Disclaimer: I do not own "My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic," or its characters. They are property of Hasbro Studios and DHX Media.
*Special thanks to Yodajax10 for his contributions.
"Of Dragons and Magicians"
By TwilightSparkle3562
Chapter 1
"A Hooded Figure"
It had been over several months since Trixie, an ego-filled magician had attempted to take over Ponyville after being empowered by a device known as the Alicorn Amulet. Trixie had acquired the magical device as part of a plan to get back at Twilight for showing her up with a creature called an Ursa Minor. Although Trixie had initially succeeded in disposing of her rival, Twilight returned and using the help of some of her friends in Ponyville, Trixie was defeated by their efforts to get her to remove the amulet from her neck by using one of Zecora's doorstops disguised as an Amulet.
Ever since that time, the light blue unicorn had not returned to Ponyville and many believed that Trixie could have either retired from performing magic or moved to another town where she could go back to her old boastful ways. However, on one rain filled night, the question of whether or not Trixie had disappeared would be answered when a figure covered by a black cloak came into Ponyville, feeling disoriented and lost.
"Hello!" called the figure, whose voice sounded hoarse and feeble like an old mare. "Can somepony help me?"
The streets were deserted as it was late at night, but the figure didn't care and tried desperately to find somepony to help her. Finally, she realized that there was one pony who could help her.
"I must find Twilight Sparkle," cried the figure. "If she can forgive the Great and Apologetic Trixie, then she can help me out of the situation I found myself in."
So, the figure found herself looking for the Golden Oak Library, which unbeknownst to her, had been destroyed by the demonic centaur, Lord Tirek, a few weeks earlier. Soon, the figure came up to the foundation of where the tree once was and let out a sharp gasp, upon seeing that the tree was gone.
"Is that how you prepare for my arrival, Twilight Sparkle?" cried the figure as a burst of thunder boomed overhead. "By hiding your precious library from me? I thought you forgave me for what I did!"
Now, the figure was becoming more and more despondent for shelter and the night was growing more and more by the minute. Wandering several more times around Ponyville, she finally came up to see a giant tree-like castle just up ahead of her. The figure thought that this would be an opportunity to find shelter and thought that whoever lived here wouldn't mind if she stayed for a little while.
Meanwhile, Twilight Sparkle slept in her bedroom still trying to get adjusted to her new castle. In a period of a few days, her life was changed forever thanks to her recent ascension to being an alicorn, her princess coronation in Canterlot and all the way to dealing with Tirek. Thanks to her friends, however, Twilight was made right at home when they took the remains of the Golden Oak Library and fashioned them into a chandelier with ornaments containing pictures of memories from her time in the library.
However, Twilight's time of serenity was interrupted when the sounds of loud bangs on her door were heard. This caused her to wake up with a start and cease her peaceful night's sleep. The noise also caught the attention of her dragon assistant, Spike, who was just down the hall.
"What's that noise, Twilight?" cried the baby dragon, darting down the hall with his blanket in one claw and a stuffed toy of Rarity in the other claw. "It sounds like banging noises."
"I don't know, Spike," replied Twilight, stretching out her wings. "But, we are going to find out. Come on."
So, the two friends ran down the stairs as they heard several more bangs at the door. Using her magic, Twilight forced the doors open and let out a sharp gasp upon seeing the collapsed figure on the other side.
"Spike, help me out here!" cried Twilight, pulling the figure inside with her hooves while Spike lifted the figure's behind. "Let's get her inside and out of the rain!"
Shutting the doors, Twilight and Spike carried the figure into the study and laid her down by the fireplace. As she laid the figure at the fireplace, Twilight couldn't help but feel slightly suspicious at who the figure underneath was and became hesitant to remove the cloak.
"Who do you think it could be?" asked Spike. "Could it be Sunset Shimmer?"
"Not very likely," said Twilight. "The portal to Equestria from the other world isn't going to be open for another 30 moons. So, it would seem impossible. Besides, if Sunset Shimmer were to come from the other world, how could she end up wandering the streets of Ponyville at night when she could have just come through the mirror and into the castle to begin with?"
Spike considered the matter and realized that Twilight was right. They had been in the other world recently and it would have been impossible for Sunset to be anywhere else besides the castle. He then realized that there would be another figure underneath who also wore a black cloak.
"Is it…Tirek?" gulped Spike, nervously. "He also wore a black cloak according to Discord."
Twilight examined the figure even more closely and how the cloak was being worn convinced her that it wasn't Tirek underneath it. If it was Tirek, then her magic would have been safe, given the fact that Tirek's ability to drain magic was taken away from him when he was returned to Tartarus.
"I doubt it," said Twilight, who was trying to show her compassionate side despite being suspicious. "Perhaps it would be best if I just removed it. Whoever it is going to be, he or she is going to be will get sick if we don't get this off."
Closing her eyes, Twilight lifted off the cloak and once her eyes were opened once again, both she and Spike let out a sharp gasp at the collapsed figure who was underneath the cloak.
"Trixie!" cried Twilight, who looked to see that Trixie was wet all over her body and her mane was soaked on both her head and her tail. Her hooves were pruned and there were scratches all over her body.
"She doesn't look so good," remarked Spike, only to be met with a hard stare from Twilight. "What? I'm just saying she doesn't look good."
"Spike, get some first aid from the kitchen," ordered Twilight. "I want to see if I can clean some of those scrapes off of her."
So, Spike did as he was told and went to find the first aid from the kitchen. But as he did, he couldn't help but feel a sense of hostility towards Trixie. After all, she was the pony who kicked Twilight out of town all because she was shown up as a fraud.
Nevertheless, he held his feelings in for Twilight's sake, but it wouldn't be long before they would all come out…