Trixie's Tale

A small blue unicorn stampeded through the colossal arena. At the opposite end of the arena a manticore charged towards her: the earth shaking beneath its claws. Trixie mustered her strength into a vibrant ember that exploded from her horn. The magical eruption forced her to dig in her hoofs as the explosion collided into the enraged manticore.

The manticore coiled against the magical attack but was thrown back by the tremendous explosion. Its body embedded into the arena wall. The confused and angry manticore picked itself up and turned again to face its adversary. The manticore primed its claws and snarled menacingly.

Trixie teleported within striking distance of the monstrous creature. Her horn glowed threateningly and the the creature retreated slightly. As she primed a second spell the creature flinched and proceeded to bow obediently. The manticore retracted its claws and lowered its tail signalling its absolute fealty.

From above Trixie could hear her master’s slow but proud applause. Trixie could just barely see Princess Luna observing her training from one of the deserted arena’s private boxes, “most impressive!” she cheered as Trixie teleported to Luna’s side “most impressive indeed” she cooed giving Trixie a congratulatory tap on the shoulder.

“Thank you master” Trixie smiles gleefully. Luna looks down at the tamed manticore “it takes great skill to do what you've done today; to do so without maiming or hypnotizing the creature, greater still. You have progressed flawlessly as my apprentice. Dear Trixie. “Thanks wholly to your guidance princess” Trixie explained lowering her head obediently.

Luna cleared her throat and decides to get right to the point “I have another mission for you Trixie.” Luna explained leading Trixie out of the deserted arena and through a portal taking them back to Canterlot. Luna marched across the royal atrium, fetching a picture of a sandy coated unicorn. Trixie eyed the male unicorn and noted his coat was speckled with strange black runes “who is this?” Trixie asked. Luna sighed “That is Starfall. He’s a powerful rebellious unicorn that is causing havoc and threatens to call a meteorite on Canterlot Trixie gasped in bewilderment “He’s threatening to destroy Canterlot? With a meteorite! How does he possess that kind of power”?

Luna fell silent and bit her lip. After what felt like an eternity of silence she explained herself “Starfall was once my apprentice, Trixie. He refuted my teachings and fled to the everfree forest.” Trixie stamped the ground in frustration “Damn him, he’s remarkably well hidden. I haven’t even been able to trace him through the dreamlands”.

Luna looked directly at Trixie and spoke plainly “I want you to find Starfall, and undo the damage he has done… please,” Luna pled. Trixie immediately accepted the assignment “How should I stop him, Master?” Luna opened a rift to the everfree for Luna and turned unable to face Trixie directly, “by any means necessary.” “As you wish, princess,” Trixie replies before bowing and leaping through the portal into the dark of the everfree forest.

It was midday but the everfree forest canopy cast the area in a faint gloomy light. “Right, best I locate Starfall” Trixie concludes, sitting down to meditate. Trixie closes her eyes and allows her senses to wander. She senses the trees and dirt beneath her feet, various wild creatures roaming the forest and a powerful source of magic in the distance. As she honed in on the powerful being she experiences a remarkable reaction.

As she focuses she hears ponies screaming in her head. She recognized one of the voices being that of Princess Luna’s but the other’s was a male voice she didn’t recognize. Visions flashed of a duel between Princess Luna and Starfall “Please princess! Don’t kill me!” the male voice pled as the sound of whizzing magic and explosions echoed in her head.

Trixie clutched her temples as a migraine developed. She severed her magical connection to the pony and sensed a greater magical source moving towards her. Trixie opens her eyes and sprung to her feet hoping to interrupt her attacker. The thick grass rustled around Trixie and she could see two glowing turquoise eyes gazing from the shadows.

“What is this I see? Luna’s new apprentice, maybe?” the figure chanted as she stepped into the clearing. The figure was a zebra. She was dressed in robes with a golden necklace and earnings. “Why so scared? Can’t you see that it is only just you and me?” The Zebra inquired at Trixie’s defensiveness. Trixie could no longer sense the magical threat and relinquished her guard. “My apologizes… I am looking for a very powerful pony that is hiding out here in the everfree forest. Would you know where they might be hiding? ”The hidden being that you seek, may be found at everfree peak” the Zebra explained walking towards the escapement “this way…”

As the mysterious Zebra led Trixie through the forest she felt herself losing her focus. The visions and screams of Luna’s and Starfall’s duel clouded her mind and she had struggled to keep up. “My oh, this cannot be, do not lose sight of the path, you see?” Trixie shook her head, “wait no, you didn’t point at anything?” Trixie remarked. “The path I speak of is not here, but here” she points at Trixie’s head, “you harbor doubtful thoughts that you dread, allow these to grow and you may end up…” “Dead” Trixie interjected.

As they neared the top of the escarpment Zecora stopped and motioned for Trixie to continue, “Is he up there?” Trixie inquired as she passed Zecora. “Are you not coming?” Zecora shook her head “My little pony, do you not see. That this is not a test for me.” Trixie remembered Luna’s instructions and climbed to the peak. As she approached the top she felt that familiar magical force push against her and she did her best to shut out the visions and screams which were far more vivid now.

Trixie could see the meteorite high in the sky and the yellow unicorn focusing it in front of her. He raised his head, not surprised to see her and spoke clearly “Ah, you’ve found me, Trixie was it? I sensed you in the everfree; you’ve arrived just in time!” Trixie took a step closer “I’ve been sent to stop you Starfall!” you’re risking the lives of thousands of ponies!”
Starfall stared blankly back at her, “you are remarkably loyal to Luna,” he spat, “as a word of warning, be careful. Should you become too powerful… she will caste you out!” Trixie could see runes engraved in his coat and he seethed with magical prowess. Trixie approached Starfall and ripped through his barrier. She quickly cast a spell that violently threw him against the ground. “Dismiss the meteorite!” she demanded.

Starfall managed a grimaced laugh and shrugged her demand off. “With all of your magic, you can’t stop me.” Starfall coughed violently and Trixie could now see the winds of magic left him decrepit and weak. “She threw me out you know… I was a prodigy, top of my class. Beloved, chosen apprentice of Luna herself”, Starfall gasped.

Starfall managed to wave her off and raise his head “I can’t even stop it now.” He lifts himself and rests against a rock to watch the incoming meteor. He exhumes one last breath before his magical runes faded and his eyes closed. As the flaming rock floats high above them Trixie glared at the molten sphere. She planted her hooves and cleared her mind. “I can’t let it destroy Canterlot!” Trixie calls upon the winds of magic which gather and warp to her whim. She focuses them around her and charges them to oppose the fiery meteorite. “STOP!” she commands firing the spell high into the sky to halt the meteorite.

The spell had little effect. The meteorite momentarily slowed before resuming its dire trajectory. “No! Please stop!” Trixie screams firing several volleys of spells exhausting most of her magical ability. The meteorite loomed directly overhead, unphased by Trixie’s attack. “It’s too big!” Trixie spat firing off one last spell “… It’s too big… Princess!” Trixie clutched her ears feeling the weight of her failure press down on her.

Trixie could hear the clip-clop of astute hooves behind her and sensed a mighty magical being which sent shivers down her back. She turned around only to see Zecora standing there following the meteorite overhead. “Size does not matter my dear, the power you need is limited by fear”. Zecora stepped forward as her eyes glowed a golden hue. Her white zebra stripes glowed and a bright green aura encircled her. “Magic is more than you and me. It is an unlimited force so set it free”.

Trixie watched in awe as Zecora strained but mystically pulled with incredible force. The meteorite steadily drifted off of its trajectory. Zecora screamed and with a mighty spell she dragged the meteorite down and forced it to harmlessly impact in the everfree forest. Trixie cheered seeing the meteorite impact and ran to hug Zecora “you did it!” she hollered. Zecora thanked Trixie and politely pushed her off.

She quietly walked towards the now deceased Starfall and respectfully closed his eyes “now Trixie please go home, and hold true the lessons you’ve been shown. Know that Starfall held temperance for power and kindness for wrath. You must not fall down this path”. Trixie nodded and longed to return to Canterlot “Thank you Zecora, I don’t plan on making the same mistakes he did. I promise”. Without another word Trixie tightened her robe around her neck and charted a course for Canterlot.