were observing her magic ability. I had hoped she would’ve done well, but a couple minutes after she walked out of the room, the frown of a young foal sat on her face.

For some reason I felt obligated to comfort her, it just seemed like something I needed to do. I walked up to her and spoke, “It’s okay, a place with meanies like those doesn’t deserve somepony as special as you.” I turned to a vase sitting on a table and picked up a flower from it and laced it through her hair using my magic. “If you keep practicing then someday you’ll turn out to be a great and wonderful unicorn, you don’t need this place. You know what, here take this.” I took the wizard’s cap off my head and gave it to her.

“That was a gift from my dad, and I know that it will help you.” She put on the cap and a huge grin spread across her face. "Take this too." I removed the cape from my shoulders and placed it over her. "Never stop trying." She trotted off, happily dancing about in the clothes that were too big for her. Her parents then approached me.

“Thanks, I wasn’t sure my wife and I would be able to cheer her up after all this.” He gestured to the classroom. “You didn’t have to do that, thank you.”

“It’s really nothing, I just saw a unicorn with potential and gave her the little bit of support she needed. You two just make sure she practices, She seems like something special.” The support I never got.

The two nodded at me and walked off after their daughter. I wish I could have parents that were that supportive of me. I wish I could have parents. I was there under the watch of a couple guards. They picked me up off the street with the intention of taking me to the orphanage, but when I fought back with magic they thought I might be a good candidate for the school, so they took me here.

I walked into the testing room, a few unicorns sat in the back rows of the class, writing on clipboards. One of them speaks up, “Please state your name and age.”

“Trixie, Trixie Lulamoon, eleven years old.”

“Alright Miss Lulamoon, your task is to hatch this dragon’s egg,” he gestured to a multicolored object sitting in a cart. “You may begin.”

I turned to the egg and began to muster up everything inside of me, I couldn’t fail. If I did I would be sent to the orphanage. I shifted the energy from within me to my horn and expelled it onto the egg. I could feel it shifting and moving under my magic, then I felt the tiniest crack, followed by a thunderous crack. The explosion tripped off something inside of me, the magic was flowing out of me at an insane rate. I had to put all of my effort into just not losing control. Chairs in the room began to levitate, a monstrous dragon came crawling out now hatched egg.

Everything went so wrong so fast, until something in me cracked. At that moment I had control over that infinite power, and it was terrifying. I placed the chairs back down and returned the dragon inside the egg and sealed it.

Everything returned to how it was, and then I turned to see the princess herself. “Oh your majesty, I’m so sorry.” At the moment I had no idea what had just happened, I was just terrified. I felt as if I had made a mistake.

“I’ve never seen anypony so young able to control that much magic, that was astounding.” I stood there with my mouth agape, my young mind couldn’t process all of this at once. “What was your name again?”

I try to talk, but at first I just squeak. I clear my throat and respond, “Trixie, my name is Trixie. Am I in trouble?” I remember my knees trembling as I stood before Celestia.

“Not at all little one. Hold on, where are your parents?” One of the guards that had escorted me there explained my situation to the princess. “Oh, I see. Follow me”

“Where are we going?”

“We are going to your new room, here in the palace.”

“What?” I was beyond confusion, keep in mind I was only a child at the time.

“I’ve been looking for an apprentice, a unicorn with untapped magical potential, and here you are. You will be my personal student, and will reside here in the palace.”

It took me a second to process, but once I understood I reacted like a filly on Hearth’s Warming. “Really!?” She nodded and I began to hop around in joy. I latched myself onto her leg, hugging her with all my might, and the princess laughed. The moment was interrupted by a loud grumble of my stomach, it had been a while since I last ate.

“How about some lunch first,” I nodded and my new mentor lead me out the door.

Thus began my new life.

The Warning

I’m proud to say I never forgot where I came from. I could so easily have been shipped off to the orphanage, but Celestia chose to take me under her wing. I will always be grateful, and to return the favor I chose to be the best student I possibly could. I spent my days poring over books, learning magic and refining my skills.

Although I was often reassured of my talent by those around the palace I was never good enough. I always pushed myself to be better than I was, anything below perfect was unacceptable. Overtime my magic blossomed until I became one of the most powerful unicorns in Equestria. And yet I felt I still had something to prove.

One day I stumbled upon a dusty book, something I had never seen before. The title piqued a bit of interest in me: Elements of Harmony: A Reference Guide I’d never before heard of the Elements of Harmony. I was soon buried in the book, absorbing knowledge from the pages. I learned of Nightmare Moon, Celestia’s younger sister. It was a tender subject, but the two of us had spoken of it before.

I cross referenced this book with a collection of legends, and what I saw was interesting. According to this, Nightmare Moon would return in a month on the eve of the summer sun celebration. We need to be ready, I must tell the princess.

I entered the throne room, trying to remain calm, but I felt an air of urgency and despair. The feeling of an impending disaster. “Princess, might I speak to you in private?” She waved her guards out.

“What is it my loyal student?”

“As I am certain you know, Nightmare Moon is destined to return in a month. I am certain you have a plan, right?” She closed her eyes, a frown stretched across her face. She seemed sad, and I could understand why.

“Yes, I have a plan, and as part of that plan I am sending you to Ponyville, the sight of the festival next month. While there I want you to learn all you can of Nightmare Moon and the Elements of Harmony. Do you understand?”

“Of course, I will go prepare immediately.” I saw something in her eyes, and that was the first clue that something was off. Celestia was keeping something from me, but I trust her, whatever she isn’t telling me is probably better left unknown.

Even I know that knowledge can hurt just as much as it helps.

The Plan

"The Element of Magic, the hidden Element, radiates through here. As a unicorn my own magic is more powerful here." I speak with a cold and angry voice, stepping towards the monster with every step. "The unicorn who is to hold the Element of Magic is here, but it's not me." I glance back at the lifeless body of the other unicorn. "You killed it's bearer, and thus it must find a new holder." A small light comes out of Twilight's body. It moved slowly to me, slowly enveloping me in it's bright glow.

"You see, I was never meant to be the one to carry the Element of Magic for one reason." The light picked me up and I could feel it coursing through me. "Only I could control both the light and the dark, to use magic to it's entire potential." I floated back to the ground. I felt a slight weight on my body and turned back to see a new hat and cloak to replace the ones I had given many years ago. The fabric looked to be weaved from the night sky. "I have the power to destroy Gods and Goddesses alike, no earthly limits restrict me." I step towards the princess.

"I could kill you in an instant."

The Meeting

I flew over Equestria in a royal chariot, looking down to the ground below. My mind wandered, preoccupied by the many issues looming on the horizon. Suddenly on the ground I saw a lavender shaded unicorn in the middle of nowhere with a cart in tow. But something else piqued my interest, on her head sat a wizard’s hat with a star pattern. My curiosity got the better of me and I ordered the drivers to land. I got hopped off and ran after her.

“Don’t I know you?” I caught up to her, her face seemed familiar.

“I don’t believe so,” her expression turned to one of confusion.

“Hmm, the hat seems familiar, might I take a look at it?”

She shuffled, an unsure look on her face. “It was a gift, it’s kinda special to me.”

“I promise I’ll be careful.” She handed the hat to me, but she still seemed nervous. I flipped it over and looked at the inside. A capital “T” was sown in on the interior. I put the hat back on her head and began to laugh. “Well it’s nice to meet you again Twilight Sparkle.”

“How do you know who I am just from my hat.”

“Well I remember a long time ago giving my hat to a sad little filly named Twilight Sparkle after she failed her entrance exam.”

Her eyes shined with the light of realization. “Oh my gosh it’s you!” She began to laugh as well. “I’m sorry but I don’t believe I caught your name.”

“Trixie, my name is Trixie Lulamoon. I’m so surprised to see you out here, where are you heading?”

“Ponyville, there’ll be a big crowd there, what with the summer sun celebration.”

“That’s where I’m off to as well, would you like some company?” She nodded and smiled. I turned to the two pegasi who pulled the chariot. “Head on back to Canterlot, I think I’ll make the rest of the trip on foot.” They took off without question and I returned to Twilight. “So, I’m actually quite curious, how have you turned out? What became of the little filly I told to practice and to never give up?”

“Well where do I begin? I guess I can start from the day after the test.” The two of us wandered as she told me her life story.

She went home after that day after the exam, sad but not discouraged. She continued to practice magic, refining her skill and learning all she could about the art of magic. Time passed and she got bored of regular school, they all moved too slow for her. She dropped out of high school, making it next to impossible to get into a university. She gave up after a while, deciding to have a little fun with magic. Twilight became a showmare, travelling across Equestria, visiting towns, showing of her magic feats to crowds. It was an interesting story, and not one that I had expected, but it wasn’t really complicated. A unicorn who decided to entertain many with her magic. I’m not sure what I expected.

I filled her in on my story, from my exam to palace life, even a bit about my current mission, the things that weren’t confidential. After conversing for a while we come to a fork in the road, one going around the Everfree Forest and the other cutting through it. I’ve read about this place before, an ancient realm, predating the princesses. It was a place full of archaic creatures and wicked magic. And yet it didn’t scare me. “Let’s go this way, it’s way shorter.”

“You can’t be serious, that place is dangerous.”

“Come on, the two most powerful unicorns in Equestria,” I laughed and flashed a cocky smile, “We can take care of ourselves.” She thought for a minute but consented, so we took off into the tree’s.

About five minutes in we came across a ruined castle, a chilling sight, yet I felt so drawn to it, something called to me. I start towards the gate but Twilight stops me, “You cannot be serious, something’s in there.”

“I know,” I speak absent mindedly, heading towards the stone structure. I blink and I’m in the grand hall, a dark cloud swirling where the royal throne would be.

“Trixie,” the blackness spoke, “I’ve brought you here to die.”

Author's Note

TWO roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveler, long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent in the undergrowth;

Then took the other, as just as fair,
And having perhaps the better claim,
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;
Though as for that the passing there
Had worn them really about the same,

And both that morning equally lay
In leaves no step had trodden black.
Oh, I kept the first for another day!
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,
I doubted if I should ever come back.

I shall be telling this with a sigh
Somewhere ages and ages hence:
Two roads diverged in a wood, and I—
I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

The End

I threw the goddess against the wall like a ragdoll. “You have no idea how much I want to just kill you right now. I know I can’t though, you aren’t supposed to die, at least not here and not now. But I know exactly what that means for me.” Tears were streaming down my face, both of anger and sadness. “I get to keep none of this, the life in the palace, the friends I’ve made, the power I’ve worked for, all of it, just erased. It’s not FAIR!” I threw her again.

“I am great, I am powerful, I could just finish you and rewrite time, but with knowledge comes a burden. I know I could never do that, time would catch up to me. So it’s up to me to go back and make amends, heal the torn continuum. And what good comes from that? Twilight gets to be the Princess’s student, she gets to meet her friends, you get redemption, the Elements receive new bearers.It seems everyone wins, everyone but I.

“Here I am, the one forced to make this choice. And what do I get from it? I lose my palace life, end up in an orphanage, I have NO FUTURE!” I continued beating Nightmare Moon within inches of death. “Twilight Sparkle steals the life I have! All happiness I have shall be taken by her!” I turn to her dead body. “I thought her my friend, I was blind. She is my replacement, a version of me that Celestia could handle and control. I’ve seen into the cut of time, how could I be so naive.”

“And yet, there is no escape,” tears were streaming down my face, my knees shook and by body trembled. I remember shutting my eyes and collapsing to the icy stone floor. There I was, laying on the ground, joined by the pony who will take everything wonderful in my life and a goddess who was about to die. I laid there and cried, I cried for so long. I understood before that all this was meant to happen, but it never hit me like this. I just couldn’t stop, I have no idea how long I was there on the floor.

When I finally opened my eyes, light filters through the cracked ceiling. Apparently I’d been l crying the entire night. I stood up, I was calm, but my composure was shaky. I walked up to Luna. “I need this.” I took the amulet from around her neck and put it on myself. I could feel my power increasing even more, “This should be sufficient.” Using all of the power, I could feel time, I could manipulate it like cloth. “I wish there was another way, but it looks like the only way to save it all is to sacrifice my own happiness.” I turned to the dead unicorn as I began to mend the cuts in time, reversing everything to as it should be.

“Fuck you Twilight Sparkle, you ungrateful little bitch. I just hope you know that none of this is for you.”

~~~

I found myself in the lobby of Celestia's school, in line for the exam. Behind me in the queue was a young purple unicorn. I was called in, but something kept me from using my full magic. I failed the test. As I walked out the filly smiled at me; for some reason I felt nothing but contempt for her. She walked into the classroom as I was lead out by guards to the orphanage. When I reached the building I heard an explosion overhead, and a glorious rainbow fills the sky.

I begin to cry

Prologue

As I stand in the ruins of the ancient castle, I remember the day with clarity. It was one of those things that stuck to you, that always just sticks in the back of your head, waiting for a little thing to trip it off. For me that little thing was Twilight Sparkle, lying on the ground in front of me, dying from a spell cast by the reforming Nightmare Moon. It was a lot to take in.

The Moon

"You fool, you just don't get it. You are not to be the one to hold the Elements of Harmony. You are helpless, you have failed your precious Celestia." I looked up from my dying friend and stared into the eyes of the lunar demon.

"I know, and I've known for a long time. I've read the prophecy "The stars will aid in her escape" Well look at this unicorn here, her cutie mark., a set of six stars, obviously representing the Elements of Harmony. Give me some credit, I'm not as daft as you make me out to be."

She scoffed and lowered her head, preparing for another attack. Her last one would have hit me if Twilight hadn't sacrificed herself. This thought fills me with anger, so much anger, I feel the power that I felt many years ago. "I wasn't finished!" I yell out with a fury that shakes the ruined castle. I cast the magic against the rogue princess and freeze her in place. "You're the one who doesn't get it! You're so stupid! I know I wouldn't be the one to beat you so I came here with a plan!"