Chapter 5: Magic Duel
It was currently the evening as dusk was approaching in Canterlot. A stallion is then see walking by along with a mare as they both approach to join a crowd that was gathered around a stage with a ton of lights and had red curtains around. Everypony was chattering on what all of this was as it made them very concerned on what performance somepony was about to give. Two high class ponies that were none other than Jet Set and Upper Crust then decide to join the crowd as they had as very skeptical faces.
Upper Crust: Who in Equestria has the right to make a stage performance so abruptly in all of Canterlot?
Jet Set: I don't know dear. Let's just hope that whoever is gutsy enough to attract this much attention doesn't waste any of our time.
Upper Crust: I concur. However, from the looks and perspective of how much detail they put into this stage. I'm betting that we'll expect nothing less.
Jet Set: Let us hope so.
?: Attention, all of Canterlot! Thank you for giving me some of your wonderful attention!
All of the ponies in the crowd immediately put their attention to the stage as the pony who spoke was about to start their show. Spotlights came on as they made their direction to the center of the stage. Small fireworks that were cerulean then went off as the audience were in awe by such an entrance.
Jet Set: My, what an excellent and bold introduction.
Upper Crust: This may live up to our expectations after all.
?: Come one, come all! You all are about witness the greatest magic show that all of Canterlot will be speaking about for days!
The crowd let out and "Oooooo" as that whoever just spoke may be some magician that's giving a performance.
?: Watch in complete astonishment as you all witness the Great. . .
The curtains then start to roll up as everypony was getting excited for what was to be revealed in the next minute.
?: . . .and Powerful. . .
When the curtains roll up to the top of the stage, a shadowy figure is then seen as they slowly walk up to the front of the stage to reveal herself to everypony. The spotlights then shine down at the figure as the pony who was there could be clearly seen now and everypony in the audience gasped at who it was.
The pony that revealed herself for all of Canterlot to see was none other than the Great and Powerful. . .
?: Trixie!
More small fireworks then went off as Trixie Lulamoon just revealed herself in her magic outfit for the entire audience to witness her amazing entrance.
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
. . .
However, instead of applause everypony just simply just stared at Trixie with confusion. Trixie just had a beaming smile which over time turned into a sheepish one as she was expecting some kind of applause to take place
Upper Crust: Have I seen this mare somewhere before? She looks peculiar.
Jet Set: Yes, you're right. And while see may have wooed us with some dazzling entrance, her outfit is nothing that I expected at all here in Canterlot.
Trixie heard that as she quickly grew a shocked look that two ponies just straight up judged her.
Upper Crust: Wasn't she in. . . Ponyville once from what I heard? Something about causing a major rampage across the town.
The ponies around heard that as they all start murmuring on what Jet Set and Upper Crust were saying about the current magician mare that was on the stage. Trixie began to sweat and get's a nervous look on the ponies that were currently skeptical of her.
After some time, a random stallion in the crowd spoke up.
Stallion: Wait! I know her! She was the cause of how some of Ponyville got destroyed over some dumb lie that she made in that town!
The rest of the audience gasped from that as it made Trixie recoil in fear a little.
Trixie: No! Wait! That was. . .!
Jet Set: Ah, now I remember. From what I heard no too long ago, she made some lie about *mocking* saving all of the ponies from Hoofington!
The rest of the crowd picked up on that as they started letting some chatter that was more negative and Trixie was just getting worried by the minute.
Upper Crust: Some. . . "thing" attacked the town and it was quote on quote, her that saved them, correct?
A random mare in the crowd then speaks up as well.
Mare: Wait! That's right! It was some Ursa Minor! The Great and Powerful Trixie claimed that she once vanquished an Ursa Minor in Hoofington, but it was all a lie!
The audience gasped once again and looked angrily at Trixie who darted her eyes back and forth while biting her lip nervously.
Mare: Once she went to Ponyville, an actual Ursa Minor attacked the place, but she wasn't able to vanquish it! Ponyville's Hero and some other mare did, and they didn't vanquish it, they tamed it and sent it back to where it belonged!
Upper Crust: Oh, I see now. This isn't some pony that's worth anypony's time.
Trixie: W-What?! No! Wait! Trixie. . .
Jet Set: She's a fraud. Simply put as that.
Suddenly, instead of having an entire crowd filled with ponies cheering for Trixie, everypony around started to yell out "Boo" to her, saying mean insults about her, and the worst that happened was that some ponies started throwing some random pieces of food at her.
Trixie was just so broken by all of this that she ran backstage in tears from all that was happening. Once she was backstage where nopony was able to hear or see her in any kind of vision, she levitates her hat off of her head and looks at it solemnly still with a little bit of tears in her eyes.
Trixie: That. . . that was all in the past. I didn't mean to hurt anypony at all.
Trixie sighs and as if it was fate for all of her sadness, it started to rain as well. Trixie then looks down to the ground very depressed that nopony would be able to get over the past things that she's done.
Right now Trixie was walking across the rainy sidewalks of Canterlot wearing a cloak to cover herself from the rain, still in a solemn mood and she takes a brief second to look at her own reflection in a puddle.
Trixie: I know someponies tell you that you should feel bad for what you did in the past, but deep down ponies will never let you forget.
As she was walking however, she accidentally bumps into a cart carrying a stack of books and suddenly it toppled over towards Trixie and she was now covered in a ton of soggy books from the rain. She emerges from the stack of books with a slightly irritated look and one book was on her head.
Trixie: *sarcastically* Great! Just what the Unlucky and Clumsy Trixie ordered! Curse you, karma!
Trixie then levitates the book off of her head and was ready to get rid of it in the pile before she decides to eye it a little bit. What she saw next on the book made her gasp a little.
Trixie: What's this? "Magical Mystic Charms?"
Trixie looked back and forth to see if anypony was around and with nopony around, she goes into an alleyway where there isn't as much pouring rain in the area and opens the book to read it.
Trixie: "Hmm, something that can solve all of your problems with magic." Tch. Trixie finds this very doubtful.
However, she may have to retract that statement as when she turned to a specific page in the book, she noticed something different about as it had a drawn figure on it that looked a tiny-bit menacing.
Trixie: Whoa! Trixie never expected to find THIS tonight! Let's see what this thing is exactly.
Trixie then proceeds to read the description of what was on the page.
Trixie: "The Alicorn Amulet. An amulet that gives the user. . . great. . . and powerful magic?!"
Trixie's eyes sparkled happily at hearing that.
Trixie: "You will be blessed with untold powers wearing this amulet, powers that will surpass even the highest level of unicorns! With it you can-" *gasps in awe* I think the Great and Powerful Trixie has heard enough! I've got to go and find this Alicorn Amulet for myself! With it, I'll finally be able to attract an audience that I've always wanted!
Trixie immediately throws the book up into the air and immediately starts galloping off to go and find the Alicorn Amulet somewhere. As she did though, the book lands upright on the ground with the same page that Trixie was reading about the said amulet, but what it said at the bottom of the description may have been something that could've changed her mind if she just decided to read the whole thing, and that phrase was "Warning: The Alicorn Amulet is a cursed object. Those who wear it may be filled with an evil soul."
Meanwhile, Trixie who was still in her cloak to avoid the rain, hurries down the block of the alleys of Canterlot while staying behind the assorted vehicles and containers left out here.
Trixie: Come on! There was a shop that had many rare things that not even Trixie could even forget.
Trixie continues galloping down the place before she spots a curio shop just up ahead of her.
Trixie: That's it!
Trixie instantly goes up to the shop and she throws open the door to enter the curio shop that she was looking for. She then darts around the place, knocking a book off a stack, eyeing a shelf holding other tomes and a skull-and-crossbones-marked jar, even scoping a hollowed-out zebra head whose eyes have been removed. Seeing that it's not the object that she was looking for, she throws it off to the side.
Trixie: Where is it? Where is it?!
A light then flicks on which turns her attention behind as she sees that there was a shopkeeper that owned the place.
Shopkeeper: May I help you, traveler?
Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie came to this shop looking for something rare.
She then proceeds to follow him up towards a desk.
Shopkeeper: So you come looking for something rare and that drew you to my shop. What is it that you're looking for, Great and Powerful Trixie?
Trixie then sees something to the right of the counter and instantly gives a smile.
Trixie: That!
She points over to an object resting under a small bell jar on a back shelf. It is a gray medallion with an upside-down triangle set with a large, red, lozenge-shaped gem. Two red and gray wings stand up from the top corners of the triangle, and a red-eyed, gray unicorn head protrudes above the gem.
Shopkeeper: Ah, you have a keen eye. The Alicorn Amulet is one of the most mysterious and powerful of all the known magical charms.
Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie wants it and needs it!
Shopkeeper: Uh, ah- I'm afraid this is. . . far too dangerous.
Trixie then gives a sumg grin.
Trixie: Will you take THESE for it?
Trixie then produces a large bag and tosses it down, spilling some of the bits inside across the counter. The shopkeeper eyes it for a moment, then stitches on the placating smile.
Shopkeeper: Would you like that gift-wrapped?
Trixie: No! The object itself is good enough.
Shopkeeper: Very well.
The shopkeeper goes to then take the jar off of the counter and as soon as he does, Trixie instantly levitates the amulet to her and gives a mischievous smile before walking out of the shop.
Shopkeeper: Uh. . . have a nice night.
Trixie then exits the shop and goes around to another alleyway to then hold the Alicorn Amulet in her hooves.
Trixie: So this thing will allow me to do spells that not even the most studious of unicorns can do? Well, the Great and Powerful Trixie needs something great and powerful in order to attract attention to all of those ponies. They may see me as somepony who's just some pathetic liar, but soon they'll see a real performance that will catch anypony's eyes.
Trixie then levitates the Alicorn Amulet onto her neck and ties it onto her cloak to make it look like it was a clasp for it.
Trixie: Now, just need to test it on something?
Trixie then looks out of the alleyway that she just passed by to the large amount of books on the ground that she left on the floor. She then gets an idea as she smiles sinisterly and levitates the books up, however when she did, her aura color was not her normal pink one as it changed to red. Trixie then thinks of the spell that she wants to perform and in a single poof of magic, the books now had Pegasus wings and were flying freely out and about. Seeing that Trixie just performed an advanced spell like that made her smile.
Trixie: Ha ha! So this amulet does work after all!
Trixie then looks over to see a crate of apples nearby and she tries to use another advanced spell on it. She fires a magic laser at it which causes them to turn into solid iron which makes her smile as well.
Trixie: This had more power than I thought it would, it just makes me wonder what else I can do with it!
Trixie said that sinisterly as her eyes blinked red for a split second before going back to normal. She then proceeds to do even more spells through the small section in Canterlot.
Suddenly, a cranky stallion who was trying to get some sleep opens his front door and notices Trixie.
Cranky Stallion: Hey! Do you mind?! I'm trying to get some sleep here!
Trixie turns to glare at the stallion.
Trixie: Hey! The Great and Powerful is doing some testing on her new magic tricks! And she would like to do them in peace!
Cranky Stallion: Well for your information, your magic testing is causing such a ruckus that if it continues, I won't be able to sleep a wink. So keep the racket down!
Trixie then gets a very sinister smile on her face.
Trixie: Oh. . .? Okay. I'll keep you're "racket" down.
Cranky Stallion: Huh?
What the stallion didn't notice was that behind him, a huge tennis racket suddenly appeared and before he could react, the tennis racket whacks him over the head sending him flying over Trixie screaming and Trixie just watches like she was enjoying it.
Trixie: *chuckles evilly* There is your peace and quiet, right there on the rainy ground where you belong.
Trixie then eyes the amulet on her neck with a grin on her face.
Trixie: This amulet makes me feel great! It makes me feel powerful! Like I can do just about whatever I want with magic! I'll definitely be able to get those heckling idiots from earlier to notice my amazing skills!
A thought then came to Trixie's mind as it made her frown a bit.
Trixie: But they still believe that I'm just some liar who made a story when she was Ponyville.
When she said that last word, it made her eyes widen.
Trixie: Ponyville! That's it! If I get those fools to listen to me first, then I'll be able to get everypony around to worship me!
Another thought then came to her mind when somepony from earlier mentioned something about two specific ponies in Ponyville.
Mare: (In Trixie's Mind) Ponyville's Hero and some other mare did, and they didn't vanquish it, they tamed it and sent it back to where it belonged!
Hearing that memory made Trixie scowl in anger.
Trixie: Twilight Sparkle and (Y/N)! Those two were the ones who humiliated me in all of Ponyville! They made me a laughing stock! But don't worry, as soon as I return there tomorrow, they'll be the first to pay!
Trixie's eyes glow red at the end of this before she lets out an loud and evil laugh that could possibly be heard by everypony that was in the area.
The next day in Ponyville, it was a bright and sunny day as (Y/N), Twilight, and Spike were over at Fluttershy's cottage helping Twilight perform an advanced magic spell using her animal friends as volunteers. Fluttershy was a little worried of the idea, but Twilight kept reassuring her that everything will be fine. Fluttershy is currently speaking with her animal friends.
Fluttershy: Don't be scared, little friends. Twilight is wonderful with magic.
Flicking her eyes over her shoulder, she wheels to face the unicorn, her sweet demeanor instantly replaced by naked hostility and she gives her a deep glare.
Fluttershy: Anything happens to them, Twilight, so help me. . .!
(Y/N) then gently pushes Fluttershy away from Twilight.
(Y/N): Calm down, Fluttershy. Don't worry, Twilight has been practicing a lot and I've been supervising her. She has gotten SO much better with magic.
Spike: He's right. She's gotten a lot better ever since she accidentally crushed me and Applejack with a giant snowball.
(Y/N) glares at Spike while Twilight blushed a little with an embarrassed grin as she remembered that incident.
(Y/N): Ignore what he said. Twilight's really, really good with magic.
Fluttershy: Of course she's good with magic. Twilight's great with magic. I guess I just don't want my little friends to be scared. Oh, oh, look how scared they are!
The animals puts the lie to that claim as they are all chittering happily. (Y/N) pats Fluttershy on the back reassuringly.
(Y/N): Fluttershy, they won't be in complete danger.
Twilight then walks up next to them.
Twilight Sparkle: I promise, Fluttershy. Nothing bad will happen to them.
Fluttershy: *high-pitched* I know!
Taking a couple of steps toward the menagerie, Twilight lights her horn and focuses her mind. Fluttershy then hunkers down and covers her face, shaking.
Fluttershy: Stop, stop! They can't take it!
(Y/N): She hasn't even started though.
This is shown as the entire group of critters was only enveloped in Twilight's magic at the startup. Twilight aims a concerned look back at the terrified Pegasus before (Y/N) just gestures for her to get down to work. One after another, she levitates the animals up several yards and gets them moving in a circle, much to their audible delight. As she flicks her horn in a new direction and Fluttershy chews her hooves and stares popeyed, the animals are maneuvered until they are describing a deft figure-eight pattern.
(Y/N): Whoa! Now that's impressive.
Spike: Twilight, that looks amazing!
Sweat has started to trickle down Twilight's face as a few sparks fall from her horn. At this point, she winds down, gently lowers the volunteers back to the grass, and wipes her forehead.
Twilight Sparkle: Phew!
The animals then gather around her and cheer in their various ways.
Twilight Sparkle: That's all for now, little ones. Maybe we can practice again later, if Fluttershy says it's alright.
They hurry over to the self-compacted yellow ball of equine and try to raise her spirits. (Y/N) just sighs as Fluttershy was still timidly down on the ground.
(Y/N): Probably won't be for a while. But great job Twilight, I knew that you'd have the skill. I've noticed that you've been getting progressively better over the last few months.
Twilight blushed for a brief moment at that compliment.
Spike: It's actually improved ever since we came to Ponyville. Princess Celestia's going to love it when she drops by.
Twilight Sparkle: Thanks, Spike. I have to be at my best when she arrives with the delegates from Saddle Arabia. I can't believe she's trusting me with the entertainment.
(Y/N): That's a huge honor to have alright. I wonder what we should do for the rest of the afternoon since you've got the spell worked out. You guys want to grab a bite at Sugarcube Corner?
Twilight Sparkle: Sounds good to me. What about you, Spike?
Spike: I'm always down for some cupcakes.
Suddenly, a rainbow blur plows over (Y/N) knocking him away from both Twilight and Spike. It was revealed to be Rainbow Dash as she stands over (Y/N) who was on his back surprised from the sudden entrance.
(Y/N): Geez Dash, what's the commotion?
Rainbow Dash: (Y/N)! You and Twilight have to come quick! It's an emergency! Somepony is looking for you two!
Hearing that surprised the two as they both looked at each other for a brief moment blinking uncomprehendingly.
In Ponyville, a crowd was gathered around in front of the town hall and Rarity was seen standing in a clear spot among them. A bolt of red energy lances into view and bursts against her, causing a green, yellow, and brown-striped peasant-style dress with pink trim to appear on her body. As she looks herself over, her first reaction is a horrified shudder and the crowd gasps.
Rarity: You beast! This shade of brown should only be used for accents!
Applejack gallops up, just in time to catch the fainting Rarity on her back. Pinkie Pie arrives as well to accompany them as they take Rarity out of the crowd.
Pinkie Pie: Come on, Applejack. We've got to get her in a nice, soothing pink, stat!
Twilight and (Y/N) then enter the scene with confused looks.
(Y/N): Okay, we're here.
Twilight Sparkle: What's going on?
Suddenly, a red magic aura picks (Y/N) up which shocks him before he is then slammed back down to the ground.
(Y/N): Ow! Who did that?
?: Well, well, well. If it isn't. . . Twilight Sparkle and (Y/N).
A hooded figure is then seen as it throws it's hood back to reveal that it was none other than Trixie as her violet eyes briefly flash red, prompting surprised murmurs from the crowd and an extremely shocked gasp from both (Y/N) and Twilight.
Twilight Sparkle & (Y/N): Trixie?!
Spike: What's she doing here? And why is she doing bad things? I thought you guys were friends.
(Y/N): So did we! I don't know what or why she's doing this?
Twilight then glares at Trixie.
Twilight Sparkle: Whatever it is, she definitely not here for a friendly welcome.
Rainbow Dash then flies up from the crowd.
Rainbow Dash: You call slamming (Y/N) up and down on the concrete, great and powerful? That's more bold and idiotic.
Trixie glares at Rainbow Dash when she said that before it turned into an evil smile, as her eyes glow red once more along with a red aura from her horn and Trixie lets out a burst of magic that nails Rainbow Dash dead on. It leaves her right wing perhaps four times bigger than her left and she tries to fly but ends up veering out of control, yelling all the while. Down below, Snips and Snails look on from within the crowd.
Snips: Oh! She's Rainbow Wobble, now!
Snails: Yeah! *laughs*
His laugh gets cut off by a crazy swoop toward the town square, and only the two colts' last-second dive keeps Rainbow Dash from caving their heads in. Once they are back upright, Snips nods happily and Snails waves.
Snails: Good spell, O Great and Powerful Trixie!
Trixie however was not happy to see them at all.
Trixie: You two! Quiet!
She glares at them before shooting more magic and the smoke from this spell clear to reveal that Snips was on top of Snails with their horns connected.
Snips: Uh, hey! W-What happened?
Snails: Get off of me!
The two unicorns gallop back and forth, tumbling and arguing all the while in a futile attempt to separate themselves.
Twilight Sparkle: Stop picking on our friends, Trixie!
Trixie: You, (Y/N), and I have some unfinished business. My magic's gotten better since I was here last. And I'm going to prove it! Twilight, you and I will have a magic duel. (Y/N), you and I will have a magic fight.
(Y/N) was shocked to hear that Trixie was proposing to fight him.
Trixie: Winner stays, loser leaves Ponyville forever!
Her eyes flash red at the end of that.
Twilight Sparkle: There's no way either of us are agreeing to that!
Trixie: Hm. Your choice.
She warms up her horn and picks up Spike, who cries out as he finds himself being floated up above the crowd. The cries turn to yells, and the red aura squashes him into a perfect sphere and bounces him on the pavement.
(Y/N): Trixie, undo that spell now!
A hard bounce sends Spike up next a basket materializes at one end of a roof and the dragon ball hits the rim, rolls around, and drops in. The bottom has been removed from the basket so that he falls through as if this were a basketball goal.
(Y/N): Trixie, why are you doing this?! I thought we were friends!
Trixie: Friends?! After you humiliated me in all of Ponyville?! After you two showed me up with that Ursa Minor, I became a laughing stock! Everywhere I went I was laughed at and ostracized. I even had to take a job on a rock farm just to earn a living! A ROCK FARM!
Pinkie Pie: Hey! You're lucky a rock farm would take the likes of you!
Trixie then produces a small arrow next to her, similar to a computer mouse cursor, and pokes itself onto her nose. After a moment's tugging, the arrow yanks her mouth and nose completely off her face. A small trash can then appears as the lid pops off, the arrow deposits the bits within, and the lid goes back on, so that the entire operation resembles the act of dragging files away to be deleted on a computer desktop. Cursor and can both vanish, leaving Twilight and (Y/N) to stare at her suddenly muted friend dumbfounded.
(Y/N): Okay. . . that is not natural.
Twilight Sparkle: I agree.
(Y/N): But despite that. . .
They both turn back to Trixie angrily.
(Y/N): So you're blaming us? We never wanted to humiliate you, in fact that Ursa Minor wasn't even planned!
Twilight Sparkle: He's right. We weren't doing anything to hurt you in anyway at all!
(Y/N): Trixie, just stop all of this and maybe we can-
Before (Y/N) could finish his sentence, a magic blast hits him point blank in the chest knocking him on his back which makes the crowd gasp. Twilight immediately rushes to his aid.
Twilight Sparkle: (Y/N)! Are you okay?!
(Y/N) then stands back up and shakes his head to regain his composure, but when he does he has a slightly surprised look on his face.
(Y/N): I'm fine. . . (She has. . . magic energy inside of her? Dark magic energy?)
Twilight then gives a huge glare back at Trixie.
Twilight Sparkle: Why did you do that?!
Trixie: Because I DON'T want any negotiations! What I want is REVENGE!
A fresh spell that she uses then connects with the Golden Oak Library, uprooting it and floating it into the air so it can turn end for end. A bit of shaking causes books to tumble from all the windows and Owlowiscious comes out with them, but starts trying to grab as many as he can.
Trixie then blasts a spell at (Y/N)'s house and she turned into a flat two-dimensional house that made it look like cardboard.
Twilight and (Y/N) gapes at the sight, then looks back at the smug Trixie.
Trixie: And I'll just keep casting spells 'til you agree. Well? What do you two say?
Twilight and (Y/N) look at each other with worried looks before they turn to see what Trixie has done so far with their friends as Spike is still bouncing as a ball, Rainbow Dash was still trying to fly with her crazy wing, Applejack was covering a distraught Rarity with a vivid pink blanket, Snips and Snails still trying to pull each other apart, and Pinkie Pie was unable to eat a plate of cupcakes and she breaks into soundless gushers of tears.
Twilight and (Y/N) couldn't stand what they were seeing and that even Trixie would go this far to do this to their friends. They both then turned to Trixie with very icy glares.
Twilight Sparkle: Alright, Trixie. Let's duel!
Trixie: Excellent.
(Y/N): I never thought that I'd have to fight you like this, but I guess I have no choice.
With a quick flash of effort, Trixie replants the library and undoes the effects on all of the others except Pinkie. Feeling her face, Pinkie points at where her mouth used to be and voices her annoyance somewhere between a grunt and a hum.
(Y/N): You forgot to undo Pinkie's mouth!
Trixie: I think it's best that we have her shut up for the occasion.
(Y/N): *growls* Why you. . .
Trixie: If I lose, I won't set hoof in Ponyville again. But if you lose, you two are the ones banished from this one-horse town!
The rest of the Mane 7 gasp in shock from that. It was now a standoff as Trixie gave a smug grin while both Twilight and (Y/N) deepen their glares. It was a few seconds before Trixie decides to break the standoff.
Trixie: Draw!
She lets one rip, hitting a cart parked near the two and launching it in a high arc over their heads. Both the vehicle and the barrels of apples it holds go flying. Several onlookers gasp and gallop away, except for one mare who trips and ends up in the dirt. She gasps and cringes down, not looking forward to the start of a new life as a pancake, but not before (Y/N) swoops in to save her while Twilight reorganizes the cart and places it back where it belongs.
(Y/N) set the mare down to walk off before going back to Twilight and they both nod before they look back at Trixie and what they saw next gave them a gasp as half a dozen floating pies were ready to come their way. As the dessert barrage hurtles towards them, Twilight gets an idea and fires off a spell of her own. It solidifies into a parasprite, which immediately opens its mouth wide enough to gulp down all six pies without missing a crumb. Next it burps out an offspring, and knowing that parasprites will eat anything, (Y/N) zaps them both away before they can cause any more damage.
Two shadows then cast themselves over Twilight and (Y/N) from opposite directions and merge. They both look up to see a huge pile of snow over the entire town square and Trixie let's go of the massive pile as it instantly covers the entire area in thick white snow. A few chunks of coal end up on Twilight and (Y/N)'s face, making them look like a severely disgruntled snow pony, but Twilight was able to use a heat spell to melt themselves out of it and (Y/N) summons a few magic geysers out of the ground to melt the rest around. They both then shake themselves dry.
Twilight's next spell, scores a direct hit on Trixie's disbelieving face. A moment after it dissipates, she grows a long, thick gray mustache that gets a laugh from the other five mares. Incensed, she conjures up a pair of scissors and snips it away, then dispels the implement.
Trixie: Snips, Snails, step forward!
Snips: Wh-What is it, O Great and P-P-Powerful Trixie? *nervous laugh*
His nervous laugh is cut off by the beam that nails them both and lifts them into the air. The rest of the gang watches speechlessly at what spell Trixie was performing next. The two colts are lowered to the ground in front of her but now Snips is a wailing newborn and Snails is a wrinkled, white-haired oldster who can barely hold his head up.
Twilight Sparkle: An age spell? But. . . how could you do an age spell? That's only for the highest level unicorns!
Trixie polishes her amulet a bit.
Twilight sighs wearily before channeling her energy into a spell that envelops these two victims and holds them aloft.
Spike: Come on, Twilight, you can do it!
(Y/N) watches with worry as the glow on Twilight's horn intensifies and sparks came out of it and due to how hard the spell was, she was straining. Trixie just grins savagely up at both her handiwork and Twilight's inability to counter her spell. After several almost endless seconds, Twilight's magic sputters and fades away. She crumples onto her belly, and Snips and Snails have a very sudden meeting with the ground that sets Snips crying all over again. (Y/N) rushes in to help Twilight off of the ground.
(Y/N): Are you alright?
Twilight Sparkle: *panting* Yeah. . . that was. . . more than I could handle.
Trixie: Trixie is the highest level unicorn!
She then gives a malicious look to (Y/N) who gives an angry glare back.
Trixie: A long time ago, you and I were going to have a magic fight and here we are now with exactly what I wanted.
(Y/N): Trixie, stop! I don't want to fight you!
Trixie: Keep talking like that and I'll probably get your friends involved with this fight as well.
(Y/N): *gasps* You wouldn't dare. . .!
To prove (Y/N) wrong, Trixie carries all of the mares up who weren't participating and she glows her horn as if charging a magic beam up at them. (Y/N) looks at that shocked that Trixie was willing to go that far in order to get (Y/N) to fight her and he just gets an angry look at Trixie.
(Y/N): Alright fine! Just put them down!
Trixie does so as she let's go of her spell and drops all of the mares down to the ground.
Trixie: With all due respect (Y/N), Trixie will let you go first to see exactly what the so-called Hero of Ponyville has in store to show.
(Y/N) growls as he charges up a beam into his horn and get's ready to fire it at Trixie and the rest of the Mane 7 watch with extreme anticipation. (Y/N) deepens his glare as Trixie's evil grin grew at him, but after a few seconds of staring her down, (Y/N) did something unexpected.
He stops his horn from glowing and he drops to his haunches with a guilty look. The Mane 7 and even Trixie was surprised by this as it wasn't something that they were expecting at all.
Twilight Sparkle: (Y/N)! What are you doing?!
Rainbow Dash: Yeah, aren't you going to show us some more of your awesome powers?
(Y/N) sighs and Trixie tilts her head to the side in confusion and what (Y/N) says next may have something that nopony around was even expecting out of him.
(Y/N): . . . . . .I forfeit.
The Mane 7 all gasp in extreme shock from that while Trixie was surprised before she get's a triumphant smile.
Twilight Sparkle: (Y-Y/N). . . are you serious?
(Y/N): I just. . . I can't. . . yes. I forfeit.
Trixie: *evil laugh* Very well. It's time for you to leave Ponyville! FOREVER!
Her eyes flare red from that and both (Y/N) and Twilight were half-unstrung before the rest of the mares and Spike intervene.
Applejack: That's enough, Trixie!
Rarity: You proved your point, but you can't possibly expect our friends to leave Ponyville!
Trixie: You fools!
She then proceeds to magically hoist Twilight and (Y/N) up.
Trixie: They're already gone!
The two are then strung away from the town hall with a yell, prompting the others to hurry after them. As they are coming back down to the ground, (Y/N) spreads his wings out and speeds up towards the grounds to land and slide on his hind legs on the surface, just before he catches Twilight bridal style which makes her blush a little before he sets her down.
They both hurry back to Ponyville to try and enter, but before they could, a gigantic dome flashes into existence above the town and it quickly lowers to cut the two off. They're friends instantly meet up with them on the other side of the glass where Ponyville was and were worried about them.
Rainbow Dash: We've got to get you guys back in here!
Spike: Can't you guys just teleport yourselves in?
Twilight Sparkle: True, we can. . .
(Y/N) then rests a hoof on her shoulder.
(Y/N): No, don't.
Everypony gasps at what (Y/N) was suggesting.
Rarity: Darling, you can't be serious.
(Y/N): This isn't about me losing the duel! It's something else! That's NOT the Trixie we know at all!
Fluttershy: What do you mean?
(Y/N): When she hit me with a magic blast, I sensed some dark type of magic energy flowing from within it.
Twilight's eyes pop wide open from that.
Twilight Sparkle: So what you're saying is. . .
(Y/N): Yeah, Trixie's been corrupted by something and I don't know what it is. Could it be that strange thing that she was wearing on her neck?
Twilight Sparkle: Honestly, I was wondering about that as well. What is that?
(Y/N): Beats me. But until we can find that out, I don't think going back into Ponyville is the best idea. If we do, Trixie will just send us back out.
Rainbow Dash: So? Get back in again.
Applejack: Rainbow Dash, you basic or something? He's sayin' that we need to know what's corrupted Trixie before we can take a stand against her.
Rainbow Dash: So that's it? You guys are just going to go and leave?
(Y/N): That's how it has to be for the moment.
Twilight Sparkle: Look everypony, go to the library and see if you can find any intel on what Trixie was wearing in order to make herself have a lot of magic power. (Y/N) and I will come up with some of our own ideas.
Spike presses his palm against the barrier in worry for the two.
Spike: Are you sure?
Twilight then touches her hoof in the same spot and gives Spike a reassuring smile.
Twilight Sparkle: Yes. We're sure.
(Y/N): Don't worry everypony, we'll be fine. I just want you all to take care of yourselves while under evil Trixie's influence for some time.
Pinkie then made some muffled noises to try and speak, but it was no use.
(Y/N): I have no idea what you said Pinkie, but just be careful.
Twilight and (Y/N) look at each other and nod before walking off and the rest of the Mane 7 watch their departure as they kept on looking with concern before they lost sight of them.
As (Y/N) and Twilight walked down the outskirts of Ponyville, (Y/N) explained to Twilight the whole reason that he forfeited. It wasn't only due to knowing that Trixie has been corrupted by some dark power, but also the fact that (Y/N) didn't want to hurt Trixie either. (Y/N) was looking down at the ground solemnly and he felt a little guilty as well.
Twilight Sparkle: So, that's why you decided to claim your loss to her.
(Y/N): Yeah, I know that she challenged me and all, but. . . Trixie was my friend. And I don't want to hurt my friends. I felt that if I did, then I would see myself as more of a brute than some hero. Not only that, I also want to help her. We may have got off to a rough start back when she first arrived in Ponyville, but we made up and she evened opened up to all of us as well. Just seeing her being all ruthless and mean just isn't like her and. . . I don't want her to become something that I was.
Twilight gave (Y/N) a sympathetic look as she knew what he was talking about. When Discord corrupted (Y/N), he was worst than Trixie and wanted to kill anypony that stood in his way which wasn't like him at all, but thanks to her and the rest of the mares, (Y/N) is who he is right now. Twilight then stops for a second before saying something caring.
Twilight Sparkle: I feel the same way. . .
(Y/N) stopped just ahead of Twilight and his eyes pop a little open before he turns back towards her as she also looks to the ground.
Twilight Sparkle: When Discord turned you evil there was no way out for me to do anything, but to fight you. And honestly, I didn't want to fight you at all (Y/N). Even though I had no choice. . . it was ultimately you who made me realize that I had the willpower to save you.
(Y/N) was surprised from that before it turned into a smile.
Twilight Sparkle: You were really somepony that I cared about ever since you said that you would help me stop Nightmare Moon from bringing eternal night. Just the thought of, hurting you struck fear into me, but you kept telling me and our friends that we're able to accomplish anything, as long as we believe in one another.
Twilight then walks up and takes one of (Y/N)'s hooves into hers making him blush.
Twilight Sparkle: Trixie was not only your friend (Y/N), but mine as well and I want to save her just as much as you do because you were able to give us hope that we can help anypony out there.
(Y/N) gave a slightly embarrassed smile from that with a blush.
(Y/N): Thanks, Twilight. I don't think that I've met anypony smarter and wonderful as you.
Twilight blushed from that as well and looked partially away before back into his eyes. Both of them were looking straight into each others eyes with the looks of being in love with one another. However, as they had a moment. . .
?: Oh my, I hope that I am not interrupting anything with your current mood swing.
Both Twilight and (Y/N) looked to the side and they both see a familiar zebra friend of theirs and it was none other than Zecora. Both (Y/N) and Twilight separated from each other and turned towards her.
(Y/N): Zecora. Long time no see.
Zecora: Yes, it has been awhile. To see you makes me smile.
Twilight Sparkle: Zecora. . . we may need your help.
(Y/N): Some friend of ours has acquired some weird magic.
Zecora: I see. Follow me to my hut so you can tell me what.
The three were now inside Zecora's hut and they take the time to tell Zecora about Trixie's strange magic. Twilight paces the floor, while Zecora sits cross-legged on her haunches at a small table across from (Y/N) and they were both holding a cup of tea.
Zecora: Your tale of woe upsets me so.
She takes a sip of her tea.
Zecora: No wonder you're dour. It's an abuse of power!
Twilight Sparkle: We don't know what to do, Zecora.
(Y/N): We feel like we've abandoned our friends, but we can't go back there until we find out how to match Trixie against her own magic.
Zecora: If you train with me, so good you'll be. I'll show you the way to make sure she won't stay.
Twilight walks up to Zecora eager from that.
Twilight Sparkle: You'll train me in magic? But she was doing age spells, weather spells, you name it!
An overly emphatic gesture from Twilight knocks over Zecora's cup, spilling the tea. The herbalist looks at her worriedly and holds the vessel in one hoof while (Y/N) gives a sheepish smile.
Zecora: When it comes to magic, it would be tragic if somepony licked me, especially Trixie.
Zecora waves her front hoof over her cup and it is instantly refilled.
(Y/N): Can you really teach Twilight something that can beat her?
Zecora: Mm-hmm.
This gets Twilight so excited that the jumps her forelegs onto the table, spilling both of their tea cups on the table this time.
Twilight Sparkle: Okay, when do we start?
(Y/N) and Zecora give her a judgmental looks at spilling the tea cups as she blushes with a sheepish smile.
Back in Ponyville, the rest of the Mane 7 were at the town hall as Trixie has been making so many demands ever since she beat Twilight and (Y/N) and kicked them out of Ponyville. Rainbow Dash and Fluttershy were currently holding up a large banner of her and neither of them looked enthusiastic about the job.
Other ponies have been conscripted to redecorate the place, under Trixie's supervision. Several copies of the banner have already been hung up. Rarity runs her sewing machine to turn out more of them, while a Pegasus hovers ready to take them away, Applejack is stomping a tub of apples, Mayor Mare has been imprisoned in a large birdcage, and Mr. and Mrs. Cake have brought in a throne constructed from assorted giant candies and baked goods.
Trixie: You two! Hurry up with my throne.
Trixie then goes up to Applejack.
Trixie: And you, how long do I have to wait for my applesauce facial?
Applejack: Forget it, Trixie! I ain't doing nothin' 'til you let Twilight and (Y/N) come home!
A red magic aura lifts her off her hind legs and conjures up two feathers, which proceed to tickle Applejack all over until she is laughing uncontrollably.
Applejack: Okay, I'll do it! Just make it stop! Hoo!
The feathers wink out, but the levitation slings her away from the tub so that she crashes into several baskets of apples standing alongside it. Applejack glares back at Trixie as the latter makes her eyes glow red before turning her attention elsewhere.
Trixie: I thought I told you to dance!
The spell she fires off blasts Pinkie, who had not previously been seen in the town hall, and sends her through a series of high-speed dance moves until she spins her way past Rarity. As soon as she finishes her latest banner, Fluttershy and Rainbow haul it away before she continues on the next one.
Rarity: Oh, Trixie's cruel magic is ruining Ponyville. Ow!
She accidentally jabbed her own hoof with a needle. Pulling it out from underneath the cloth, she finds it to be inflamed and throbbing.
Rarity: I hope Spikey-Wikey has found something in Twilight's library for us to known what treacherous magic, she's been using.
Back with (Y/N), Twilight, and Zecora, they were now in the Everfree Forest to begin Twilight's training as she was glowing her horn levitating three circular bubbles of water around her in a calm and peaceful motion while standing straight above a pond of water on all four hooves. Zecora stands meditating on one hind leg at its edge, the other one stuck straight out in front and her front hooves touching. (Y/N) was also meditating as he hovered off with his wings and he was crossing his hind legs while having his front hooves touching as well.
Zecora: Ah, no noise, no sound, no din, no fuss must interfere with your focus. Unlearn what you have learned. Only then can victory be earned.
A groan emerges from Twilight as trickles of sweat make their way down from her dark blue mane.
Trixie: (In Twilight's Mind) Trixie is the highest level unicorn!
Her derisive laugh echoes in Twilight's mind as her eyes pop open. Having lost her concentration, she has just enough time for one yelp before splashing into the pond along with her three water blobs.
Twilight emerges from the water as (Y/N) picks her up with her magic and dries her off before setting her down on the ground.
Zecora: There is much, much that I can teach, but the answer you need may still be out of reach.
Twilight Sparkle: I'm sorry, Zecora. I'm trying my best, but. . . I can't stop thinking about Trixie. We're trying to find the source to whatever her magic is, but we can't figure it out.
(Y/N): And the magic has not only made her do more advanced spells, but it also made her mean and nasty which is not like her at all.
Zecora: Your thinking needs a readjust. Total concentration is a must.
Both Twilight and (Y/N) look at each other in worry from that.
Meanwhile, back in Ponyville, everything around the entire town was Trixie themed as there were statues, banners, and flags all around. Ponies around were just worried for what was to come as they all just decided to stay indoors for the time being. Meanwhile, in the Golden Oak Library, all of the mares and Spike were searching the library for the source of Trixie's strange magic.
Spike: I'm glad you all came to help. I don't think that I could've find the source of Trixie's power alone.
Rainbow Dash: I would say no problem, but we've been at this for nearly two hours now!
Rarity: I concur. This really doesn't seem to be getting us anywhere.
Rarity throws a book that she was reading on a pile from which Pinkie puts her head up with a resigned moan and shrug as she still couldn't talk at all.
Applejack: I hear you, Pinkie. I can't find anything that describes the kind of magic Trixie's doin'.
Spike: Ugh, there must be something! Twilight has every magic book there is!
Rainbow Dash: And if (Y/N) said that he felt some kind of dark magic it's definitely something that's gotta be from a book from Twilight could provide.
Fluttershy then opens a book and sees some kind of symbol that looked like what they were looking for.
Fluttershy: *quietly* Um, I think I may have found something?
Rarity: If we don't find it soon, we'll be stuck in this Trixie-led Ponyville.
Fluttershy: *quietly* Um, this sounds an awful lot like Trixie's magic-
Applejack: She wants me to grow apples with no peels! Now how the hay am I supposed to do that?
Fluttershy: *quietly* Um, there's a picture here of that necklace-
Pinkie Pie: *muffled noises*
The mouthless pink pony stands up with a few irked grunts and gesticulations. Neither she nor any of the others has paid Fluttershy the slightest bit of attention throughout.
Fluttershy: *quietly* It's called the Alicorn Amulet, and whoever wears it is blessed with untold-
Spike then yanks the book out of her grip.
Spike: Hey, everypony, look! This book has a picture of Trixie's necklace! It's called the Alicorn Amulet, and whoever wears it is blessed with untold powers!
The other mares gather around Spike to read it along as Fluttershy was in the back.
Fluttershy: *quietly* If you read a little further, you'll see-
Rarity: "Even though it provides great power, it also corrupts the user!"
Fluttershy: *quietly* Yes, but, um, you can't-
Spike: "You can't just take the Alicorn Amulet off her neck, it has a magical lock! Trixie's the only pony who can take it off!"
Fluttershy: *quietly* Maybe we could-
Applejack: So (Y/N) was right all along about Trixie being corrupted, we need to get this information over to Twilight and (Y/N) so we can figure out how to save her.
Fluttershy: *quietly* But. . .h-how-
Rarity: If any of us try to leave, Trixie's magical force field will tell her!
Fluttershy: *quietly* Maybe we should-
Rainbow Dash then flies up with an idea in her head.
Rainbow Dash: I've got it! Trying to sneak past the force field would be impossible without help, but I know who's got the goods to get into those woods!
Fluttershy: *quietly I-It must be-
Rainbow Dash then swoops down and lifts Fluttershy overhead.
Rainbow Dash: Fluttershy!
Fluttershy: WHAAAT?!
She crashes to the ground and shivers under an open book as Applejack walks over to her.
Applejack: What do you say, Fluttershy? Can you handle the mission?
Fluttershy lands on her haunches and clutches the book.
Fluttershy: No! I'll crack under the pressure! I'll snap like a twig!
Rainbow Dash sweeps her off the floor once again ignoring that.
Rainbow Dash: Perfect! Fluttershy'll sneak out of Ponyville and find (Y/N) and Twilight.
Fluttershy: But. . . but I. . .!
Everypony except for Fluttershy then put their hooves together in an agreement to go along with the plan. They all then look at Fluttershy who was still shivering in fear before she lets out a defeated sigh.
Fluttershy: Okay. . .
Everypony except for Fluttershy cheers at that as they all were on with the plan.
Rarity: I know just the design for a dangerous mission outfit!
In a different section of the evil Trixie-themed Ponyville, Snips and Snails are seen with harnesses on them struggling to pull a heavy wooden sledge with no wheels as Trixie was in the driver's seat carrying a whip.
Trixie: Pull, you fools! Somepony set off the magic force field, and Trixie intends to punish them!
Snips: *panting* But. . . wouldn't it be faster if we had some. . . wheels?!
Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie doesn't trust wheels. Now pull faster!
Snails: *panting* I'm telling ya, Snips, she's getting weirder and weirder!
A crack of the whip spurs them to get their legs going again. When they arrive at the force field, they see a couple of beavers whacking it with their tails.
Trixie: Stop! You there! What are you doing?!
One of the beavers chitters angrily as it points at the log and the barrier to make its point that they want to move their cargo toward the forests. Rolling her eyes wearily, Trixie points her horn ahead, tips the whole thing up just enough to let all three beavers carry their lumber out, and lets it slam back down.
Her next spell transforms the small wooden sledge into a much larger, more ornate golden one, essentially a four-poster bed whose overhead canopy is a solid roof with stars and a sculpture of her own wizard-hatted head. Snips and Snails gawk at this new, massive load, and Snails hitches out a lungful of air
Snails: Gah, why is she so mean to us?
Snips: Yeah! I miss the days when she was just a fraud!
The whip cracks out over them, and Trixie leans forward with her most fed-up glower to get them going again.
As they are seen going away, the beaver chitters to his other companions that the coast was clear. The other two beavers reach into the log and yank out Fluttershy who was in a ruined suit and slightly scuffed. Even though she was out of the force field, she backs away slowly.
Fluttershy: Oh, oh dear! Rarity's dangerous mission outfit is ruined! Guess we'd better go back! *nervous laugh*
Her retreat is stopped by one frantically chittering beaver in front, then the other two and several birds from behind. One of them chirps in her right ear.
Fluttershy: Oh, okay, okay, you're right. I need to be brave and find (Y/N) and Twilight.
Another bird chirps in her left ear.
Fluttershy: Oh! Y-You found them? They're in the Everfree Forest?!
The scuffed-up pegasus gallops back to the log she rode out on and dives back into its knothole, but the birds drag her out by the ears, mane, and tail. Another bird then gives her a serious chirp.
Fluttershy: I-I know (Y/N) told me to be more brave, but to be honest, I'm only brave when I'm around him!
The bird chirps once more and this one causes Fluttershy to actually regain her composure a bit.
Fluttershy: You're right. It would make him proud, if I'm able to go in there and find him and Twilight. *gulps* On my own. . .
Fluttershy then reluctantly flies up and goes toward the Everfree Forest to search for her two friends.
Fluttershy was eventually able to find Twilight and (Y/N) at Zecora's hut as she explained what she and the others found out about the Alicorn Amulet and that it was the source of making Trixie act so evil and mean. Twilight was pacing around the room once more while (Y/N) was thinking in a corner. Fluttershy and Zecora watch both of them while drinking tea.
Twilight Sparkle: I can't believe we didn't recognize the Alicorn Amulet!
Fluttershy: The more she uses it, the more it will corrupt her!
(Y/N): While it's good that we know the power source of the Amulet, we can't just take it off her! How can we save her? She's demanding a fight from me and a match with Twilight's skills, but I still don't want to hurt her!
Zecora sits down her tea cup before walking up to (Y/N).
Zecora: Young pony, you may have a sight to avoid a fight and it is understandable that you wish to not challenge this spectacle. However, skills do not always come from being all feisty, but it also comes from being almighty.
(Y/N): Almighty? I'm not following?
Zecora: You must teach Trixie that her powers are a pest and that you are the best.
(Y/N) puts a hoof to his chin and thinks hard on Zecora's rhymes to sum up what she was saying.
(Y/N): Pest. . . Best. . . uh. . .
It took (Y/N) a few seconds before he was able to sum up what Zecora was saying with a beaming smile.
(Y/N): That's it!
Twilight Sparkle: You have an idea?
(Y/N): Yep. One that will not only allow us to match up to Trixie's magic, but also this way I don't have to hurt her at all. Twilight, grab a quill and paper, we need to get Fluttershy back into town to tell the others about the plan.
Twilight gets a determined smile and nods before getting what she was told and starts writing down what (Y/N)'s plan is to the others in Ponyville.
With a little help from Fluttershy, she was able to get back inside of the force field sneakily thanks to her animal friends to tell the rest of the Mane 7 about the plan to save Trixie from the Alicorn Amulet's magic. Trixie is now seen on her golden sledge with Snips and Snails still pulling it as she found out that somepony else has triggered the force field.
Trixie: This better not be another false alarm, or the Great and Powerful Trixie will-
The threat dies with a gasp at what Trixie sees next as both Twilight and (Y/N) were standing just outside of the force field with Zecora right behind them.
Trixie: You two?!
Trixie jumps off of her sledge to go and confront them.
Trixie: What's the matter? Not enjoying your exile?
Twilight Sparkle: Trixie, we know about the Alicorn Amulet. We know you cheated.
Trixie: Cheated? Moi?
(Y/N): Yes, which is why we are here to demand a rematch!
Trixie: This is new. When we were first about to duel, you were a coward. Why the sudden change in attitude?
Twilight and (Y/N) both smile before pulling out two golden necklaces with three spirals curling in from the edges with the gems in the middle. Twilight's was green while (Y/N)'s was blue.
Twilight Sparkle: We thought you might wanna see what real magical amulets looks like. Zecora gave them to us.
(Y/N): And get this, they're from beyond the Everfree Forest, way more powerful than that weak little Alicorn Amulet of yours.
Both of them put their said amulets on their necks.
Trixie: Ha! Nothing's more powerful than the Alicorn Amulet! And nopony's more powerful than the Great and Powerful Trixie!
Twilight Sparkle: Care to put your amulet where your mouth is?
(Y/N): Like I said, we want a rematch. And this time it will be fair and square with no forfeiting at all.
Trixie: Why should I? I already beat you both.
Twilight and (Y/N) gave each other smug grins before (Y/N) changed his tone to be more non-subtle.
(Y/N): I don't know. I mean it would SO humiliating and embarrassing for everypony in Equestria to find out that there are two ponies better than the Great and Powerful Trixie.
Trixie's eyes pop widen open from that in shock.
Twilight Sparkle: But, it's your decision. Come on (Y/N), should we go tell Canterlot or Manehattan first about our amulets?
(Y/N): Eh, I don't know. Let's go and think about it.
All three of them outside of the dome turn their back on Trixie to leave and with the boastful unicorn thinking that they were serious, it struck a nerve.
Trixie: Wait!
She teleports herself out of the force field and lets it dissipate. An instant later, she has reappeared next to her opponents.
Trixie: Okay, okay, you're on! A second duel.
Twilight and (Y/N) smile at that knowing that it was all going according to plan.
The gray sky still looms over Ponyville to make look like a dark afternoon, the entire town has gathered around to witness the first match. Twilight versus Trixie as (Y/N) and the rest of the Mane 7 decided to stay on the sidelines for the time being. Twilight walks up as the rest of the Mane 7 were on her side while Snips and Snails were on the opposite. Mayor Mare was still trapped in a bird cage from all of this. Lightning rips the air behind the scowling blue unicorn, and Twilight plants her front hooves a bit wider to give herself a good stance. Her face is set in a quiet, squint-eyed grimace, as are those of the friends ranged behind her.
Trixie: Let's start with a simple age spell, shall we?
Twilight Sparkle: Let's.
Trixie: Snips! Snails!
As soon as they gallop in to face her, they get hit with a spell that turns them both into newborns and start crying at full tilt.
Trixie: An oldie, but a goodie, ha. Now, let's see what your little charm can do.
Twilight Sparkle: No problem. Um, Applejack, Rarity? Could you help me, please?
Both Applejack and Rarity were slightly confused by this before they just decided to walk up. Trixie rolls her eyes and tosses her head as if to say, "Is this really the best you can do?"
Twilight adjusts her stance a bit, gets her horn going, and faces down the two very uneasy volunteers now standing in front of her near a statue. Trixie then floats an emery board up to file the edge of a hoof, clearly unconcerned about anything her opponent might do.
Here comes the boom, throwing up a cloud of smoke that dissipates to reveal that both Applejack and Rarity have been turned into fillies and lost their Cutie Marks. Applejack's hat is the same size as it was, meaning that it is now far too large for her head and it topples forward, covering her entire face.
Across the way, Trixie keeps filing her hoof for a moment, then drops the board with a bug-eyed, slack-jawed stare. Total disbelief is quickly replaced by a dismissive gesture.
Trixie: Oh, ho-hum. So you can do an age spell, big deal.
Another shot from Twilight's horn puts them back at their proper age, but she is not done yet. The third leaves Young Rarity standing on Applejack's back. The fourth, Rarity atop a very old Applejack in the same pose. The fifth, both at their proper ages with all four hooves on the ground. Now Twilight has Trixie's undivided attention.
Trixie: That's. . . That's impossible!
Twilight Sparkle: That's nothing!
A quick over-shoulder glance discloses Rainbow Dash, who cringes a bit at finding herself such an easy target. she takes the next spell and winds up unchanged when the haze clears or so she thinks until two additional blue wings pop up from the sides of her head. These rise slightly behind her, joined by an identical rainbow-maned noggin. A moment later, she has backed up quickly into the air and is facing an exact duplicate of her.
Trixie: How did you. . .?!
Twilight Sparkle: Duplication spell. (Y/N) taught me that one.
(Y/N): (*snickers* Not really.)
Twilight Sparkle: Ever see one pony play ten instruments?
Twilight then puts Pinkie in the line of fire and the smoke clears to show her rigged up as a one-mare band. She goes into a lively polka number, somehow managing to play the tuba around her midsection despite the minor technical hitch of having no mouth. Trixie gets a few bits of up-close-and-personal performance, the last of which comes from directly overhead and forces her to crouch down in order to avoid eating the instruments.
Trixie: This. . . just can't be!
Twilight Sparkle: Ooh, one more. I can turn a mare into a stallion.
Twilight eyes Applejack at the end of that and the latter's eyes display only terrified green points, her teeth about to chew through her bottom lip, and she tries to make a break for it only to take the full brunt of the spell. Once the haze clears, it is revealed that Applejack is now indeed a large bulky stallion.
Stallion Applejack: Eeyup.
The follow-up spell reverses the transformation just as quickly and leaves Applejack quite disoriented. Trixie's jaw hangs so low that it might fall out of her head with one good sneeze.
Twilight Sparkle: Well, Trixie, looks like my amulet is more powerful than yours.
Trixie growls in frustration from that before she faces (Y/N).
Trixie: Okay, Twilight Sparkle. You may have won this round, but I still have a bone to pick with (Y/N). Time for you all to witness a true magic fight!
Twilight backs away as (Y/N) steps forward with a determined smile.
(Y/N): Bring it on!
Everypony around looked like they were dying to see how The Hero of Ponyville would face The Great and Powerful Trixie. They both stared each other down for a second before Trixie speaks up.
Trixie: With all due respect, you go first.
(Y/N): Oh, no no no. That's okay, Trixie. You go, besides, ladies first~.
Trixie blushed a little at the way (Y/N) said that before she shakes it away to glare at him.
Trixie: Fine! Match THIS!
Trixie fires a magic blast from her horn at (Y/N) and he just stood confidently as it rockets toward him. But what happens next, brought a gasp to everypony especially Trixie.
(Y/N) had some magic energy in his hoof as he caught the magic blast and it turned (F/C).
(Y/N) smirks at Trixie who was just in complete disbelief from what she was seeing.
Trixie: WHAT?!
(Y/N): Look who you're talking to, Great and Powerful Trixie.
(Y/N) then stood on his hind legs and throws the magic blast back at Trixie like a pitcher throwing a baseball, who stood out of the way to dodge it. Trixie glares back at (Y/N) who hovered off the ground with his wings and he put his front hooves together before bowing.
(Y/N): *mimics Mortal Kombat voice* Round one, (Y/N).
Trixie: Show off!
Trixie then decides to shoot at (Y/N) with a large magic beam, but surprisingly he was able to put energy in his hooves to catch that one as well and he turns it into a fairly sized ball in his hooves.
He looks at it and throws it up and down twice on one of his hooves before he started dribbling it on the ground like a basketball and he throws it high up into the air before grabbing it with both of his hooves and throws downwards a little away from Trixie.
(Y/N): Get dunked on!
The magic blast that (Y/N) threw exploded on the ground and even the ponies around were surprised at how (Y/N) was able to counter Trixie's magic.
Trixie growls as tries to shoot another beam at (Y/N), but he caught that too and made it into a ball as well, however when catching this one, he did feel a little bit of pain.
(Y/N): Phew. That actually burned my coat a little that time.
However, (Y/N) get's an idea and starts rolling the the magic blast ball like he was bowling. Trixie moves out of the way as the ball hits a trash can and exploded as well.
(Y/N): Str. . . ike!
Trixie: *growls* Okay, two can play at that game.
Trixie then uses the amulet to put some magic energy into her hooves and she creates a magic ball of energy herself and throws it at (Y/N).
Twilight Sparkle: Hey, (Y/N)!
(Y/N) looks back Twilight and she quickly throws a tennis racket in his direction and he grabs it by levitating it with his own magic before he covers it with magic energy and he hits the magic blast that Trixie sent at him back at her. Trixie was quick to react to this however as she conjures up her own racket and does the same thing to hit it back at (Y/N) as well.
They both kept hitting the magic blast back and forth like it was an actual tennis game before (Y/N) hit the blast with enough force to send it in a scorching flame towards Trixie and when she tried to hit it that time, it exploded in her face and covered her in a little bit of soot. She scowls before she shakes her head to get rid of the soot on her face.
(Y/N): Fifteen, love~.
Trixie blushed at his teasing before she shakes it away once again.
Trixie: Alright (Y/N), dodge this!
Trixie then fires rapidly at (Y/N) like a machine gun which surprised (Y/N) before he gets an idea and made his entire body glow (F/C) and suddenly the magic blasts being fired at him seem slow to him and he was able to increase his speed to dodge all of them at once. However, (Y/N) decided to do something a little bold and he grabbed the last magic blast to throw it up into the air and he jumped up to do a bicycle kick sending it into the sky.
(Y/N): It's going! It's going! Gone!
Trixie watches the magic blast fly over her and was just in complete shock that (Y/N) countering everything that she's was able to throw at him, before she got one more idea.
She shoots a ton of magic blasts into the air to then let gravity take over and they all rained down towards (Y/N). He smirks as he puts up a (F/C) magic barrier all around him and once all of the magic blasts hit his barrier, they turned (F/C) instead of red. And the second, (Y/N) let's his barrier down, he stood on his hind legs and did something that not even the rest of the Mane 7 were expecting.
(Y/N) put magic energy in his hooves and started juggling the magic blasts in the air.
Trixie's jaw hit the ground as she couldn't believe that (Y/N) was able to counter even that.
Trixie: That's impossible!
(Y/N): As I said before, look who you're talking to.
Trixie fires more magic blasts at (Y/N) and just to show off a bit, he juggles the magic blasts that he was currently tossing in the shape of a circle beside him so that the magic blasts would go through it like a ring of fire at a circus. He did this with every other magic blast that Trixie through at him before she eventually decided to give up and (Y/N) makes the magic blasts that he was juggling disintegrate into thin air.
Trixie was sweating and panting as she looked like she was extremely tired after the whole battle that she just went through. (Y/N) smiles as it looked like he was victorious against Trixie and Twilight walks up right beside him and whispers.
Twilight Sparkle: *whispers* Since when could you do that?
(Y/N): *whispers* Even though the Alicorn Amulet makes her do more advanced spells, it didn't really strengthen her ability to fight. I could tell from this because when I got hit earlier, it didn't really do a scratch on me.
Twilight Sparkle: *whispers* Wow. You're full of surprises.
(Y/N): *whispers* Heh, thanks.
They both then turn to Trixie with triumphant smiles as she just glares at both of them.
Trixie: This can't be!
(Y/N): Sorry, Trixie. You lost and we won fair and square.
As (Y/N) spoke, Trixie's red aura seizes both of the relics and yanks it off the two surprising them.
Twilight Sparkle: Hey! Give those back!
Trixie: *evil laugh* With these amulets, I shall now rule all of Equestria!
Both (Y/N) and Twilight pretended to be shocked by this as one hard pull from Trixie undoes the Amulet's chain and the red aura of her horn and eyes flickers away. She floats both Twilight's and (Y/N)'s charm on at the same time to replace it.
Trixie: Witness, my subjects. Gaze upon an ever greater and 'powerful-er' Trixie!
Lightning cracks around Trixie and she stands up on her hind legs. One of the two Rainbow Dash's darts in and snatches the Amulet away.
Trixie: Hey! *scoffs* I don't need that old Alicorn Amulet. I have these!
Aiming her horn toward the clouds, she lets go with a burst of her own magic and hits the escaping Pegasus square in the belly. She does not lose her hold on the Amulet, though, and the energy coursing over her form has no effect except to start her laughing wildly.
Rainbow Dash: *laughs* Stop it! That. . . that tickles!
Trixie: Tickles?! That was supposed to make you writhe in agony! This amulet is defective!
She fires another round, which Rainbow Dash ducks under easily.
Trixie: Give mine back!
Rainbow Dash: Sorry. This is going back into hiding where it belongs.
She flies down to Zecora, who holds a small, open wooden box and puts it inside. Twilight then slides up to Trixie.
Twilight Sparkle: By the way, Trixie, the amulets around your neck? They're a couple of Zecora's doorstops.
Trixie looks at the two necklaces she was wearing as both of the gems on them fell and broke into pieces.
Trixie: W-What? Wait, I can't. . . I'm not sure what. . .
(Y/N) then walks up to her.
(Y/N): Trixie, how do you feel?
Trixie: All I felt was evil and darkness for a minute, but now I feel confused. What happened to me?
Twilight Sparkle: The Alicorn Amulet is what happened.
Trixie: It was?
(Y/N): You may have not realized it, but when you were wearing it, it started to make you meaner and even more snarky. However, thanks to me and Twilight here, we knew exactly how to save you.
Trixie: But. . . Twilight, how did you do those spells? Nopony can do those spells!
Twilight Sparkle: You're right. Not even me. Zecora taught us so much about magic while we were in exile. She even taught me when not to use it. My magic alone wasn't powerful enough to take on the Alicorn Amulet head to head, so I needed to use a different kind of magic. It was thanks to Zecora that (Y/N) and I realize that we needed the magic of friendship. We also knew that the only pony who could get the amulet off your neck was you.
Trixie: But. . . what about (Y/N) being able to counter all of the magic that I sent at him.
(Y/N): That was just skill, and when you hit me earlier with one, it made me realize that your magic was weaker than mine. So, it wasn't a problem to me to outmatch the Alicorn Amulet.
Trixie: But. . . what about the pony with the ten instruments?
(Y/N): That was all Pinkie Pie.
He turns to said pink mare as she was still playing the instruments. Trixie was just dumbfounded by everything that happened and she looked all around at the crowd in Ponyville and everypony was looking at her with stern and angry looks.
This reminded Trixie of when she tried to perform her magic show earlier in Canterlot and everypony was just angry with her because of the Ursa Minor incident and now it's happened again, but this time it was with the Alicorn Amulet.
Trixie's eyes started welling up into tears before she started crying very miserably which made both (Y/N) and Twilight feel bad for her, so they both nodded in agreement on something.
(Y/N): Come on, let's go somewhere where we can talk with her alone.
The rest of the Mane 7 were waiting outside of the Golden Oak Library as (Y/N) demanded them to as he believes that since he and Twilight were more closer and they knew Trixie better, it was better that both of them comfort her. Right now inside of the Golden Oak Library, Trixie was provided a blanket and some tea to calm her sadness a bit and it was working. However, Trixie did still feel a little depressed and guilty for her actions. (Y/N) and Twilight then walked up and sat across from Trixie.
(Y/N): Hey, Trixie. How are you feeling?
Trixie: A little bit better. Thank you for asking.
Twilight Sparkle: So, we thought we'd start by asking you a few questions to understand more of what happened to you. If it's too sensitive, you don't have to answer if you don't want to.
Trixie: That'll be up for me to decide. Just ask me what you think is right.
(Y/N): Okay then. . . how did you find out about the Alicorn Amulet?
Trixie: I was in Canterlot and at night I found this book on magic charms that said that they can give you more magic power.
Twilight Sparkle: Which brings us to the next question, why did you get the Alicorn Amulet?
Trixie looks down to the ground a little guilty at being asked that.
Trixie: As I said, over time I been teased, bullied, and reminded all about the time that I first came to Ponyville. Every time I tried to make a new magic show across Equestria, everypony would just remind me that I was nothing but a liar and a stuck-up.
Twilight and (Y/N) give Trixie a look of sympathy at hearing that.
Twilight Sparkle: That. . . must hurt.
Trixie: It did. I remembered the day you two and your friends forgave me for everything I've done and that led me to keep trying. But. . . no matter how much I tried, I just couldn't attract an audience without being reminded about the past.
(Y/N): Wow, we're sorry to hear that Trixie.
Trixie: Don't be, I should be sorry. I thought that using the Alicorn Amulet that I would be able to finally accomplish what I've been seeking all of this time. But instead I made things worse, I took a soul-sucking evil amulet and treated everypony horribly.
Trixie's eyes start to tear up again.
Trixie: I'm. . . I'm nothing, but a failure.
Trixie started to have tears pouring out of her eyes once again, but it more mild than before. Twilight and (Y/N) were just so surprised that ponies from all over Equestria would even treat her this way after given a second chance. (Y/N) then walks up to Trixie and decides to give her a hug which she needed as the blue unicorn rests her head on her shoulder.
The sadness and depression went on for a few more minutes before they both break the hug and (Y/N) and Trixie look at each other face to face.
(Y/N): Trixie. . . you're not a failure. I think you're an excellent magician.
Trixie: Thanks, but. . . you're just saying that to pity me.
(Y/N): No, I'm not! It really is the truth. I know we all may seem to have a bad past and some others can't get that out of their heads. Trust me, I've been there when I was at a younger age. But there was something that you've been missing all of this time ever since you left Ponyville and we see it too.
Trixie: W-What's that?
(Y/N) looks back at Twilight who smiles back as she knew the answer.
Twilight Sparkle: Friends.
Trixie goes wide-eyed from hearing that.
Twilight Sparkle: Nopony ever supported you Trixie because they never got to know you at all. However, (Y/N) and I did. We may have got off to a rough start, but in the end me, (Y/N), and the others, we were willing to accept you as one of our friends. However, you thought that travelling out in Equestria to perform your magic shows was the best option and we respected that.
(Y/N): And you also proved to us that you are still indeed our friends.
Trixie: I did?
(Y/N): Of course. You said that it was the thought of us that allowed you to keep trying which honestly just shows how much you really think and care about us. We cared about you Trixie. I did. If none of us cared, then we would've just let you hold onto the Alicorn Amulet and let it corrupt you. But me and my friends cared enough that we wanted to save you at all costs. To me, you are a really great friend Trixie.
Trixie blushes at hearing that and her sad pouty face turned into a smile as she wipes her tears out of her eyes.
(Y/N): Don't listen to those who like to judge and ridicule you Trixie. You are and will always be a friend to me.
Trixie smiles from that before she hugs (Y/N) tight which he returns. Twilight smiles at (Y/N) being able to comfort Trixie as she knows that's what he does best.
As the two broke the hug, they smile at one another.
(Y/N): How do you feel now, Trixie?
Trixie takes a deep breath before getting a smug smile and stood up on all four of her hooves.
Trixie: The Great and Powerful Trixie feels wonderful now. Thank you.
(Y/N) and Twilight look at each other with bored looks that Trixie was back to her normal arrogant self as well, but they both chuckle from it as that's who she is.
Twilight Sparkle: *rolls eyes* Well, now that you're back to your normal self, how about we all continue our friendship just like we wanted?
Trixie: Thank you, Twilight.
Trixie then realizes something and it made her frown.
Trixie: But what do I do now? If I just do more magic shows, then it'll just be wash, rinse, and repeat.
(Y/N) puts his hoof to his chin to think of a solution and he gets an idea.
(Y/N): Do you have your wagon with you?
Trixie: Yes. Why?
(Y/N): Why not stay in Ponyville with us? Your friends.
Trixie was surprised to hear that.
Trixie: R-Really?! You would do that for me?
(Y/N): Of course, besides I can't let a beautiful mare like yourself be all alone can I?
Trixie smiles and blushes from that while Twilight who heard that compliment couldn't help but feel a tinge of jealousy.
Trixie: (H-He. . . thinks I'm beautiful.) Th-Thank you, (Y/N).
(Y/N): No problem, Trixie.
Trixie: Still, I've done so many terrible things out in Ponyville today, I don't know if they'll just welcome me in here.
Twilight Sparkle: Leave that to me.
Both of them turn to Twilight to listen to what she has to say.
Twilight Sparkle: It's still not too long before I have to perform for the delegates of Saddle Arabia, and Trixie, I know just the thing that you can do to show your redemption to all of Ponyville.
Trixie: The Great and Apologetic Trixie is all ears.
She then whispers to (Y/N).
Trixie: *whispers* Has a nice ring to it, don't you think?
(Y/N) smirks and rolls his eyes from that.
Twilight Sparkle: Come on, I'll get our friends and I'll tell you two outside.
Twilight get's up and gallops off out of the library and as (Y/N) was about to follow her, Trixie puts a hoof on his shoulder.
(Y/N): Trixie?
Trixie: Sorry, but the Great and Powerful Trixie hasn't rewarded her savior just yet?
(Y/N): Wait what?
Trixie walks in front of (Y/N) and does something unexpected and gives him a simple peck on the lips, which makes him blush and go wide-eyed.
Trixie: That's for saving me. Thank you, Great and Powerful Hero of Ponyville.
Trixie said that with a little bit of arrogance as she walks out of the door and (Y/N) just gives out a nervous chuckle before following her out.
(Y/N): (She may be boastful and speaks in the third person often, but I find that to be kind of cute.)
It was now officially night time as Twilight was standing on a stage in the town square, and ponies watch from the packed bleachers set up on three sides. Two high private boxes have been set up on opposite sides of the street. One holds Mayor Mare and the other holds Princess Celestia has she was with two other ponies who looked to be the delegates from Saddle Arabia that Twilight mentioned. Twilight was doing her figure eight spell with Fluttershy's animals like she did earlier and the crowd was enjoying it especially the delegates that were watching and Princess Celestia looked to be proud of Twilight's entertainment. Fluttershy shivers in Spike's comforting arms, lifting her face for one quick, terrified glance before ducking away again.
Twilight then maneuvers the animals into a new aerial pattern while fireworks burst around them, eliciting more awed reactions. She knows exactly the pony responsible for that as she eyes Trixie in the crowd of ponies right beside (Y/N) and smiles at her. Trixie smiles back that Twilight gave her an opportunity to do something special and trusting just like a real friend would. Trixie then turns to (Y/N) who just winks at her making Trixie blush.
(Y/N): You did an excellent job, Trixie. I'm sure everypony will warm up to you after this.
Trixie: Th-Thank you (Y/N). (What is this feeling? Every time I'm around (Y/N), my heart just feels so. . . great. . . and powerful as I would say.)
Chapter 5 En…
Pinkie then suddenly got out of the screen fading black thing, and pointed to her face that still doesn't have her muzzle. (Y/N) came through the black through a portal, and uses his magic to bring her muzzle back. She smiled and took breath on what to say something but the black covered them.
Chapter 5 End.