Trixie's Dark Ascension

Chapters

Chapter 1: Fork in the road.
Chapter 2: Land of the Ice and Snow
Chapter 3: A Dark History
Chapter 4: The Party Begings
Chapter 5: The Caper
Chapter 6: The Interrogation
Chapter 7: The Arrival
Chapter 8: Rebirth
Chapter 9: The Ascension

Chapter 1: Fork in the road.

Trixie was sitting at a local café in the small city of Shetland that rested on the northern boarder of Equestria. Shetland was more of a large town than a city, but the locals preferred “city” to town—so it stuck. Trixie had just finished her show a few hours ago and decided to use the donations she got to get a bite to eat. The ponies of this city were nice for the most part, only a couple of naysayers, and this place was far away enough that nopony had heard of Trixie or the events of what happened in Ponyville, so it was the perfect place to start anew.

Overall Trixie was rather pleased with how the show had gone. She remembered her lessens from Ponyville and didn’t go out of her way to embarrass any naysayers that didn’t have it coming, and she wasn’t too egotistical. Still though, a sharp twinge of shame came over her when she remembered all the lies of heroic deeds she told up there. How easy it was to fall back into bad habits. None of the lies were like the Ursa Major one, but they were lies all the same and no amount of Trixie’s hay and wheat smoothie was going to get rid of that shame (not that it stopped her from trying).

Still though this place was nice, the weather was on the cold side, but the ponies were nice. They actually liked her, or at least her show. It would appear they didn’t have many magicians here, just singers and comedians so a magic show was new and refreshing for them. One pony actually hired Trixie to perform at her little fillies’ birthday party. Sigh, Is this really what the GREAT and POWERFULL Trixie has been reduced to: little fillies’ birthday parties.

At this point Trixie tried to look around at the local ponies and noticed that there weren’t many, if any, unicorns around. It would appear the population was mostly pegasi, followed closely by earth ponies with only a hoof full of unicorns to be found. That’s when she noticed that one of the ponies sitting at a table near her had left his newspaper, and since there was no sign of him coming back for it, Trixie decided to catch up on some current events. It was a local paper, but Trixie noticed the main article on the front-page plain as day. “New Equestrian Princess.” She froze in horror as she recognized the pony in the photo.

“Twilight Sparkle?” Trixie whispered under her breath as she looked at the photo of her would be rival, now with wings. The article went on to tell of the new princess and her life up to this point, daughter of nobility, child prodigy, sister to the Captain of the royal guard, personal student of Princess Celestia, Element of Magic, defeater of Nightmare Moon AND Discord. It also briefly mentioned the Ursa Minor incident but luckily didn’t seem to mention Trixie at all. It also didn’t bring up the incident where Trixie took over the town with the Alicorn Amulet, either. Before, hearing this kind of information would make Trixie scared, or angry with envy, but right now all Trixie felt was discouraged.

Trixie had once thought that she and Twilight were rivals, and that one day Trixie would be able to return to Ponyville and have a friendly competition with her-- maybe even come out on top. But now? Even without Twilight’s ascension into demi-goddom, Trixie knew there was no coming out on top, that no matter how hard she tried, or trained, or learned, Trixie would never be able to stack up next to Twilight. Twilight was so out of Trixie’s league it wasn’t even funny--like an ant trying to fight a lion.

Trixie felt worse now then she had ever felt in her entire life.

There was no reason for this either. No reason Trixie couldn’t have been just as successful. She was born a unicorn, had a special talent in magic itself. Ok, her parents weren’t rich enough to send her to a fancy school like the Celestia’s institute for gifted unicorns, or anywhere like it, but they weren’t poor either. So what if she made a few mistakes in her life, was that all it took? Merely a few mistakes to separate one from godmode and performing birthday parties?

No, it’s easy for anypony to see this was Twilight’s destiny, she earned it. Trixie on the other hoof was just … just a failure it felt like. Tears started to grow in Trixie’s eyes.

“Ahh, but what you fail to realize, is that nopony can earn their destiny. It is always something given to us.”

Trixie snapped out of her thought by this new voice’s apperance, and looking up from the paper. She saw a pony sitting across from her at the table who wasn’t there a few seconds ago. He was a rather thin unicorn who’s horn was on the reddish side, despite his coat being a dark grey color. His mane and tail were a very dark black, almost if they were made of darkness itself. His eyes though, were the weirdest--they were red and black, with the whites of his eyes replaced with a sickly green.

He grinned a wicked grin that showed off his sharpened teeth and began to speak again. “Startled are you? Well don’t worry, I am here to help you, Trixie.”

“W-Who are you?” Trixie asked.

“Who I am doesn’t matter. Who matters here is you, and what you decide to do this day.”

“W-What do you mean? AND what did you mean about the destiny thing!?”

“I am going to give you a choice this day, and the choice you choose today will affect the rest of your life greatly and powerfully. As for the destiny thing, I meant exactly what I said: a pony is given their destiny, nopony earns it. It is to say that it doesn’t matter if you work hard or not, you will still get the same destiny either way. Let’s take that Twilight for example,” The dark pony took the paper Trixie was reading, “She was born of nobility, had connections with the royal family, was gifted with an unnatural amount of magic at a young age, and was educated by the Princess herself. This pony did nothing to earn what she got, she was crafted to get this, practically breed to receive this honor. Hee hee hee. It would be like saying that the clay earned its way to becoming a pot.”

“Are you trying to say that no matter what Trixie does, this life right now is the best Trixie will do?”

He said, “In a way, yes. If you were to accept your destiny, you could become very happy here in this city.”

“Happy?”

“Yes happy. The ponies of this place rather like you--you could easily get a few real friends. I also happen to know for a fact that one of the few unicorns that lives here in this city of mudponies and pigeons, has taken a fondness for you. He works in the post office, I believe, and would make a good husband. You could settle down and have a few foals of your own and perform magic shows and birthday parties on the side. I know it doesn’t sound like the most fulfilling life out there, but it is one you could be content with and find happiness.”

“H-how do you know all this” Trixie asked hesitantly.

He chuckled, his horn glowing slightly. “I know a great many things, but the easiest way to explain would be to just say MY special talent lets me know the matters of other ponies’ hearts. So over time, I learned how other ponies’ feelings would interact with one another given the right circumstances.”

Trixie brought her hoof to her mouth, almost chewing the tip of it. She looked down to try and make sense of what this stranger was saying. “Do, do you really think Trixie could find happiness here?”

“Happiness goes to those who accept their destiny… but Glory.” Trixie’s eyes shot back up to see the Dark stranger finish his sentence, “Glory goes to those who defy it,” he said with his wicked grin. “Those are the options I give you Trixie, stay and live here happily, or accept my offer and obtain glory everlasting with your own hoofs.”

Trixie’s dropped down from the table, and stared at the ground. This was too much to take in so suddenly, so randomly. She couldn’t figure out what to do, say, or even react to something like this.

“I just wanted you to know this, that your destiny lays here in this pathetic excuses for a city, but GLORY still awaits you in the Frozen North.”

Trixie’s head came back up to see that the dark stranger had disappeared. Only a faint whiff of smoke was left where he was sitting. A golden train ticket sat on the table, just beneath the smoke. Trixie looked around, but nopony seemed to notice that a pony suddenly disappeared, or that he was there at all.

What should I do? Can I really trust that pony? Of course Trixie can’t, he had evil written all over his face, but can I really let this slip through my hoofs like this? Trixie thought to herself with conflicted emotions raging inside her.

Trixie sat there, fixatedly staring at this mysteries golden ticket, unknowing where it would take here.

Author's Note

This is my first story I have ever posted, so I am very exited. If anyone is wondering that Happiness/Destiny speech is a reference to an anime called "Princess Tutu" (which is much darker then the title makes it sound).

Chapter 2: Land of the Ice and Snow

Trixie watched the frozen tundra of the Crystal Mountains pass by through the window of the speeding train. They had left behind the vegetation line hours ago, and although the snow and far away mountains glittered with unparalleled beauty, it grew boring after so long. The lack of trees or grass only emphasized the barren and lifeless scenery.

“Is there really an empire all the way out here?” Trixie asked the tiny window.

“Apparently so. Hard to believe isn’t it?” said a voice from behind Trixie.

Trixie turned around to see this new pony was a jasmine coated pegasus mare. Her cutie mark was three light blue raindrops, and her pretty turquoise eyes distracted from her light blue mane and tail. She looked familiar, as if Trixie had seen her somewhere before, but couldn’t quite place it. “Does Trixie know you from somewhere?”

The jasmine pegasus’ face turned red. “Well, no, not officially. Not like we ever talked or anything like that, but I know who you are. You’re the Great and Powerful Trixie,” she said with a big toothy grin.

Trixie just smiled and nodded. She had dealt with over eager fans before (normally not anypony this old, though). “So you’ve see Trixie’s shows? That’s nice. Where did you see Trixie--Hoofington, Los Pegasus, Baltamare perhaps?”

“Ponyville actually.”

Trixie’s eye twitched.

“Hee hee, not the response you wanted to hear I guess? Not that I can blame you, I mean after all that happened there, and all.” The mare sat in the seat across from Trixie and smiled.

“So Trixie takes it you aren’t mad at Trixie then? Um, ah, who were you again?”

“R-RAINDROPS! My n-name is Raindrops, hah hah.” The mare’s face turned bright red again. “And no, I’m not mad at you. I mean, I know it wasn’t your fault. The last Time you were in Ponyville you were under the influence of that evil amulet thingy, and the Ursa thing was more the fault of my little brother and his stupid friend.”

“Wait, your little brother‽”

“Yeah, his name is Snails. You more then likely remember him as that young unicorn colt that worshiped the ground you walked on,” she said with an awkward smile.

“That little foal practically destroyed Trixie’s life!”

“Well to be fair you did turn him and his best friend into babies with dark magic, and then never turned them back.”

“Wha … oops.”

“Yep. Oh well, it’s probably for the best. Maybe he’ll get better grades this time around.”

“Well in any case, its nice to know that the ponies of Ponyville don’t hate Trixie.”

“Well, let’s not jump to conclusions. I said I wasn’t mad at you. The rest of Ponyville would probably tar and feather you if you ever stepped hoof back in town,” Raindrops said with another awkward smile.

Trixie said, “Well that’s nice to know.”

“How about we change topics shall we? So what’s bringing you to the Crystal Empire? Ooh, ooh, ooh! Are you going to do a show there?” Raindrops asked, her wings fluttering hard enough to shed feathers.

“Ah, maybe? If the mood strikes Trixie, but for the most part Trixie was just going sight seeing. Come up with a few new stories of exiting never before seen lands. Or something like that,” Trixie mumbled under her breath.

“Squee! That would be so cool if you did a show here.” Raindrops clapped her hoofs together.

“Okay, so why are you going to the Crystal Empire? It’s kind of a long ways away from Ponyville.”

“Myself and a few of my fellow classmates from the Wonderbolts Academy who didn’t get accepted into the second stage of the program, decided that instead of moping around about not continuing, we would take a trip together. Rainbow Dash suggested the Crystal Empire, so, here we are. Dash didn’t come with because she had already been here before, and she is like the biggest sore loser out of all of us, so I think she’s still at home depressed,” She said nearly in one breath.

“You were at the Wonderbolts Academy?” Trixie asked with honest surprise.

“Only the first stage of it. Apparently it’s not that hard to get into, but out of the eight ponies in my class only one went to stage two, Clark Colt I think his name was, but it was like his third time taking the course while everypony else was a first timer.”

“Yeah! and it was cow patties!” Another mare’s voice shouted across the train car. She then angrily trotted over to the two ponies.

She was a light blue pegasus with an orange and amber striped mane with orange eyes. She looked very upset and angry, her cheeks turning a rosy color. Her posture swayed back and forth, and her breath smelled of whisky.

“Lightning Dust, are you… drunk again?” Raindrops asked with concern in her voice.

“NO! Maybe. WHAT of it‽” the mare said very defensively. “And who the buck is this?” She pointed accusingly at Trixie.

“The pony of who you speak is none other then the best magician in all of Equestria, The Great and Powerful TRIXIE!” Trixie said in her best stage voice, while striking her famous pose with little fireworks going off behind her cape. Raindrops clapped happily at the display.

“Hay, isn’t that that crazy mare who took over our town a few months ago?” asked a black-coated pegasus stallion from the other side of the train where Raindrops and Lightning Dust had come from.

“YEAH!” yelled a big, overly muscular stallion sitting with them.

“Oops, maybe I should have mentioned that over half of my class that came was, also from Ponyville,” Raindrop said with a sheepish smile.

“Great, that’s just…great,” Trixie said softly.

“Yeah, all you Unicorns are the same,” Lightning Dust said with a slur. “Ya’ll just think you’re so high and mighty, don’t you?”

Raindrops covered her face with her hoofs in embarrassment. “Oh dear, Celestia. Please tell me this isn’t happening.”

“You unicorns think you’re so much better then us pegasi don’t you? Well guess what, you’re NOT!”

“Dust please stop.”

“You unicorns don’t do jack all to help the community, either. At least Earth ponies grow food, but us pegasi do the most work. We control the weather, every single day, and get no appreciation for it. When was the last time you did any think like that, hm?” Lightning Dust chuckled as if she had just won some argument that only she was having.

But Trixie on the other hoof didn’t like losing arguments, especially arguments against ponies who where clearly more intoxicated then she was. “Just the other day actually.”

“What?” Lightning Dust asked, confused.

“Well, even though weather manipulation is normally reserved for pegasi, that type of magic can be imitated by unicorns such as Trixie. In fact Trixie can summon forth-lightning clouds and control rainbows at the slightest whim. Trixie can even imitate Earth pony magic as well, but the things Trixie can grow never seem to taste right. There’s always this weird aftertaste.”

“Ohhh,” Raindrops said with wonder.

Lightning Dust fumed with frustration. “Well-Well you’re nothing but a washed up has-been!”

“Takes one to know one,” Trixie said with a smirk.

“Why you little—” Lightning Dust tried to jump at Trixie, but Raindrops got in-between and pushed Lightning away.

“Dust, just stop it! Why don’t you go sit down, and cool off for a little bit,” Raindrops commanded. Lightning Dust slunk back to the others, mumbling under her breath. Raindrops said, “I am so sorry about that.”

“It’s ok,” Trixie said. She was always amused by how easily it was to control other ponies’ actions when they were mad, or not in a sober state of mind (with the sole exception of when a certain purple pony did it to her). However, Lightning Dust’s last comment did hurt Trixie’s pride more then she had shown.

“Attention all passengers, we will be arriving at the Crystal Empire’s train station in ten minuets, that is all,” said the conductor over the intercom.

Oh thank Celestia, Trixie can finally get off of this train. Trixie thought to herself.

“Oh wow! Check it out, Trixie,” Raindrops said with her face to the window, “We can finally see the Crystal Empire.”

“What are you talking abou--What is that?” Trixie asked while looking out the window. She saw a giant blue glowing dome off in the distance, getting larger with every second they got closer. Just looking at it filled Trixie with a warmth and joy she had never known before.

“It’s the Crystal Empire, I think.” Raindrops’ nose scrunched up for a split second. “The whole place is covered in some kind of love dome, or something. At least that’s what the brochure said.”

“Now that Trixie thinks about it, Trixie doesn’t know much about this place. Mind telling Trixie anything you might know?”

“To be honest, not much. I know the whole place is supposed to be made of crystals or something, and the Crystal Heart is what’s powering the dome. Beyond that, not much is know by anypony, but if you want an unconfirmed rumor--they used to be ruled by some evil unicorn king, or smoke monster…according to Rainbow Dash anyway.”

That last bit of info gave Trixie a bad feeling, as if she knew exactly whom Raindrops was talking about. “You don’t say.”

When the train passed through the dome’s barrier, the scenery changed from a frozen wasteland to a bright springtime grassland. The lack of a transition disoriented Trixie at first, but with everypony else, quickly became amazed with the inside of the dome. The city sparkled even more beautifully than the snow outside as they came up to the train station.

Everypony made their way to the platform, very grateful to get a chance to stretch their legs. That’s when Trixie felt it—a dark presence scratching at the back of her mind. She turned away from the city and looked towards the edge of the dome to see where this feeling was coming from. Wherever it was, it was beyond the barrier out in the tundra, calling out to Trixie like a dark whisper being carried by the wind.

“Hey, Trixie,” Raindrops called out to her. Trixie turned around to see the energetic mare approach her. “So like, I was talking to my friends and all. I mean, we need to go to the hotel first to check in and stuff, but later we’re all going to this wicked awesome night club, and I was wondering if you would like to come with us?” She asked, throwing up the biggest smile she could.

"Didn't you tell Trixie that the other ponies in your group wanted to 'tar n' feather' Trixie?"

"What? Oh right, well, I wasn't talking about those guys. They're cool. I just finished talking to them. I was referring more to the earth pony community, anyway." Raindrops tried to explain.

“Well that does sound like a lot of fun, but Trixie has some stuff she needs to take care of first, and Trixie doesn’t know how long that’s going to take,” she said, now looking at a very sad pegasus. “But, if Trixie has time she will drop by.”

“Awesome. I can’t wait. So I guess, I will see you later then.” Raindrops flew back to her friends as they all gathered their thing to head to the hotel.

Trixie tilted her hat over her eyes, and gave a little smile. Raindrops seemed like a very good pony to her, and it was nice to know she still had fans. As soon as everypony was gone, she turned again to the dark whispers that were scratching at her mind. She followed them all the way to the edge of the barrier. Trixie stopped for a moment to inspect the wall of magic. The wall was massive and Trixie could feel the love radiating off of it like never before. However, the darkness that called her was still cutting through it like a hot knife through warm butter.

Curiously, Trixie touched the wall with her hoof to find that it just fazed through, no alarms were set off, and there was no visible sign of Trixie’s hoof going through it except for some ripples that were hardly noticeable. With a deep breath Trixie stepped completely though the barrier to the other side.

It was at this exact point in time Trixie was extremely glad that she enchanted her hat and cape with a spell to keep her body heat from leaving. Without it she would have frozen to death in seconds. Even the grass that was thriving just inside the barrier had died instantly. The only thing she needed to worry about was getting lost. All directions looked the same, but she still marched on across the frozen tundra. Trixie couldn’t tell if it was snowing, or if the constant wind was just picking up and moving around the snow that was already there. It felt like she had been walking for hours following the whispers leading her. She couldn’t even see the dome of the Crystal Empire anymore, until she finally found it.

A big red…thorn? Trixie thought to herself. It was weird, just sticking out of the ground in what looked like a mini crater. Whatever it was, it was pulsating with a dark magic, the likes of which Trixie had seen before. The same kind of magic from the Alicorn Amulet. Trixie knew what this magic was capable of, and how corrupting it was (she was still uncomfortable around wheels for reasons Trixie still doesn’t understand). She also knew this was different. This thing had a mind and will of its own, unlike the Amulet.

It reminded her of that dark stranger she met in Shetland.

Every rational thought in Trixie’s head was telling her to leave and just go back now and take Raindrops up on that offer, but Trixie just kept staring at the red thorn as it called out to her.

Chapter 3: A Dark History

Trixie grew tired of waiting and starring at this mysterious thorn giving off its own dark magic. Using her magic, she levitated the thorn closer to her face. She inspected the questionable object when it gave off a powerful magical backlash that used Trixie’s own magic to attack her horn. It knocked Trixie to the ground.

Holding her hoof to her head to ease the pain, she started to hear an evil laughter. It was at first faint, but grew slowly louder.

“YES, very good,” said the voice of the Stranger Trixie had meet back in Shetland. “You have come here as I had suggested, you shall be greatly rewarded with power and glory for this, as you had desired.”

“What‽ Where are you, show yourself to Trixie,” she said in a panic, looking around in every direction trying to find the source of the voice.

“Hehehe, I am right here. What is left of my physical form is being held in your aura as we speak. If it’s the location of my voice that bothers you, I am transmitting my words as thoughts into your head. Only you can hear me.”

“You can’t control Trixie’s body or anything like that, can you?”

“No, if I could do that I would have done so already.”

“Ok, so this Thorn was a part of your body?”

“It is not a thorn, it was my Horn”

“This is a horn‽ But horns are supposed to be spiraled and strait.” Trixie said with pain in her voice, imagining the pain untwisting a horn and bending it would cause.

“Well, years of black magic will do that. It’s also the reason it’s red, to save you that question,” he said nonchalantly.

“Ok well how about these, who are you and what is your horn doing all the way out here?”

“Both excellent questions, but to answer them will take time. Perhaps we should start walking back to the city, and I will explain on the way,” The strange voice said with an amused hum in his tone.

“Very well, Trixie doesn’t want to be out here any longer anyway.” Trixie then turned around and went the direction she thinks is the right way to go. “You better get talking then.”

“As you wish, I am the rightful ruler of the Crystal Empire, King Sombra. I ruled the crystal ponies with an iron hoof until the day over one thousand years ago Celestia and her sister came and imprisoned me within a glacier. Recently I was able to escape that frozen tome at the price of my body turning me into a fog like form until I could reestablish myself. When I went to reclaim my empire, there were those who could repel me, but they could not keep me away forever, and as I was finally able to break in they had found the crystal heart. The heart’s aura was able to restore my body but as Princess Cadenza used its power with the rest of the crystal ponies, my body was destroyed yet again, but this time only my horn survived and landed out here in the snowy wasteland.”

“Interesting,” Trixie responded. “But, you yourself are not a crystal pony Trixie believes, so tell Trixie more about yourself.”

“I was born in a city called Canterlot to a moderately rich noble family, but I was disgraced and banished from there for my so called “radical” beliefs, and my studies into dark magics. I couldn’t stand living in those miserable valleys with those disgusting Mud ponies, so I ventured north to try and find the ancient home of the Noble Unicorn tribe and reestablish it. Along my travels I had heard legends of a two other tribes one who lived even farther north who were made of the most beautiful crystal and whose magic was powerful, and the other to the far south called the Flutter Ponies who has a powder that could clean any impurity. ”

“Having caught my interest in powerful magic, I decided to look for these ‘crystal ponies’ instead, and traveled throw the frozen north farther then any unicorn explorer had ever gone. I eventually found it, the crystal city. Its warmth and beauty amazed me, and my desire to posses it for myself only grew. When I entered the city I loved the architecture of the buildings more then anything else, and I couldn’t wait to improve it. You could only imagine my great disappointment when I discovered the locals were all of the mud pony variety, beautiful crystal yes, but mud ponies all the same. I couldn’t find even one glorious crystal unicorn there.

“Fortunately for me I was able to keep my mouth closed, and since they had never seen a unicorn before, it was easy for me to earn their trust and amaze them with only but a few easy tricks. It didn’t take long at all to convince them to crown me their rightful King--as it should be, for any unicorn is far superior to a mud pony, even a crystal one.”

It was around now that even Trixie was feeling uncomfortable. She had been around tribalist ponies before, but this guy was so bad that he almost made the PPP look like a civil rights group. But she couldn’t stop him here because the story was getting interesting, and Trixie always hated it when ponies interrupted her monologing, so she was going to let him finish.

“Once as I was their king, I was able to practice as much black magic as I wanted and to develop spells nopony had ever dreamed of before. I was even able to combine my dark magic with the natural crystals around to form my black crystals which once covered every square inch of the empire. HAHAHAAH!”

And that was the cue that the monologue was over. Trixie crossed over a snow bank to finally see the City again, relieving all fears of being lost out in the tundra. “So inform Trixie how it is you’re going to deliver all this power and glory you promised Trixie, otherwise Trixie will leave your horn behind right here.”

“Heh, very smart not to trust me completely, but I am a pony of my word and I will deliver. The ultimate power and glory you desire is to become an Alicorn yes?”

“Alicorn? We are talking about beings of unbelievable magical power strong enough to move the sun and moon right?”

“Yes, the very same. Using the powerful crystals around this area that can hold and even generate magic, I was able to build a device that could turn a normal unicorn into an Alicorn,” he said with a smirk that Trixie couldn’t see, but felt.

“How can Trixie trust you? How can Trixie trust anything you even say?”

“Well since I no longer have a body to speak of, I also lack certain mental filters most ponies take for granted. Like the ability to lie or conceal information, so all you have to do is ask me a question and I will have to answer it honestly.”

“Okay, but how can Trixie trust that that statement in and of itself isn’t a lie?”

“Well you see I...” King Sombra trailed off and gave a facial expression that was completely dumfounded that once again Trixie couldn’t see but felt.

“I don’t know,” he said very slowly.

“Ok, let’s say Trixie believes you. How can Trixie know that this device even works? You weren’t an Alicorn,” Trixie said as she started walking again toward the City.

“Fair point, I know the device works because I tested it, just not on myself. You see when I built it I was concerned about my lineage, or at least my recent failed attempts, so I started seeking immortality like Starswirl The Bearded. It’s why I built the device in the first place. However when I was done, I was afraid to use it unknowing what would happen. As far as I knew, it would turn me into a monster just like Starswirl had become (according to rumors), and there were no other unicorns I could test it on, or even trust with that kind of power should it work.

“So, I decided to leave it as a last resort before my death bed kind of thing. Until of course the day my third wife gave birth to my daughter, who was not crystalline like I had wanted, but she was a unicorn at least. Bright pink and the most adorable thing I had ever seen, it was the first time my blackened heart felt love for another living being so much that I wanted to give her the world. So I tested the device out on her and it worked! She became an Alicorn.

“And I lorded it over the ponies like you wouldn’t believe, telling them she had been born that way, and it was a sign that I still had the right to rule being that my seed had made a goddess. My popularity at that point had decreased greatly by then.”

“So if you know that it worked, why didn’t you use it on yourself afterwards?”

“Because the device required the Crystal Heart to power it—the only crystal my dark magic couldn’t corrupt. The transformation used up over half of its power and it could only be recharged with the love of the ponies, who at the time only knew fear. So even if I wanted to, I couldn’t use the device on myself. But the heart is recharged now, so we can use it on you.”

By this time Trixie had reached the edge to the barrier of the city. “That sounds good enough for Trixie. Should Trixie assume your horn can’t go throw this wall?”

“Yes, but as long as you cover it with your magic and cape, it should be fine.”

With that Trixie put the horn in a pocket in her cape. With it still covered in her magical aura, she walked through the barrier back to the warm paradise that was the crystal empire. The hour was late now, and the sun was going down as it made way for Luna’s night. “Well, now what?”

“Now take me to the Crystal Heart.”

Author's Note

Back story dump! Hope you all enjoy my head canon for King Sombra (the like two of you who actually follow this ((but no seriously--you're awesome)). Stay tuned for the next chapter where Raindrops and the rest of the Wonderbolt team comes back.

Chapter 4: The Party Begings

Chapter 4: The Party begins

Now that it was dark out, Trixie continued to walk down the road. The distance from the barrier to the city proper was farther then she had expected, and her legs were getting tired. The city looked different at night, as Trixie took the time to notice how the lights of the city changed from a light blue with white sparkles to a dark blue with purple sparkles.

“Ah yes, I always did like the way this city looked in the darkness of night, as compared to the eye burning abomination it looks like it the accursed daylight. Although neither are as lovely as when my beautiful dark crystals covered the land.”

And there he goes again, Trixie groaned. She wasn’t just physically tired from the hike and a half she just walked, but she was also mentally tired because the dark evil presence in the back of her mind would not SHUT UP. Maybe it was one of those mental filters he mentioned earlier that he now lacks, or he was just a chatter box. The point was, he kept making long-winded observations on everything Trixie came across and it was driving her mad.

“Trixie asked you before, Trixie will ask you again. Will you please be quiet!” Trixie shouted aloud, drawing attention from the surrounding crystal ponies looking very confused. “You’re giving Trixie a headache.”

“Sorry,” Sombra said softly. “Its just that I haven’t seen the city from this perspective for a long time. Normally, I saw it from above as I lorded over them.” Trixie could feel him take note of the surrounding ponies starring at them. “But while I’m at it…” Sombra continued as Trixie sighed. “Seeing my crystal slaves walking around free to do as they please is bothering me. They’re just not capable of handling the burdens of freewill. Besides, without a constant whip to the back, they just grow fat, lazy, and unmotivated.”

“Please, Trixie is too tired for this right now.” Looking forward, she saw the center of the city, the Crystal Heart. A small smile of hope crept onto Trixie’s mouth knowing she could soon take a break from walking.

“Tired‽ How are you tired? You’ve only been walking for like, what? Twenty some odd miles? If you’re already tired after that, then you’re out of shape.”

Trixie stomped her foot on the ground, and snorted. ‘Out of Shape.’ Trixie was one of he most ‘In Shape’ unicorns around thanks to years of dragging a wagon around Equestria. The only way Trixie felt she could be more ‘In Shape’ would be if she ran up and down an endless staircase two to three times a day.

‘Just calm down’ Trixie told herself. ‘It will all be over soon. SOON Trixie will be Alicorn, SOON Trixie will have great power and glory everlasting, and soon Trixie will be a true rival to that pesky Twilight Sparkle.’ Trixie ignored the feeling of Sombra growing an evil razor sharp grin as he read her heart and feelings.

Sombra stayed quiet for the rest of the way to the Crystal Heart. Trixie stepped into the light the emanating from the Crystal Heart, completely illuminating the underside of the castle. The shadow Trixie cast was long as she sat in front of the magical gem while it pulsated with power, and love for all living things.

“Hello there, and how are you this fine evening?” came a voice from behind Trixie.

Trixie jumped almost out of her fur in shock and quickly turned around. She saw a pegasus stallion, almost morphing out of the very shadow Trixie was casting. He had a light brown fur coat with forest green mane and tail. He was wearing a purple collared vest that had a yellow outline (It seemed very militaristic, and resembled the one the Wonderbolts would wear). He also was missing his left wing and in its place was a prosthetic one made of leather and gems that were emitting a faint magic (could he still fly?) finally his face was scared with four slash marks along the left side. His face by the way was an expression that read: ‘I am NOT amused’.

“You know, its rude to not answer somepony’s questions, Miss Lulamoon.”

Trixie’s heart rate began to lower to its normal rate but her paranoia started to rise. “How do you know Trixie’s last name?”

“Oh, we know a lot about you, Miss Lulamoon. After all, it is standard procedure to keep tabs on all ponies who become close to a princess, and her latest Highness has mentioned you in not one, but two reports. Not in a positive light either, I might add.”

“Okay, that’s nice to hear, Trixie guesses.” As her eyes shift back and forth trying to spot any other ponies he may have been referring to when he said WE.

“In fact I have a report right here that says that you where outside the barrier, and for quite some time as well. I don’t suppose you can explain why you where out there in a frozen tundra, can you?”

Sombra said, “This is a trap. Stay calm, Trixie. They have nothing. He is poking for information. Don’t give him any! We are so close now, so don’t mess this up!”

“I…Trixie was interested in it. It looked so pretty on the train ride, Trixie wanted to experience it first hoof. Trixie has a magic enchantment in her cape to keep body heat in so Trixie didn’t have to worry about freezing anyway, and just lost track of time.” She then put on a smug smile.

“I see, so if I’ve got this right, you were out playing in the snow, wearing protective clothing we were not aware you had.” He said with out changing emotion, clearly not believing anything Trixie just said.

“Yup.”

He walked up next to Trixie to look at the Crystal Heart. “So if you wanted to play in the snow, why are you here now at the Empire’s most important artifact?”

“Well, Trixie got bored out there and remembered hearing a lot about the Crystal Heart, so Trixie wanted to see it before going to a party Trixie was invited to earlier today.”

“So you have somewhere else to be, then I suggest you get there.”

“Yes, Trixie was about to go there now anyway.”

“This Gem, Miss Lulamoon,” he said looking at the Crystal Heart, “is the only thing keeping that barrier up when princess Cadence is away. It would be a terrible thing if it ever fell into the wrong hooves.”

“Yes, yes it would be.”

“Which is why, I will not let that happen.” He turned to glare at Trixie.

Trixie didn’t respond, she just turned and walked away.

“I CAN’T BELIEVE THAT FILTHY PIGEON TALKED DOWN TO YOU!” Sombra yelled in the back of Trixie’s head. “You’re from a superior tribe then him! Somepony should really show him his place.”

Trixie walked down the road not really paying much attention to where she was going as much as watching the shadows and alleys around her. Nopony was around, or so it seemed.

“What Trixie wants to know is how he was on to me.”

“He know nothing, he was just suspicious. Though it doses appear that obtaining the Crystal heart will be far more challenging then I originally thought.”

“Well of course it will be challenging. What? Did you expect Trixie to just walk up to it and grab the thing?” Trixie giggled.

“Well, that’s basically how I got it the first time. The Crystal Ponies didn’t have any guards for the Heart, which I found weird, but had no problems taking full advantage of.”

“Well, Trixie has a plan for the guards. Trixie just needs to stall for some time, ideally somewhere crowded.”

“Hey Trixie!” Trixie jumped, fur standing on end again from the surprised. “Trixie, over here!” Waved a familiar jasmine pegasus.

“Raindrops?” Trixie raised her eyebrow.

“Oh-my-gosh, she remembers my name.” Raindrops held her hoofs to her mouth in excitement. “I’m so glad you’re here! For a while there I thought you weren’t going to show up.”

Trixie looked behind the over eager pegasus at the night club playing an upbeat dance mix.

“Of course Trixie was going to show up. Trixie wouldn’t miss this party for the world.” She smiled.

“Well then, come on in,” the nervous pegasus invited.

Trixie walked into the club and saw a brightly decorated dance floor similar to those that can be found in Canterlot, but with a little crystal flare (but not much). The DJ was a Crystal pony with a cutie mark in crystal wheat farming, and she clearly didn’t know what she was doing, but to her credit Trixie has been to parties with worst ‘professional’ DJs. As for the party itself, it was pretty pitiful, only a couple hoof full’s of ponies were there. About half of them where the Wonderbolts rejects Trixie saw on the train and others where just more tourists who didn’t know where else to go, with a few Crystal ponies here and there, half of which looked like they just worked there.

“You know, for a place that’s suppose to be sparkling, this place seems to be kind of drab.” Trixie said with a smirk.

“Just give it some time.” Raindrops said quickly. “The night’s still young, and the place hasn’t been open that long. I’m sure it will pick up in just a bit.”

“What is that dreadful noise that’s blaring everywhere?”

It’s called music Grandpa, its all the rage with the kids these days. Trixie thought to herself.

A few hours past and sure enough the party did pick up, mostly thanks to Trixie showing of magic tricks. Trixie was able to repair some public opinion from the Ponyvillions and make some new fans. Things where going great until a few pegasi came in. They looked like the military type and they didn’t look like they came for a fun time either or rather to observe potential ‘suspects’. Trixie just smirked as if a stupid animal fall right into a well placed trap. She then started to walk to the door with a confident strut.

“Hey, hey, hey. Wait right there.” Came the voice of a very drunk pegasus. Lightning Dust flew down from the ceiling, and landed right in front of Trixie. “Raindrops has been looking forward to this all day, she wouldn’t shut up about it, you’re not just going to leave are you?”

Trixie just looked forward with a blank stare as if pondering something important.

Author's Note

This chapter just did not want to get written, but its done now and the next chapter will be out soon so :)

Chapter 5: The Caper

Chapter 5 The Caper

It was now three o’clock in the morning. The streets where empty, save the exception of Trixie who was making her way back to the center of the city and a very loud Pegasus yelling at her.

“Don’t ignore me!” Lightning Dust demanded. “Hey! I’m talking to you! Where are you even going, you stupid unicorn?”

Trixie ignored her the whole time Lightning Dust ranted, and walked like she was on a mission towards the Crystal Heart.

Lightning Dust continued to follow Trixie, flying overhead while randomly yelling at her. Soon enough, they reached the Castle, and Trixie stopped. The sudden halt threw Lightning Dust off balance, and she crashed down against the hard crystal floor. Rising back to her hooves, she looked forward to see whatever Trixie was looking at.

“The Crystal Heart? Why the Buck are we here?” Lightning Dust asked while trying to keep balance.

“Yes, why are you here?” The Pegasus Trixie had meet earlier, still wearing his purple vest, stepped between them and the Crystal Heart. “I thought I made it clear that I wasn’t going to let anything happen to the Crystal heart. Not on my watch.” As he said this other ponies came form nowhere wearing purple Wonderbolt uniforms, looking very menacing.

“Wait, what?” Lightning asked confused. ”Where did you guys come from? Are those Wonderbolt outfits? Weird, I’ve never seen a purple variant. Wait, I recognize that style of vest! That’s an officer’s vest. Wait, how, who are you?”

The pegasus rolled his eyes “I am Commander Cannon Fodder, acting officer of the Wonderbolts’ undercover Security and Special Forces division.”

“I’ve never heard of that division, and I know everything there is to know about the Wonderbolts.” Lightning tried to counter with.

“We’re a relatively new division that was started not that long ago, and our formation wasn’t public knowledge.”

“Not public knowledge? That doesn’t make sense! Why wouldn’t you tell everypony, and how are you a Wonderbolt anyway? You’re missing a wing. I was the best flyer at that academy and I didn’t get in. This is so not fair.”

Cannon Fodder looked at Trixie with a tilted eyebrow “Is this really the best you can do? A drunken pegasus, really?” Trixie didn’t respond and only continued to look forward with a blank stair.

“Stop ignoring ME!!” Lightning Dust yelled.

“Commander!” a Wonderbolt on his left interrupted pointing his hoof to the sky. “The barrier, s-something’s wrong.”

Everypony except for Trixie turned their attention to the sky only to see small holes beginning to form in the protective barrier and steadily growing. Cannon Fodder could feel the temperature start to rapidly fall.

“That can’t be right,” he muttered. He looked to the Crystal Heart, it was still there, still shining its glorious light. Then he looked back at Trixie and raised his voice. “How are you doing this?”

She didn’t respond. Something was definitely not right here he could feel it. Even though the air was chilled he was visibly sweating, until he noticed Trixie’s shadow was wrong, it was eminently under her as if the light source was from above and not from the side, for everypony else’s shadows were stretched out as far as the eye could see.

“That’s not right either.” Cannon Fodder walked over to Trixie and extended his hoof out to touch the un-reactive unicorn only to have his hoof go throw her. The Trixie he saw then dispelled into a pinkish purple mist that quickly dissolved into nothingness. “An…Illusion.” His voice trembled.

“But that can’t be possible.” another Wonderbolt said. “Only her majesty could craft such a detailed illusion like that.”

“What? What’s going on, where’d Trixie go” Lightning Dust asked.

Before anypony else could say anything, Cannon Fodder rushed over to the Crystal Heart and tried to grab it, only to have it dispel into the same pinkish purple mist as his hoof touched it. With the Heart gone the light disappeared too, leaving them all in darkness.

“Oh, Buck Me!” Cannon Fodder said. He then quickly turned around and pointed at lightning Dust. “You…” But before he could finish, she zoomed of into the distance. “Oh, for the love of Luna. You three,” he told the Wonderbolts on his right. “Go after her. Everypony else assemble.” As he said that over twenty more pegasi appeared and landed in front of him as the three flew of after Lightning Dust.

“I could yell at each and every one of you for this. We had one job, ONE JOB! But we don’t have time for that right now. Squad Delta, Epsilon, and Gamma I need you to go to the Train station and work a constant parameter sweep of the entire City, no pony leaves until we find the Crystal Heart, you hear me, No Pony. Now go!” The Three squads flew off.

“Now when the rest of that Barrier falls, it’s going to get really cold really fast. Squads Alpha and Omega go out and inform the rest of the City and tell them to stay inside and stay warm. If we don’t find the Heart, it will be at least a week before Princess Cadance can get here. Everypony else with the exemption of Fleetfoot, go find Trixie!”

All of them except one flew away off to do there part. “Commander,” Fleetfoot said while trembling “I know that I’m still new to this division but, with all do respect this wasn’t my fault. I mean she got past all of us why just single me out?”

“At ease soldier, I don’t think this is your fault. I singled you out because I have a special assignment for you.”

“Really sir, what is it?”

“I need you to go tell our Princess, she needs to be informed about this immediately and you’re the fastest.”

“Princess Cadance?”

Cannon Fodder posed for a moment. “Yes, you should inform her as well. If we can’t find Trixie, we will need her to put up the barrier herself. But you know which Princess I first meant.” He said starring into her goggles.

“Sir, yes, Sir.” She saluted.

“Fleetfoot, I just have one question for you.”

“Yes sir.”

“Why are you still sitting here?”

“Sorry” she quickly said before darting off into the distance.

“Now then,” Cannon Fodder said to himself. “Trixie couldn’t have gone far.”

The invisibility spell Trixie had cast on herself came down, and she was huffing and puffing from running up the last staircase was now out of breath. She found herself now inside the royal library inside the castle.

“Well I will have to hoof it to you Trixie” Sombra said. “That was very impressive, I didn’t think you had it in you.”

“Well of course it was impressive. You’re talking about the Great and Powerful Trixie here, and magic is my special talent,” Trixie boosted. “And that was only around seven complex illusion spell being casted on top of each other simultaneously. Trixie has done better. No, the real luck here was that foal Lightning Dust following me all the way her. It made it so much easier to grab this.” Trixie took the Crystal Heart out from behind her cape. “Alas, Trixie needs to get back on track, now where too?”

“Do you see that gap between those to bookcases? Channel your magic throw my horn shoot a beam at the wall. This will open a secret pathway.”

Trixie pulled out his horn and held it in her magical grasp. “Just channel my magic and throw it right? Just like an amulet or something. Trixie can do that.”

She pointed the horn at the wall and a blackened Green magic shoot out and covered the wall. The wall appeared to melt into an opening that leads into a hallway. Trixie look inside and her heart sank into despair.

“Another staircase.”

“What?”

“Trixie already had to run up three staircases to get here.”

“Well, I did think that was weird. I could have sworn there was five, and besides this one is going down anyway. You have no right to complain. Now hurry up, that opening won’t stay open long and we will be better off if nopony sees it.”

Trixie sighed and walked though the portal. It dissolved back into a solid wall behind her. She then looked down and began to go down the seamlessly endless black staircase.

“HAHAAH! Now that the entranceway is closed, we are home free. They will never find this place, let alone how to open the door.”

“Hey Sombra,” Trixie asked. “Now that we have all the time in the world it seems could you answer a question that has been on Trixie’s mind lately?”

“Of course, not that you needed my approval. I already told you that in my current state I have no chose but to answer your questions, and to answer them honestly, too. Although I do appreciate that you asked first.”

“When we first met you knew a lot about Twilight Sparkle, but the only thing you seem to know about any other pony is what you read off of there heart’s at that moment. So why do you know so much about her?”

“Well you see, when the Crystal Empire first reappeared, there was this one brave fool that stood against me. He was Twilight’s older brother Shinning Armor, and although I did not kill him right there, I did inject my dark crystals into his horn making him as useless as a mud pony. Useless to them, anyway. I could read his heart and mind whenever I wanted so I was able to know much of his past. His sister was a big part of his past, so through him, I knew her.”

“Okay, that explains that, Trixie guesses,” Trixie said as she reached the bottom of the stairs.

She looked forward and saw a strange door; she entered and discovered a room full of experiments and crystals of various colors. “What’s all this?” Trixie asked.

“This is my laboratory, where I perfected my dark magic and invented the Black crystals. This is also where the devise that will turn you into an Alicorn is located. Right over there in the back.”

Trixie went to the back and saw a large crystal structure mostly make of a familiar red crystal. There was a chamber like pod in the middle and above that was a Heart shaped hole.

“These red crystals…They look like and feel like the gem in the Alicorn amulet. How can that be?”

“Ah, so you’re familiar with my hoof work. You see, I am the one who made the Alicorn amulet out of these crystals. I always wandered what happened to that thing after I was defeated.”

“That thing made Trixie go crazy! Will this thing make Trixie go crazy, too? That wasn’t part of the deal.”

“The reason the Amulet makes ponies go crazy, is because I placed a curse on it so that only I could be the one who could truly wield it. It also will obey me over any pony else, so if somepony had gotten it from me, they couldn’t use it against me.”

“So if Trixie uses this thing it won’t make Trixie go crazy.”

“This device won’t make you go crazy. These crystals only amplify what is already there. Now place the Crystal Heart in the slot and step into the chamber. The devise will do the rest.”

Trixie sat down her cape and hat and placed the Crystal Heart into the slot, all the crystal in the device started to light up bright red and the entire room started to hum an evil melody and pulsed with great power. The chamber was filled with a jelly-like liquid. Trixie reached out her hoof to enter.

“Wait, just one minute please” Sombra interrupted. “Before you do this, could you do me one small favor.”

“Knew you weren’t doing all this for free. Alright, tell Trixie what you want.”

“Over there on that table is probably the last dark crystal in existence. If you place my horn on it, I could theoretically make myself a new body with it.”

“Well Trixie has thought about it and the answer is … no”

“WHAT‽ Why? Didn’t I do everything I promised?”

“Well, the thing is Trixie knows you’re evil, and even though Trixie is willing to do some very bad thing just to get what Trixie want, Trixie wouldn’t say that she is evil. Furthermore, if you got a body back, Trixie doesn’t even know what horrors you would unleash upon all pony kind.” Sombra growled with anger. “So now that Trixie doesn’t need you anymore…Get lost.” Trixie then throw his horn across the room into a trashcan.

“Now then,” Trixie turned around. “Time for glory.”

She reached out her hoof and touch the glowing goo, only to find out that it hurt as if her hoof was plunged into hot lava. It was to late to pull back as well, the goo moved up Trixie’s leg towards her, her screams of pain could not be heard. It covered her entire body and dragged her into the chamber where she experienced an agony like never before as the goo now covered her entirely both outside her body and inside.

“Hehehe” came an evil laughter from the trash “probably should have mentioned it would be horrifically painful shouldn’t have I? Oh well, I’m close enough that I don’t need her anyway.”

Sombra’s horn then lit up by its own magic and floated out of the can and flew across the room, embedding itself into the black crystal.

“Soon!” Sombra laughed as the crystal began to grow around his horn.

Chapter 6: The Interrogation

One Week Later

The once spring-like empire was buried under mounds of snow. The Crystal residents didn’t seem to be bothered too much by the sudden cold weather and did their best to keep snow from building up in front of doorways. The ponies from Equestria on the other hoof, were huddled inside desperately trying to stay warm. They were running out of things to burn, but fortunately the library wasn’t a very popular as a tourist location and was safe from the freezing ponies.

The worst part was the almost hourly searches by the most scary looking pegasi anypony had ever seen. They wore dark purple flight suits similar to the Wonderbolts, which had magic enchantments to keep them warm in the cold weather. They were mean, and agitated--they had been at it for the entire week straight! They were clearly searching for somepony, but weren’t given any information as to what was going on. All they were told, was that nopony was allowed to leave until they said so. On top of that, they had taken quite a few ponies in for questioning, but nopony has seen them since.

They said they were apart of the Wonderbolts but nopony know if they were telling the truth or not, for there was no other sign of an authority figure to confirm it. But among the most paranoid a whisper flouted around: ‘Shadowbolt’.

Cannon Fodder stood on the balcony of the Crystal Castle, looking out over the city watching his squadrons fly here and there still searching for the trouble-making unicorn for over a week now. The situation was bad and growing more desperate by the second. He hated the situation they were in. He hated Trixie for putting the lives and safety of everypony in the Crystal Empire in danger. He hated his stallions who he himself hoof-picked for not being able to find her in over a week, but most of all he hated himself for letting it happen in the first place.

It didn’t take long for him to notice a familiar pegasus to appear in the distance flying towards him at a very fast speed, and it only took a few moments for her to reach Cannon Fodder. Fleetfoot landed next to her commander with her wings falling to the ground, franticly trying to catch her breath.

“Fleetfoot, what have you to report?” Cannon said turning his blind eye to her tiredness and lack of following proper protocol of saluting him on arrival.

“I told … the Princess … like you told me … and princess … Mi Amore … Cadenza … will be here … soon, also … her new highness … Twilight Sparkle … will be accompanying her,” she struggled to get out.

“Of course she is,” he said with distain. “How much longer would you estimate their arrival time?”

“I would imagine within the hour. Sir.” Fleetfoot said, finally catching her breath.

“Wonderful,” he said sarcastically, “That doesn’t give us much time.”

“Speaking of time, I think it’s about time to interrogate our only witness,” said a voice from behind Fleetfoot and Cannon Fodder. It was Cannon Fodder’s Second in Command, Lieutenant Nightflower. She was a bat winged pegasus with a dark grey coat, light blue hair, and yellow catlike eyes. “We finally got her to cooperate.”

“Good, then we should go. Maybe we can get some information out of her before the Princesses get here.”

“Wait. I think I missed something. What’s going on? What witness?” Fleetfoot asked.

“We captured a pegasus named Lightning Dust. She is the only lead we have to where Trixie might possible be, but she wont talk without a lawyer,” the Commander explained. “She didn’t seem to know much at the time so I gave most of my attention to the search parties. To be honest I pretty much forgot about her, but now it appears she’s the only place left to turn. Speaking of which, how did you get her to start talking?”

“We found a lawyer. Turns out there’s only one in the entire empire, and he’s not too popular either,” Nightflower said.

“So there’s an actual lawyer involved? Great that’s just going to take up more of our valuable time isn’t it.” Cannon Fodder had never been a fan of the bureaucratic system. It only served to slow things down.

“Perhaps,” Nightflower added. “But at least he seems more cooperative then the normal palace guards.” The crystal pony guards where uncooperative feeling very suspicious of the nearly hostile tack over by these shadow like pegasi.

Cannon Fodder entered the questioning room where they had been keeping the witness. He had noticed Lightning Dust mumbling to herself, but his attention was on the new Crystal pony in the room. He wasn’t like the other crystal ponies. His main body was opaque and soapy like instead of clear and crystalline, and his mane and tail were jet black with a grease like luster to it. He wore a suit collar and tie that matched his crimson red eyes.

“I assume you’re this lawyer I’ve heard of?” Cannon Fodder asked.

“How observant of you,” The lawyer remarked. “My name is Pro Bono and I will be representing Miss Dust.”

The Commander then took notice of this stallions cutie mark being a sealed scroll with quill. “What exactly is your special talent if you don’t mind me asking?”

“The Law, and from what my client has told me you and your ponies have broken it. Several times. When proper rule is reestablished, I assure you we will press charges against you.”

“My apologies, and I’m sure I will pay for said crimes when this is over and done with, but right now time is short and I need answers and your client will be giving them to me.”

“Actually,” Pro Bono added. “She doesn’t have to give you anything or comply with anything you say, because your ponies did not give or read her rights. Therefore, I demand that you release my client Miss Dust immediately,” Pro Bono Said. Lightning Dust then gave him a hoof bump for pointing out that technicality.

The commander sat there with a blank stare in his eyes for several seconds trying to process what he had just heard.

He then turned to Lightning Dust to say, “I don’t think you quite understand the position you are in right now. An act of treason has been committed and thousands of ponies’ lives are in the balances unless we capture the culprit who we believe to be Trixie. Right now you are the only pony that even might know where she is right now because you where there when it happened. So until I have reason to believe that you don’t know or have anything to do with it, I will assume that you do, even to the point that you might be an accomplice. So to answer why you weren’t read your right when we captured you was because right now you have no rights.”

“That’s ridicules, you can’t do that!” Lightning Dust slammed her hoof against the table.

“Actually I can do that. You weren’t arrested by the police, or the guard, or even the royal guard. My forces have the authority to strip ponies of their rights for the greater good when the scenario calls for it. The only reason you have been treated like a normal prisoner so far was part courtesy, part negligence, and part we didn’t have the pony power to spare to interrogate you. But right now I’m out of options.”

“Objection,” Pro Bono slammed his front two hoofs on the table. “There is no protocol in the Crystal or Equestrian law that can give anypony, not even the Princesses, the authority to deny another pony their rights as outlined in our constitution.”

Cannon Fodder tilted his head in Pro Bono’s direction and two Pegasi in purple flight suits lunged out of the shadows and pined him against the table not letting him move.

“W-what? What’s going on?” Lightning Dust jumped away from the table and backed her self into the corner of the room. But before she could say anything else she was pined up against the wall by Cannon Fodder.

“I don’t have time for games.” He pressed his for leg up against her throat. “You will tell me where Trixie is or I will torture that information out of you.” His other hoof came close to her face reveling a hidden blade that pocked her cheek drawing a small amount of blood.

Lightning Dust’s eyes started to water up as she looked into his eyes. “I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I only meet Trixie that day! I didn’t know she was going to steal the Crystal heart. I was just at the wrong place at the wrong time, I swear.” Her throat was raspy as she was on the verge of crying.

The commander then let her down and Lightning Dust fell to the ground, “Now, was that so hard that you couldn’t have just said that earlier and saved all of us some time and trouble?” He signaled to the other to pegasi, and they let go of Pro Bono, and the three of them left the room.

Chapter 7: The Arrival

NightFlower and Fleetfoot trotted up to Cannon Fodder as he walked down the hallway.

“Well, that didn’t take up as much time as I thought it would have. So did she tell you where Trixie was?” NightFlower asked innocently, having watched the whole thing from behind a two-way mirror.

“No, she didn’t know anything. I want to know why we didn’t find that out a week ago,” Cannon Fodder demanded.

“Well she wasn’t cooperating like the others did! She wouldn’t talk without a lawyer, and she refused to listen to anything we said,” NightFlower said, trying to look anywhere other then at the Commander

“No excuses. The next time you get an uncooperative pony, you make them cooperate by any means necessary. Do I make myself clear?” He scolded.

“But, even if it means breaking protocol and denying ponies their basic rights?” Fleetfoot questioned.

“Fleetfoot, we are not the Guard, nor are we officially part of the Wonderbolts,” Cannon Fodder said. “Therefore we are not bound to their protocols or rules. We do that which must be done, for the greater good, even if it means doing horrible things.”

“But,” Fleetfoot tried to argue.

“That is what we do, solider. It is the very reason our organization exists. If you don’t like it then you can go back to the Wonderbolts and fly races for the unicorn elites amusement,” Cannon Fodder said. Fleetfoot was taken back a little looking at the floor trying to take in everything she had just seen and heard. Cannon Fodder then stepped back and looked at both ponies. “So do I need to repeat myself, or am I understood?”

“Understood commander,” both mares said in unison.

“But while we are on the topic of Lightning Dust I think we could definitely use her future applications,” NightFlower added.

“In what way do you refer exactly?” He questioned with a sigh.

“It took us over a hour to catch her, and that was with her intoxicated. I can only imagine what raw talent she has when sober.”

“So your suggesting we recruit her?”

“Not just her, in fact many of the pegasi she has been traveling with show great promise,” NightFlower proposed.

“But, if I’m not mistaken, were they all not rejected from the Wonderbolt academy for one reason or another?” He countered.

“They were, but the Wonderbolts loss is our gain,” She added. “After all, a great pony once told me that there’s more to flying then speed and agility and that it’s a shame to let such potential go to waste.”

“And who told you that?” Cannon Fodder asked.

“You did.” She batted her eyes at him. “Way back when you recruited me when this organization was still in its infancy.”

“Commander.” Another younger pegasus approached and interrupted the conversation. “I have news for you.”

“Please tell me its good news.” Cannon Fodder seemed hopeful. It was possible they had just now found Trixie and the Crystal Heart. Unlikely, but one could still hope.

“In a way I suppose, Princess Cadence and Princess Sparkle have been spotted on the horizon. They will be here in mere moments,” The young pegasus finished.

Cannon Fodder growled in frustration as he slammed his head against a near by pillar. “Great. Just… Great.”

He had failed, despite all his efforts and all the power given to him by his princess, and still he could not find one measly little unicorn. The worst part, is that it not only made him look bad, but also made his entire organization look incompetent. It was there first mission and it wasn’t supposed to be a hard one: Look after the Crystal Empire while Cadence was away. It would appear that the Shadowbolts would fall from grace long before they ever got the chance to really fly.

“Well, there’s no point in delaying the inevitable anymore,” The commander said with a defeated voice. “Lets go meet them on the balcony.”

Cannon Fodder waited on the balcony. He could feel the air temperature suddenly rise to a more pleasant degree as he witnessed the blue barrier reestablished itself. The sight was a sign of hope and relief for most ponies in the city, but for the commander and his Shadowbolts it was a sign that he failed to fix the problem themselves. He sat next to the Captain of the Crystal Guard, whose name the commander never bothered to remember. He didn’t look very happy either, as he and his team also failed to reclaim the Crystal heart in their own searches.

The two sat there as the pretty pink Princess and her purple Princess friend floated down and landed on the balcony. All the ponies in the Crystal Guard bowed. The Shadowbolts did not. Candace looked back to inspect the barrier to make sure everything was alright, and then turned back to address the two ponies she had left in charge.

Cadance said, “Can somepony please tell me what has been going on? I mean seriously, I’m gone for two weeks and almost everypony freezes to death. This is the last time I do Luna any favors.”

“My apologies your highness,” Cannon Fodder spoke up. “The situation is completely my fault. We underestimated this Trixie Lulamoon, and she was able to steal the Crystal Heart right from under our noses. Despite our best efforts we have not been able to locate Trixie or the Heart, but we do have reason to believe that they are still in the city somewhere.”

“Yes, but only because this psychopath quarantined the entire Empire,” The Crystal Captain pointed his hoof at the Shadowbolt Commander accusingly. “He shut down the train station and refused to let any pony leave. A few more days of that and we would have ran out of things to burn just to stay warm.”

Cadence’s special talent was love, and with it she could tell what anypony was feeling at anytime. She could tell that the Cannon Fodder felt guilty about the situation and blamed himself for everything that had happened, maybe even hated himself for failing to fix the problem. If there was only one thing Cadence hated, it was seeing hatred in others, especially the self-crippling hatred one can feel towards themselves. “Now, now Commander. Don’t beat yourself up so much. I can tell you tried your best to fix things and I appreciate it. It’s not your fault anyway, and even though the situation is not ideal, I understand accidents happen.”

“But your highness, he,” The Captain tried to counter what the Princess had just said.

“No, I will have none of that right now dear, Captain,” Cadence was quick to cut him off. “What’s important right now is not casting blame, it’s finding Trixie and returning the Crystal Heart. I can’t keep this dome up forever.”

“Which I believe I can help with,” Twilight said. “I’ve dealt with Trixie before, and here I thought she had changed, too,” She sighed. “So which areas have you already looked?”

“My pegasi have searched the entire city, surrounding country side, and the tundra the stretches from here to the nearest town in Equestria to the smallest detail. Several times.”

“And my Crystal guards have been searching the castle grounds. No traces,” The Captain said with his hoof raised.

“My pegasi have also searched the castle, inside and out, from top to bottom. No signs anywhere.” Cannon Fodder added.

“What‽” the Crystal Captain shouted. “I told you the castle was our jurisdiction, you had no right to search it without my authorization.”

“Well you clearly hadn’t found Trixie so I took matters into my own hooves, just to make sure you didn’t miss anywhere,” the Commander snarled.

“Why you little…” The Captain dragged his hoof on the ground ready to attack.

“That’s enough out of both of you,” Cadence raised her voice. “Fighting with each other won’t get us anywhere.”

“Especially since neither one of them are correct about completely searching the castle,” came a new voice to the conversation.

A voice that Cannon Fodder recognized. All eyes turned to the new comer as he walked into the room: it was the greasy lawyer, Pro Bono.

“You,” The Crystal Captain said through his teeth.

“What did you mean neither of us are correct? I ensure you that my pegasi are very thorough,” Cannon Fodder defended his team.

“Oh, I’m sure they are,” Pro Bono said. “But the fact of the matter is there are rooms in this castle that only unicorns can access, specifically unicorns willing to use dark magic. And since all of your ponies are pegasi, and all of the Captain’s ponies are Crystal ponies--which are still technically earth ponies--that means it is impossible for either of you to fully search this castle.”

“That’s impossible,” The Captain tried to argue. “I would know of any such hidden rooms.”

“No he’s right,” Twilight interrupted the Crystal pony. “That’s how I found the Crystal Heart the first time I came here, through one of those secret rooms. But how do you know about them?”

“I was one of the very few ponies under King Sombra’s rule that was granted the luxury of entering the castle on a somewhat regular basis. So I was able to see him use a few, but I only know of a couple. There may be many even I am not aware of.”

“That okay,” Twilight reassured him. “Just tell us about the ones you know, and that should be more then helpful.”

“Ok well the first one I know of is in the throne room, but that leads to the top of the main tower, so the Commander would have found her if she was there. The second place is in the library, and I don’t know where that leads to.”

“Wow, I wish we had talked to you the last time I was here!” Twilight laughed. “Things would have gone a lot faster.”

“Can you show us exactly where in the library the secret room was?” Cadence asked.

“Of course, Your Highness. Just follow me,” Pro Bono said. He then lead the way to the library.

Author's Note

Happy Christmas everyone.

Chapter 8: Rebirth

The group made their way to the library. There, Twilight shot the area of the wall that Pro Bono pointed out with dark magic. Sure enough, a hidden stairwell appeared.

“Twilight,” Cadence said with concenrn. “How? Where did you learn to do that?”

Twilight’s cheeks turned pink and she rubbed her left leg with her right. “It’s just something Princess Celestia showed me once.”

They descended down the stairwell and stopped at a door.

“Wait, this door might be a trap,” Twilight tried to explain, but a guard gently pushed it open to reveal a room on the other side. “Or not. Never mind, but there might still be traps somewhere.”

It was a large room full of strange devices and random scattered papers. There were only two things that really stood out, because they were the only things in the room that were glowing.

One was a very large mound of red crystals in the back of the room that seemed to be connected by pipes and other forms of machinery. It light the entire room in a red glow and was radiating very powerful magic from the Crystal Heart secured on the front of it. You didn’t need a special talent in feelings to sense the amount of pain a suffering the emanated form it.

There was another object that was much closer. It was a mound of black crystals glowing a dark purple, that was also was radiating some sort of magic, even though it wasn’t as big or radiating as much power, it still seemed to be more unsettling somehow.

“There’s the Crystal heart,” Twilight pointed out like a dork.

“Right under our noses the whole time,” Cannon Fodder said.

“Well that solves one mystery,” Cadance said. “But what’s the rest of this?”

Cadance moved closer to the large mound of black crystals to investigate, when it suddenly started to shake.

“It moved,” one of the guards freaked out a bit, pointing out the obvious.

Cadance continued to watch the black crystal as it shock itself, until it cracked open with a fissure emerging from its top and running all the way down to the floor. Dark purple light came from inside along with black toxic gas, and from deep within the mound emerged a Crystal Pony. His coloring was dark grey and the crystals that made his body where not clear but soapy. His mane and tail where jet black, and his eyes were red and filled in with a sickly green. He had a straightened horn that glowed bright red, and his teeth were razor sharp.

The fully grown, newly born pony looked at his crystalline hoofs and started to laugh manically. “Yes, it worked.It worked! I live again!”

His laughter slowed down and tapered off as he noticed the large group of ponies (many of which were guards) staring at him. “Well, this is awkward. To be honest, I never expected anypony to find this place.

“So… welcome. This is my secret laboratory,” The dark King said.

“Sombra? What? How?” Cadance asked. She then declared, “You aren’t going to get away with this. We’re here to stop you.”

“Stop me?” Sombra looked down at his hoof again and then he looked behind at his flank. He saw that his cutie mark of a black heart surrounded in a strange circle was there, and then he wagged his tail. “Day late and bit short for that.”

Cadence replied, “Then you’re under arrest by royal decree.”

“Very well,” Sombra replied. “I surrender.”

“What? Really? Just like that?” Twilight questioned, unable to grasp at how easy that seemed to be.

“Yes, just like that. Although I do expect to receive a fair trial.” Sombra looked at a certain pony, who was cowering behind the Crystal Guards with is tail in-between his legs wishing he wasn’t the only defense attorney in the Empire.

“Ok, but where’s Trixie?” Twilight asked.

Then the large mound of red crystal in the back of the room made a loud sound that shocked the entire room.

“Well there’s your answer right there, and it looks like you’re too late to stop that as well,” Sombra said.

“Too late to stop what, Sombra?” Cadence asked, her voice trembling.

“You will see. That foal Trixie was so desperate for power and glory that it made it so easy for me to manipulate her, but let it not be said that I am not a colt of my word, and did not fulfill my end of the bargain,” Sombra said. “The only question now is if this device still works or not.”

He looked at the device as the red glow faded and room grew dark. A pod near the bottom of the device opened up and Trixie fell from it, still in some sort of goo. She washed up into the middle of the room twitching at random.

“Trixie!” Twilight cried out trying to run to the fallen unicorn to only be pushed back again by an arc of red energy that emanated from Trixie body.

More arcs of red energy came form her at random. She seemed to regain consciousness and tried to stand, legs wobbling as more and more arcs of red energy came from Trixie. She tried to speak but no word would come out. Her entire body started to glow red in a sphere of energy and she floated a little in the air. With a pain filled scream, light came from her eyes and mouth, then she was gone in a grand explosion pushing everypony back against the wall. The only thing left in her place was a scorch mark on the floor.

“Did not see that coming.” Sombra said. “I’m so very glad I didn’t use that on myself now.”

“Is-is Trixie dead? I can’t sense her presence anymore,” Cadence said while taking back the Crystal Heart. She noticed it had almost been completely drained of power.

“Probably, but since we’re on exploding unicorns right now.” Sombra’s horn glowed green and black as he shot a powerful beam of dark magic at the device, effectively destroying it. “Don’t need that anymore.”

“Get him out of here,” Cadence commanded her guards. “Come on, Twilight. Let’s get going.”

“Alright, just give me a minute,” Twilight said. “Something doesn’t seem quite right here.”

Twilight walked over to the scorch mark on the floor for a closer inspection. Twilight backed off for a moment when she realized that the epicenter of the mark resembled Trixie’s cutie mark.

“That can’t be good.”

Author's Note

Happy New Year, hope everyone is enjoying the fic so far.

Chapter 9: The Ascension

When Trixie woke up, she did not know where she was. All she knew, was that the pain had stopped, and she no longer had her hat and cape. Her eyes opened to see a sea of stars up in the sky. Is Trixie outside? Trixie thought to herself. She rolled over onto her belly and sat up right in order to observe her surroundings… or lack there of.

Every direction, including down, was a vast sea of stars the seemed to go on forever. Although the beauty of her surroundings was not lost on her, she was more concerned about what exactly she was standing on. Stomping her hoof a few times on what felt like solid ground, Trixie grew curious and decided to spit to see if it would leave a splatter. However the spit continued to fall past her hoof and fell for eternity into the sky beneath her. Sweat now running down her forehead, Trixie looked upwards (or what she thought was upwards) and asked the sky.

“Is Trixie dead?” she asked. There was no reply.

“You know Trixie always thought for some reason that the Afterlife would be more lively then this,” Trixie said sitting there all alone. She then tried to cast a spell to see if it could help in some way only to have it fizzle out.

“Okay, so no magic either,” Trixie said. Then she had a horrible realization “Oh no! Could this be Trixie’s punishment! A special talent in magic but in a place where magic can’t work, and a performer with no audience to perform for, all alone forever and ever? That’s horrible!” Trixie held her hoofs up to her mouth in shock.

But the feeling of horror didn’t last long as despair started to set in, with her head hung low, Trixie’s eyes began to water. “This isn’t what Trixie wanted. Trixie just wanted to be relevant, or important. Great … and powerful. I guess Sombra was wrong after all, or that he could lie and was just using me for whatever reason.”

“Those who get greatness will get it regardless of what they do, whether thy like it or not, and those who won’t get it never will despite what they might do to try and get it,” Trixie muttered to herself.

Tears now ran down her face and fell into the beautiful abyss of stars under her. This was it, Trixie had given up, and there was no getting out of this. She sat there resigned to her fate. She wouldn’t even fight back, for what would be the point? There was nothing she could do but sit there alone for all of time, and so she did. This was what she deserved anyway she thought…

“WHO DARES SET HOOF IN THIS SACRED REALM? DEFILING IT WITH THINE PRESENCE‽” A voice as loud as thunder screamed.

Trixie nearly jumped out of her fur at the new and sudden sound. Apparently there was a God, and she was very angry. Trixie turned to look at where the voice had come from to see a thick dark mist appear and emerging form with it the mist was a tall black Alicorn. Her mane and tail where a purple aura that seemed to contain stares and galaxies of there own, and her eyes were green and cat like. Her entire body seemed to glitter. She appeared to wear regal attire with a black tiara above her horn. Only two words seemed to come out of Trixie's mouth at the sight of this new entity looking down at her.

“N-n-Nightmare M-Moon?” Trixie stuttered.

“Nightmare Moon?” The black Alicorn chuckled. “Funny, I thought you would be taller.” Her attitude shifted from anger to a playfully amused. “Well I suppose I should introduce myself. I am Princess Luna, Shepherd of the Stars, Mistress of Darkness, Queen of the Moon, The Defeater of the Smooze, and Empress of the Night Sky. Now that that’s out of the way would you like me to call you Nightmare or Ms. Moon or do you only go by the full Nightmare Moon?”

“What?” Trixie asked suddenly confused. “N-no, Trixie is Trixie. You … you’re Nightmare Moon!” Trixie pointed her hoof at the black Alicorn.

“Moi?” The Alicorn said with a fake gasp, then she started to examine her hoof as if it was the first time she had ever seen it. “Well I suppose I can see where you could make that mistake, but I think you just missed a memo or something because I no longer go by that name. Use one of my other names. I listed off at least five for you.”

“No, Trixie has seen photos of Luna and you don’t look anything like her.” Trixie didn’t know why she was arguing this being that she know full well that according to the old legends Nightmare Moon was able to beat up even Celestia, but Trixie was half convinced she was dead already so what did it matter.

The dark mare merely rolled her eyes. “When I’m in Equestria I cast a glamour on myself. It’s an illusion spell that hides what I truly look like. That way I look more presentable to the masses. Well that and my current form has a very negative connotation to it, and since I’m trying to improve my public image, a change in appearance was necessary.”

“Wait, if you use a glamour all the time why aren’t you using one now?” Trixie asked.

“Well, surly you’ve noticed that magic doesn’t work in here, haven’t you? Therefore my glamour doesn’t work either and you can see me as I truly am.” Luna said.

Trixie tried ounce again to cast a spell only to have it fizzle out again. “Okay, Trixie supposes that is true, but where is Trixie? What is this place? And don’t call Trixie ‘Shirley’, that’s not Trixie’s name.”

“This place? Do you really not know where we are? How did you even get here‽” Luna yelled.

“In Trixie’s defense,” Trixie paused for a brief moment. “Does anypony know what or where this place is the first time they come here?” Trixie didn’t really know where she was going with this line of logic. It just sounded a lot more philosophical in her head. Needless to say she instantly regretted it the second she said it.

Luna sat back and pondered this for a while. She had not gone to see when Twilight had been here because she didn’t like Twilight that much, and she was still trapped on the moon when Cadance was here, so theoretically they could have been very confused on how they got here, which makes it possible that this ‘Trixie’ could have simply stumbled into it. “Fair enough, I guess.”

Holy Celestia! That worked‽ Trixie thought to herself.

“Well regardless,” Luna said. “It really doesn’t matter how you got here, I think, the point is you’re here now, and nothing can change that. So let get this little trip down memory lane, or whatever it was Celestia called it, done with so we can go home.”

“Memory what now?” Trixie asked.

“Well, Celestia said that she took Twilight on some tour of her life or something, so I’m going to show you the most important parts of your life as well.” Luna waved her hoof in the air and a hallway of screens appeared before them that stretched on for a great distance. Each screen contained a moment form Trixie’s life. “You’ll have to forgive me if I don’t break out in song.”

Trixie’s jaw dropped.

“Okay then, now lets us see here.” Luna looked at the first few screens. “You where born in Neigh Orleans, your mother was a earth pony who was seduced by a traveling con colt unicorn who left without a word the very next day, and after you were born she left you with her sister to go and find him. She never came back.” Luna trailed off. “Not a very good start.”

Trixie wasn’t listening at this point. It was her life so she already knew all of this. However the screens did have her attention for this was the first time Trixie has ever seen her father, she had seen photos of her mother here and there but the only thing Trixie knew about her dad was that she looked like him.

“Well let’s just continue then. Your aunt and uncle just kind of ignored you for must of your life, giving all there attention to their own children. Since you were the only unicorn in the family there wasn’t anyone else to teach you magic, so you didn’t earn a cutie mark until after you dropped out of high school.”

“Trixie doesn’t need you summarizing every little detail of Trixie’s life. Trixie was there, Trixie lived it. Just hurry up and get to the good parts,” Trixie said.

Luna rolled her eyes, “Fine then we will skip to when you got your cutie mark then.” Luna walked to a few screens down. “You discovered your special talent for magic—magic, right?--when you saw a unicorn tourist cast a levitation spell and then was able to recreate that spell after a few tries.

“Wait, you taught yourself how to use magic?” Luna asked.

Trixie grow incredible smug. “Why yes, Trixie taught herself everything that Trixie knows. It wasn’t long after that-that Trixie took her show on the road, traveling all over Equestria performing magic shows. But little did everypony know that the show it self was just a ruse to get other ponies on stage and show off there best spell so Trixie could reconstruct the spell and use it against them increasing Trixie’s repertoire of spells."

“It didn’t take Trixie long at all to figure out how to even replicate pegasi and even earth pony magic as well. With each spell learned, Trixie’s show grew more and more impressive and the audience would believe anything,” Trixie said, and then began to laugh.

“That’s, actually kind of impressive,” Luna said. “Well, until you came to Ponyville that is.” Luna then pulled a screen with a giant star bear on it closer.

“Ok, so there where a few neighsayers, and a couple of stupid colts who wanted to see Trixie defeat an Ursa so bad they actually found one and lead it back to town.” Trixie started to sweat. “But none of that was Trixie’s fault.”

“Technically, no it was not your fault, and at very least you tried to fight off the Ursa. You utterly failed, but you tried,” Luna said studying the clip. “Most fakes just run away like the cowards they are, you at lest you stayed to face your death with some dignity.”

Trixie didn’t know how to feel about what the princess said. Most ponies just blamed the entire thing on Trixie because she lied about how powerful she was. Nor would she consider what was probably her biggest failure as a brave or dignified moment. Maybe alicorns just think differently then normal ponies, Trixie thought.

“But unfortunately for you the local towns ponies did blame you and rumors are the most powerful force in Equestria… second only to the Elements of Harmony that is,” Luna gave a light chuckle.

You’re not supposed to laugh at your own jokes there Princess, Trixie thought.

“With your reputation in ruins, your creditability in tatters, and your stage in splinters, you worked where you could and saved every bit in order to buy,” Princess Luna paused for a second to believe what she saw on the screen. “Wooo, the Alicorn Amulet. I always wondered what happened to that thing, Celestia seems to be just as bad at keeping track of powerful artifacts as she is at preventing the return of ancient evils.” Luna continued to chuckle.

“Trixie would like to say in her defense, she was not in her right mind for what’s about to come.”

“Of course you weren’t,” Luna said rolling her eyes. “The very nature of that particular amulet corrupts the mind. I think the last time a unicorn tried to use it against us we simply waited two or three months until his mind was so far gone that he took the thing off by us simply asking him if he wanted us to clean it for him.”

“So you won’t be angry at what Trixie did while wearing the amulet?” Trixie asked.

“Not really, if you had done anything practically terrible I would have heard about it.” That off hoof comment hurt Trixie more then any failure she faced so far. “I’m tempted to just skip over the whole thing because it doesn’t really say anything about the real you.” Luna continued to walk down the hall of Trixie’s life no longer interested in the nitty-gritty.

“Here’s something more recent,” Luna was near the end of the hall now. “A trip to the Crystal Empire.”

Trixie stayed calm on the outside but inside was starting to panic. Worst of all she know there was no were to run too.

“The first thing you did entering the Empire was … walk outside the dome?” Luna turned to Trixie to ask. “You do know this close to winter the outside temperature is around negative thirty something right?”

“Yes,” Trixie rolled her eyes. “Trixie enchanted her cape to keep in her body heat, so the outside temperature didn’t matter.”

“Oh, really. Where did you learn that?” Luna asked.

“There was an enchanter living in Baltimare. He thought it was very impressive on a technical level, which it was, but it didn’t wow the audience very much so it was an easy win for Trixie. Still, Trixie recognized the usefulness of the spell so Trixie kept it around even though it didn’t help the show.”

“Well let’s continue. It looks like you strayed pretty far from the city, too. Let’s see, you found something out there it was … oh please doesn’t tell me.” Luna rushed down a few screens.

“Should have know,” Luna was angry again. “You’re the one my Shadowbolts told me about. You stole the Crystal Heart!” She yelled.

“So you have heard of Trixie then.” Trixie tried to smile innocently.

Luna just glared down at her. “Do you have any idea how many ponies you put in harms way by pulling this stunt?” Luna said with a stern voice.

“Not off the top of Trixie’s head.”

“Thousands, possibly tens of thousands,” Luna didn’t know the exact population of the Crystal Empire off the top of her head either.

“Umm, well…” No Trixie, apologizing right now won’t help you. There’s no way she will forgive you just like that, not to mention it will make you look weak. I already dug my grave at this point, no reason not to dig another few feet. Trixie thought to herself.

“Well not like you can talk much, little miss ‘the night will last forever,’” Trixie said as she pointed at the black Alicorn. “Trixie saw an opportunity to become something greater then she is! A way to drastically change her destiny, so she took it.”

The look on Luna’s face softened. “Do you really think that excuses what you did?” Luna said with a sad tone.

Trixie’s poster deflated with that question, she was expecting rage and anger not a plea of pity. “N-no, I guess it doesn’t. Are-are you going to punish Trixie now?”

Luna took a deep breath and looked at the last screen. It glow bright red and was full of pain and suffering from Sombra’s machine. “By the looks of it you already were dealt a punishment, and after reviewing your entire life … I might be willing to be lenient on you and show some mercy.”

“Really!” Hope returned to Trixie’s voice.

“Only under three conditions however.” A harshness returned to Luna’s voice. “First, you are never going to do anything like this again. Your needs and wants are never more important then the lives and wellbeing of the ponies around you.”

Ok that’s understandable, Trixie thought.

“Second, because of your selfish actions, you will not be grated a title of princess. Or any title of nobility for that matter, for at lest five hundred years,” Luna said. “After that point Celestia and myself will evaluate any change in your personality and any good deeds you may have done to determine if you will be given a title or not.”

Five hundred years? So is Trixie actually immortal now?

“And finally, if I should ever find a use for you and ask you to do something for me, you will do it, no questions asked.”

“Wait, what? If Trixie is understanding this correctly your just using this to make Trixie do what ever you want.” Trixie said.

A smug grin stretched crossed Luna’s face. “Well I just figured Celestia has her darling little student who is so willing to do whatever it is she says, that it was high time I got myself my own little junior Alicorn tucked away in my pocket for some rainy day. After all, everypony needs some allies here and there, so you’re going to be my ally weather you like it or not. Because if you don’t, I’ll just have you locked up with all the other primordial evils until the end of time. I’m pretty sure you don’t want that now, do you.”

“N-no please don’t do that to Trixie.” Trixie had a bad feeling about this.

“So we have an agreement then?” The Princess of the Night asked.

“Y-yes,” Trixie agreed.

“Good girl,” Luna said while Trixie had a gut feeling like she had just made a deal with a draconequus.

“Now that that’s all settled, Trixie does have one last question,” Trixie said.

“Okay, and what would that be?” Luna asked.

“If these screens tell Trixie’s entire life, will they tell Trixie her future too?”

“No, one’s future is unwritten. It is ultimately made up of the accumulation of all your choices, so your future can be whatever you make it,” Luna replied.

“But, but what about destiny?” Trixie asked.

“Destiny?” Luna scoffed. “Destiny is nothing more then a make up concept used to justify somepony’s endgame, or to convince somepony to do something you wanted them to do.” Then Trixie started to float up and glow a bright white.

“W-what’s going on?” Trixie asked as she was engulfed in light and flowing winds.

“Your retuning to the mortal world, just no longer as a mortal. Don’t worry I’ll meet you there,” Which were the last words Trixie heard before everything turned white.