Chapter 6: No Second Prances

Inside the castle, Twilight and Chase have gathered Starlight together for her first attempted lesson to Starlight Glimmer, a friendship lesson while carrying a tray of dishes and utensils.

"First lesson of the day," said Twilight as she grabbed a plate with her mouth and placed it on the table, "we very carefully set the table without using magic, so that-YIKES!"

Twilight suddenly ducked as Starlight grabbed all the plates and silverware with her magic and within a few seconds set the table beautifully. Starlight just smiled.

"Did you...?! How? When? What?!" Twilight spluttered.

"What do you think you're doing?" Chase asked Starlight in a firm tone.

"What?" Starlight asked

"I said no magic," said Twilight, "You were supposed to do it by hoof so I could work in a friendship lesson."

"Oh, I heard "set the table" and just kinda went for it," Starlight replied and smiled sheepishly.

"Starlight, you gotta learn to listen for all the instructions before you do something," said Chase. "You can't just use your magic all the time, especially when you're proud of it."

"Right. Sorry." Starlight apologized sheepishly.

Chase smiled and rolled his eyes.

"Well, if you hadn't used magic," said Twilight as she pointed to each piece of silverware, "you'd have heard me say, uh...this plate represents your head, this spoon is your heart, and the knives...are sharp! Always be careful with knives!"

Twilight just smiled as Starlight and Chase just gave her blank looks. Twilight just sighed.

"The metaphors actually make sense when you're actually setting the table," said Twilight.

Chase just shook his head in reply as he was clearly not amused a bit.

"Should I...change it back?" Starlight asked.

"She can remove everything and set the table your way," said Chase, "no biggie."

"It's okay. I just want to make sure you're ready for this dinner," said Twilight to the lilac unicorn, "Princess Celestia will be joining us tomorrow night to see how the friendship lessons are going!"

"If it's just you, me, Chase, and Princess Celestia," said Starlight, "why are there five seats?"

"Well, the whole point is for you to bring a new friend," Twilight explained, "That way, the princess will see for herself just how far you've come." Twilight then gave the lilac unicorn a smug smile, "And how good a teacher you have." She gave Starlight a nudge with her fore-knee to emphasize her point. Chase just raised an eyebrow at her.

"I thought the focus of this dinner was Starlight, not you?" Chase asked.

"Oh, like you didn't emphasize yourself when you had the same dinner with you, me, Celestia, and Nyx!" Twilight retorted.

"Honey, Celestia was the new friend I wanted Nyx to make at that dinner," said Chase. "Besides, our daughter has been warming up to the Royal Sisters, even if she is a kid."

Chase chuckled as Twilight smiled in reply and giggled. Starlight just rolled her eyes at them.

"Well, I can't choose," said Starlight, "I like all your friends and my first choice, my new bro, is already going to be there." Twilight chuckled.

"That's the best part!" said Twilight, "You have to make a new friend!"

"New friends?" said Starlight as she began a dramatic speech, "Hey, maybe I'll just force friendships by magically enslaving the entire population of Ponyville!"

"Starlight!" Twilight and Chase scolded as they glared at the lilac unicorn.

"Kidding!" Starlight said with a sheepish smile as she chuckled.

Chase and Twilight rolled their eyes in response.

*Main theme*

It wasn't long before Starlight headed into town to see about making a new friend. As much as she wanted Chase to come with her, Chase had some jiu jitsu training to do with Nyx and Twilight. Twilight asked him to do some grocery shopping for tomorrow night's dinner.

"Let's see," Starlight said to herself, "Make new friends in Ponyville, the friendliest place in Equestria. And as Chase would say: at least the admission is free." Starlight chuckled, but knew she was probably the only pony who would laugh at the joke, "Shouldn't be too hard."

It was then Pinkie startled Starlight by popping up from the side out of thin air.

"Need to make a new friend, huh?" Pinkie asked but didn't wait for answer, "I know just the pony for you!" She then grabbed Starlight and zipped away with her.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before Starlight found herself inside Sugarcube Corner.

"Miss Starlight Glimmer," said Pinkie, "meet Mrs. Cake!" Then she added in a hushed voice, "She's also Chase and Twilight's marriage counselor, but you didn't hear that from me!"

Starlight gave the baking mare a shy smile, but Pinkie and Starlight noticed that Mrs. Cake was busy decorating a cake and hadn't noticed them. At least until she finished the cake.

"How are you, dearie?" Mrs. Cake asked the lilac unicorn.

"Are you baking?" Starlight asked excitedly as Pinkie smiled behind her, "Can I help?" Starlight then used her magic to gather the tools and ingredients to quickly put together a very large and beautifully done triple tiered cake with purple and light blue icing. Pinkie and Starlight both smiled at the cake as the latter held it in the air with her magic.

"Wow, Mrs. Cake!" said Pinkie, "Look what your new friend made you!" Mrs. Cake chuckled.

"New friend, I like the sound of-" Mrs. Cake then gasped when she saw Starlight's cake.

"Howza-Wowza!" Mrs. Cake exclaimed before she started scolding Starlight, "A-Are you trying to put me out of business with your fancy magical-thingy-whatsit cake?!"

Pinkie and Starlight looked sad. It certainly wasn't the reaction Starlight was hoping to get from Mrs. Cake. Starlight released her magic grip on the cake.

SPLAT!

Mrs. Cake yelped as the cake crashed on top of her head.

"Sorry..." said Starlight. Pinkie then zipped up to the fuming Mrs. Cake and licked a huge piece of the cake with her tongue.

"In her defense," said Pinkie to Mrs. Cake, "It is delicious!"

Pinkie continued eating the cake as Mrs. Cake gave Pinkie the stink eye. Starlight just smiled apologetically before dismissing herself from the bakery.

(Scene changes)

Later, Starlight had found Applejack in the orchard. Big Mac was close by bucking some apples from a nearby apple tree. Clay was bucking some apple trees in a different section somewhere else. Starlight had filled Applejack in about her situation.

"I think I have just the pony for you, Starlight," said Applejack, "Meet Big Mac!" The red stallion turned to introduce himself.

"Eeyup!" said Big Mac to both girls. Starlight just looked skeptical.

"He's not much of a talker," said Applejack, "Unless it's Clay. Still don't know how he does it though."

"Nnope," said Big Mac, but he rolled his eyes indignantly over the Clay remark.

"Oh, that's too bad," said Starlight, "I love a good conversation."

Applejack gave her a curious look when Starlight smiled and got an idea. She then fired a magic wisp that flowed right into Big Mac's mouth. Big Mac's eyes bulged out as the magic entered his mouth and then he shook his head rapidly. Applejack just had a "what the hay" look on her face as Starlight smirked.

"Eeyup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup-yup," Big Mac said quickly, "Y-y-y-y-you did something! Whoa! What's happening? I feel really weird! I'm talkin' so much! And I'm so articulate! Enunciating with such precise pronunciation!"

Big Mac then shoved a fore-hoof inside his mouth. Then a few seconds later he removed it.

"Annie Apple awoke and accidentally ate an auburn azalea!" Big Mac exclaimed, "WAAAAAAAAAAA! MAKE IT STOP!" Big Mac then ran for the hills and disappeared. Applejack just watched the scene unfold.

"Grrrr..." Applejack growled.

"I can't be friends with somepony who doesn't talk," said Starlight.

"Grrrr," Applejack growled again.

"..and I guess my first instinct shouldn't be to magically command ponies to act the way I want them to?" Starlight added.

"Grrrr," Applejack growled a third time, getting into the lilac unicorn's face.

"Alright, I'll change him back!" Starlight retorted irritably as she want to go find Big Mac. Applejack glared and watched her walk off.

It was then Clay arrived as he witnessed the whole thing.

"I take it Starlight hasn't made a new friend?" Clay asked his wife as Applejack turned to her husband with a deadpan look.

"You have no idea, honey." Applejack said bluntly.

Clay watched Starlight walk off as he felt concerned for her.

(Scene changes)

Once Starlight had fixed Big Mac, she headed over to the Carousel Boutique and had just finished discussing her situation with Rarity, who was working and also wearing her work glasses.

"The trick to finding a new friend," Rarity explained as she grabbed a soft pink fabric and wrapped it around her neck like a scarf, "is to render yourself radiant. First impressions count a great deal, you know." Starlight just stood on a platform before a large vanity mirror.

"I'm glad you all got past my first impression," said Starlight with a timid smile.

"Well, everypony deserves a second chance," said Rarity as she quickly did some measurements on Starlight and then wrapped two sets of different colored fabrics around her, "Ooh! I have a top-notch idea. I'm thinking pastel silk here and here with a crinoline underneath."

"You really think a new outfit will help me meet ponies?" Starlight asked hopefully.

"Oh, with the right outfit," said Rarity as she walked behind a dressing screen and did one of her famous quick changes. She was now wearing a dress with a fuzzy light pink top and sleeves with a darker pink skirt and floral headpiece.

"When will it be ready?" Starlight asked.

"Three weeks," said Rarity plainly and Starlight looked rather disappointed.

"Dinner's tomorrow," said Starlight in a dejected tone.

"Well then, how about a hat from the..." Rarity then cleared her throat before continuing her suggestion, "...clearance bin?" Rarity pointed to a very, very small box filled with some various hats. Starlight grabbed an elastic band style headpiece with some feathers on it. She struggled to put the elastic fabric around her head and ended up piercing the fabric with her horn.

"Ugh! Maybe not," said Starlight as Rarity just rolled her eyes and said nothing.

(Scene changes)

Afterward, Starlight headed back into the outskirts of town and ran into Rainbow. The blue Pegasus was soon laughing when Starlight told her about Rarity's advice.

"Nopony's gonna make friends with you because of your outfit," Rainbow told her, "The only thing you want a new friend draped in is coolness." Rainbow hovered smoothly from one side of the lilac unicorn to the other.

"Like you?" Starlight replied.

"Yeah, but you already know me, so..." Rainbow answered and then gasped when she got an idea, "Spitfire!" Rainbow then got into her face as she said the yellow-orange Pegasus's name. And also spit on Starlight's face.

"Heh. Sorry," said Rainbow.

"Who's that?" Starlight asked.

"Only the Wonderbolt-iest pony in the Wonderbolts," said Rainbow, "And she and Chase are best friends that go way back! Come on! I'll introduce you!""

Rainbow then took off so fast that she caused a regular sonic boom, which made Starlight flinch. Rainbow then came back.

"You coming or what?" Rainbow asked since she knew Starlight knew how to use her magic to fly.

"I guess my first question would be," said Starlight slowly, "What's a Wonderbolt?" Rainbow then gasped dramatically.

"You've never heard of the Wonderbolts?!" said Rainbow, "Where have you been?!"

"Enslaving villages, I guess..." Starlight answered nervously.

"Right," said Rainbow bluntly as she made a landing.

"Sorry." Starlight apologized. "But I really have been out of touch with Equestria outside of the village I used to control."

"Point taken." Rainbow eased up on Starlight there. "I'll try to see if any of the Wonderbolts are interested in befriending you but I can't guarantee anything in time for Twilight's dinner."

"Right." Starlight glumly understood.

"Don't worry!" Rainbow assured her. "There's plenty of ponies around, just keep trying until you find somepony that you share common ground with. Like maybe the spa." She suggested and encouraged her.

"Thanks." Starlight said as she set forward someplace else.

"No problem!" Rainbow said as she flew off in a flash.

(Scene changes)

In the end, Rainbow didn't bother introducing Starlight to Spitfire after all and the lilac unicorn was eventually at a picnic with Fluttershy, Sokka, and some of their animal friends. Starlight had no problem connecting with the animals. And unlike other situations, Starlight didn't bother using magic to try to communicate with them or make them talk like a pony. She was just enjoying herself as she gave Angel a belly rub. Angel giggled in reply.

"You're adorable," said Starlight as she stopped the belly tickling, "but probably not what Twilight had in mind."

Starlight then walked away despite the fact that Angel was looking lovesick over the lilac unicorn. Harry just waved goodbye as Fluttershy arrived with a plate of carrots and Sokka arrived with some cookies. Fluttershy was the first to notice that Starlight had left and sighed as Harry looked at her sadly. Sokka then saw Starlight disappearing over a small hill and quickly went to catch up with her.

"Starlight, where are you going?" Sokka asked, "the picnic was about to start. Did you make some new animal friends?"

"I did," said Starlight, "it's just that I think Twilight wanted me to make a new pony friend."

"Ah, I see," said Sokka as he landed, "I certainly know how hard it can be to make new friends. I was super shy when I first came to Ponyville."

"It's not really shyness that's the problem for me," Starlight explained, "It's more of ponies knowing my past..."

"Hmm...Chase could probably relate to that," said Sokka.

"Everypony tells me that, even Chase, but...when was Chase ever evil?" Starlight asked.

"Not exaclty." Sokka explained. "Chase was only being insulted by some of the snobby ponies in Canterlot since they nearly tried to tear him and his family down since Darius Hisomi went missing. Then he never came back to his family. It hurt him a lot."

"Really?" Starlight asked, stunned.

Sokka looked at her seriously and nodded.

"Yup." Sokka replied. "To this day, even after Chase has taken his grandfather's place as the new leader of the Elite Ninja, he still had doubts that he was worthy of honoring Darius Hisomi's place."

"Wow… I never knew..." said Starlight. "And I'm guessing this might have had something that he didn't want to talk about getting his cutie mark either, right?"

"Indeed." Sokka said. "It wasn't easy for him to make some friends because the ponies in Canterlot have been mocking him nonstop every time. Everypony here knew about his grandfather's disappearance and gave Chase their condolences to him as well as his family."

Starlight felt bad for Chase, especially since her time as Zhao's apprentice, she didn't know so much about Darius Hisomi. She then walked off as Sokka just watched her disappear with a concerned look before he headed back to his wife and the other animals.

(Scene changes)

Soon, Starlight was walking alone in the middle of the park as other ponies were enjoying themselves. Starlight just groaned.

"What's going on?" said Starlight in frustration, "This is Ponyville! If I can't make a friend here, there's gotta be something wrong with me!" Starlight just sighed as she looked at her reflection in the water fountain and sighed to herself.

"Okay, calm down," said Starlight, "Nobody makes friends with a stress-case." She then looked to one side and saw some ponies walking down a path and flying kites. Despite loving kites herself, she didn't feel the courage to speak to the ponies flying them.

"Stop stressing..." Starlight told herself as she began to panic and looked to see some ponies and a filly sharing flower crowns with each other.

"STOP STRESSING!" Starlight shouted aloud, making all the nearby ponies looked at her.

Starlight just smiled, looking embarrassed, before she zipped away to get away from being the center of attention. She eventually slowed down and started feeling sorry for herself.

Starlight honestly doesn't know what she was going to do now but knows she can't come back empty hoofed out of fear of disappointing her teachers. She worried to herself as she hears the sound of a ringing bell and then saw her eyes falling upon the Ponyville Spa just like Rainbow had suggested earlier.

"The Ponyville Spa." She said with a smile with a potential idea up her hooves going there. "Maybe a little relaxation to soothe my nerves will help me think more clearly. I'll have to thank Rainbow Dash for the suggestion the next time I see her."

She trotted towards the spa's direction.

(Scene changes)

It wasn't long before she had on a green facial mask with cucumber slices over her eyes as Lotus Blossom and another Spa patron pony were giving her hooves a nice message.

"This is just what I needed," said Starlight with a content sigh.

"Tell me about it," said a cerulean pony wearing a pink facial mask that was sitting behind the lilac unicorn.

"You ever have one of those days?" Starlight asked the cerulean pony.

"For me, they're all one of those days," the cerulean pony remarked. Starlight giggled.

"I'm gonna start coming here every time I visit Ponyville," said the cerulean pony.

"I'm not from here either," Starlight replied, "I've been trying to make friends, but it's not easy. They're not saying it, but I think everypony knows about my past. I may have been a tiny bit...completely and utterly evil?"

"Ponies judge me on my past too," said the cerulean pony.

"Finally, a pony I can relate to," said Starlight as he removed her cucumber slices and smiled, "Well, other than Chase I suppose..." The cerulean pony raised an eyebrow.

"Chase?" she said curiously, "You know Chase?"

"Yeah," said Starlight, "We had some...differences, but Chase was able to forgive me and now we're good friends. Have you met him?" The cerulean pony was quiet for a moment.

"You...could say that," the cerulean pony replied in a rather quiet tone.

Starlight just smiled, unaware of the discomfort the cerulean pony was feeling at the moment. The cerulean pony was soon grateful when the subject changed and soon the two ponies were chatting away.

(Scene changes)

The next day at the castle, Twilight was busy resetting the table. It should also be noticed that she was only using plates that had her cutie mark on them and plates with Chase's cutie mark were nowhere in sight.

"Soup spoon, salad fork, pasta spoon, strawberry pick," Twilight said aloud, "I'm beginning to think that after friendship, the greatest magic of all is proper silverware placement!"

Twilight then giggled to herself.

"Twilight, guess what?" said Starlight as she ran inside the dining room, and then noticed somepony was missing, "Hey...where's Chase? I thought he'd be helping you set the table?"

"Oh, he's in the kitchen working on the menu for tomorrow's dinner," Twilight replied, "What's up?"

"I made a few friend!" Starlight announced.

"That's fantastic news!" Twilight replied.

"She's great!" said Starlight.

"Great!" Twilight replied.

"She's powerful!" said Starlight.

"Powerful?" Twilight replied rather skeptically.

"She's-" Starlight began to say when a certain cerulean pony wearing her purple cape and magician's hat appeared.

"Hello...princess!" said the pony with a smug look on her face. Twilight gasped silently.

"Trixie?!" Twilight exclaimed in shock as Starlight just smiled. It wasn't long before Twilight and Trixie were staring each other down and Starlight stood halfway between them.

"You know each other?" Starlight asked.

"You could say that," said Twilight in a bitter tone as she slightly looked away.

"We've had our differences," said Trixie as she walked up to the purple pony, "What matters is Twilight gave me a second chance, and I appreciate it."

Trixie smiled as Twilight returned it, but one could feel that there was a lot of tension still present between the two. It was then Chase walked into the room.

"Honey, I've just about got the dinner courses all set up, I just need you to..." Chase then froze when he saw the cerulean pony standing near his wife, "Trixie?! Is that you?"

"Oh...hello...master," said Trixie smugly as Twilight just glared at her.

Chase just walked up to Trixie.

"What are you doing here?" Chase asked in confusion.

"Oh, just a casual visit with my newest friend." Trixie said smugly.

Chase knew there was gonna be tension between Trixie and Twilight as he glared at her softly before he recomposed himself.

"Well, welcome to the Castle of Friendship. I hope you enjoy your visit. Just...stick with either Twilight or Starlight until you learn where the rooms are. It's really easy to get lost." Chase said.

"He's right about that," said Starlight, "I haven't mastered where everything is around here, but I know my way around to at least get to my bedroom, the bathroom, and the more important rooms in the castle."

"So, um, what brings you to Ponyville?" Twilight asked as Trixie headed over to the dining table and started examining the silverware.

"The Grrrreat and Powerful Trrrrixie has come to perform a new stage show of grand illusion!" Trixie explained, "I am calling it "The Humble and Penitent Trixie's Equestrian Apology Tour"!" Starlight quickly rushed up to her.

"That's kind of a mouthful," Starlight said in a hush tone.

"It's a working title," said Trixie in the same tone as she gave Starlight a wink.

"Right." Chase said skeptically.

"Starlight? A moment? Over here with Chase?" Twilight called out in a firm tone.

"Yes, come over here." Chase added as Starlight just smiled apologetically before Twilight used her magic to drag Starlight over to the royal couple.

"I know I said you could make friends with anypony, but, well, with Trixie's past, and your past, I'm not sure she's the best... first friend. Did she tell you about what happened when me and Trixie last met or the time before that?" Twilight said as she gestured to the smirking Trixie as she observed the table setting.

"Yeah, she can be a real hoof full sometimes when I first me her back in the day I was in Canterlot." Chase agreed with his wife. "I really didn't like her the first time or even the second time she took over Ponyville."

"But whatever she did, you've both forgiven her, right?" Starlight asked, giving the alicorn couple a glare.

"Yeah, about that…" Chase said, struggling to find the correct words.

"Of course, it's just..." Twilight spluttered, "She wasn't the nicest pony."

"Well, you did say anypony," said Starlight, "and I just assumed that you'd trust me to make my own friends the way Princess Celestia trusted you. Chase doesn't have any issues trusting Nyx to make her own friends!"

As much as Chase and Twilight wanted to argue with Starlight, she did have a point. Chase sighed in annoyance.

"Alright, but if she ruins this moment at the dinner party, I don't wanna hear anymore complaints." Chase advised sternly before he walked off to prepare the dinner.

"Don't worry, master." Trixie said, brushing off Chase's threat lightly. "Nothing's going to happen to her."

She followed Starlight out of the castle as Twilight watches after them still suspicious of her before turning back to the table to see the little figurine Trixie had made out of the silverware to which Twilight proceeds to use her magic to undo it with an annoyed expression on her face.

(Scene changes)

Trixie and Starlight then made their way to the park where Trixie planned to use the stage to perform her magic show.

"This magic show's gonna be the greatest thing Ponyville's ever seen!" Trixie told Starlight as they both set up the stage.

As Starlight and Trixie both continued working, a couple of ponies walked by who both secretly whispered to each other but their comments were clearly heard by the two unicorns.

"Everypony always says they'll give you a second chance, but deep down, they never forget," Trixie bitterly said, taking offense to their comments.

"That's what I'm worried about," Starlight commented to Trixie. "Even though the saying is true, the question is do they ever let bygones be bygones?"

Trixie nodded in agreement as she sighs.

"What is it?" Starlight asked Trixie.

"I heard what Twilight and Chase said about me, and they're right. I wasn't very nice, especially towards Chase." Trixie acknowledged her distrustful claims. "So I'd understand if you didn't want to be friends."

"Are you kidding? You're the first pony I've met all day who has any idea how I feel other than Twilight!" Starlight replied. "She was willing to befriend me even after I did things worse than you and her friends in return did the same after she did worse than both of us combined. So if I'm sure she'll forgive you in no time at all if everypony is willing to forgive her." She assured the blue unicorn as she looked around before whispering to her.

"Can you keep a secret?" She asked.

"Uh, sure? What are friends for?" Starlight asked Trixie as she looked around to make sure no pony was in hearing range. "What is it?"

"The things I've done? I did them because I was jealous of Twilight and Chase. They're just the best at everything, and I wanted to beat them at something!" She secretly confessed.

"Your secret's safe with me." Starlight whispered to Trixie.

"Thanks," Trixie thanked with a smile as she asked Starlight. "So, wanna help me unpack my wagon?"

"I would love too." Starlight replied with a smile too.

As the two unicorns walk over to her wagon, Chase is secretly watching them from behind a tree as he makes sure everything will be fine with the two new friends since Twilight is almost getting everything ready for Celestia's visit.

"I tend to spend a lot of time on the road with my wagon, so it might be a tad messy." Trixie lightly warned Starlight on the way over.

"I think we can arrange cleaning up whatever mess there is inside." Starlight shrugged off as it's no big deal.

As the two unicorns strike up a conversation together with more common ground, Chase was still watching them from the shadows behind a tree. He could tell the two friends have gotten along pretty well, but he still didn't trust her from the fact she bullied him nonstop since they were kids.

"I just hope you don't make a bigger mess in regards to messing up your friendship with Starlight, Trixie." Chase said to himself with a sigh as there is nothing he can do about it unless he wants to set a bad example for his student and the concept of trust and friendship.

As much as he wants to do something about it before something happens he promised he and Twilight trusted their student's judgment so he is going to keep his word.

"I mean you have just arrived in Ponyville and haven't shown signs that you've completely changed, but I still don't trust you after everything you put me and my family through." Chase said as he glared at Trixie silently.

He hides behind a bush and observed the two unicorns who are both unpacking Trixie's wagon.

"I'm just going to have to stay on guard in case something does happen and let this play out by itself." Chase said as he went home, setting the castle up for the important dinner.

"I was thinking…" Starlight said as she pushed yet another heavy trunk out of the wagon and onto the ground. "You said Twilight and Chase are better than you at everything, but that's not actually true. You're better at magic."

"Only when I'm wearing a soul-sucking evil amulet so I don't think that counts." Trixie replied unconvinced.

"I meant stage magic," Starlight clarified. "That's why you call yourself The Great and Powerful Trixie, right?"

"Well, of course!" Trixie smiled as she pulled out magic accessories from her trunk. "Great? Yes. Powerful? Obviously. But I'm not the best. As great and powerful as I am, there's one trick I've never been able to do – the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive! Only one magician has ever pulled it off!" She said as she further explained. "My hero, Hoofdini! You are supposed to blast yourself into the open mouth of a hungry manticore! And after the manticore chews you up and swallows you, you magically step out of a box on the other side of the stage! Completely unharmed!"

"That sounds very..." Starlight began.

"Dangerous?" Trixie interrupted to ask.

"I was gonna say cool!" Starlight answered, sounding amazed by it.

"I knew I liked you for a reason." Trixie complimented as they hoof-bumped. "I don't know how he did it! If I tried it, I'd get chewed up and swallowed by that manticore."

"Not if you could use real magic." Starlight brought up.

"Obviously. Way to rub it in." Trixie commented very annoyed.

"No, I mean I could help!" Starlight quickly clarified what she meant by that. "You could start the trick, and right before you got chewed up, I could use magic to save you…" She said as she lit up her horn and teleported Trixie into the nearby black box. "And make you appear in the black box on the stage!"

"I guess that would work," Trixie acknowledged that's possible is she thought of something. "But if you made one mistake, I'd be a goner for sure."

Starlight laughed it off undeterred by that.

"When it comes to magic, I don't make mistakes," She proudly proclaimed as she placed a hoof to her chest. "Maybe I could be your magic show helper pony." She offered.

"We call it 'assistant' in the magician biz. And... nopony's ever offered to help before." Trixie said while sounding surprised that anyone was willing to make her said offer.

"Well, I'd be honored." Starlight offered.

"You may have just made my great and powerful magic show even better! Which I didn't think was even possible!" She happily said as she pulled out a flier to advertise her upcoming show which presented Trixie holding a crystal ball. "We're gonna blow them all away tonight!"

Hearing that caused Starlight to groan and put a hoof to her forehead, as she remembered what else was to take place that evening.

"I can't! Tonight's this incredibly important dinner with Twilight and Chase." Starlight explained.

"Oh." Trixie said as she rolled up the scroll in disappointment.

"Can I vent for a second or two?" Starlight asked Trixie.

"What are friends for?" Trixie obliged to her request.

"Even after Twilight and Chase said they trust me, I get the feeling that they clearly don't trust me enough to choose my own friends. It's like I am being constantly watched over by them, more specifically Twilight, even though they mean well." Starlight explained as she sighed.

"A pity, but I can't say I'm shocked," Trixie responded unsurprisingly. "Well, lucky for Princess Twilight and Master Chase, I have my magic show tonight."

"I'm sorry but I promised Twilight and Chase I'd be there for the dinner party." Starlight apologetically told her. "And I promised I would bring my new friend there with me to show how much I have learned since becoming Twilight and Chase's student."

"Well if you have to go to the dinner, I completely understand," Trixie dramatically said as she then added in a somber tone. "I just hope I find a way to pull off the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive without my new assistant!"

She guilt tripped Starlight on the last part to bait her into skipping the dinner.

Starlight looked worried and was starting panic.

"Well, there is a way you could come," said Trixie slyly.

Starlight gave Trixie a devious smirk as well.

(Scene changes)

Later that night, the food had been set up and an ice sculpture was placed in the middle of the table. Celestia had arrived and taken her seat at the table. Starlight had come back to the castle earlier in a casual manner as Twilight told Chase to get the dinner ready and he started cooking. Starlight said nothing as she headed out of the room and then teleported out of the castle and sneaked away.

By now, the ice sculpture was starting to melt, and Celestia was looking most annoyed. She knew something was up when Twilight went to go check on the food and had taken a long time coming back with each plate.

This was probably because Chase was slow at cooking as Celestia also knew something was off with him. Twilight was fuming to herself over it, but always masked it with an over the top smile when she came into the dining room. Eventually Twilight had sat down beside Celestia, but nothing had been served since Starlight hadn't shown up. Chase was in the kitchen, still preparing dinner.

"Starlight Glimmer should be here, heh, any minute, heh," Twilight stuttered nervously, "Any minute now...and my husband will be out once he's done the final touches on dessert," Twilight then muttered under her breath, "which I had to bake myself that good for nothing..."

She then saw Celestia glaring at her. Twilight chuckled sheepishly as Celestia took a fork and examined it.

"Nevermind," Twilight remarked, "How about I introduce everyone?"

Twilight then pointed to Muffins, Dj-pon3, and Cranky, who were sitting at the opposite end of the table. Muffins waved and said hello as she ate one of the dinner muffins. Apparently Chase had told Twilight everything for what was going on so she had to find fake friends for Starlight so the alicorn couple wouldn't look humiliated.

"Our friendship lessons are going so well," Twilight continued in an over the top tone, "She made three new friends! And Chase didn't help her at all."

"Isn't that because you..." Muffins nearly told Celestia about Chase was spying on Starlight until the purple alicorn shoved another muffin in her mouth.

"You love the muffins, why thank you!" said Twilight, "Starlight has great taste in friends. I don't know where she would've learned that!" Twilight gave another nervous laugh. Celestia just looked very bored and annoyed. It was obvious Celestia didn't believe anything Twilight was saying.

"Starlight Glimmer?" said Cranky, "I thought you said "nosehair trimmers". What's going on? I'm hungry! And my nose is too hairy."

He then snorted and banged a fore-hoof on the table. Celestia just rolled her eyes as Twilight bit her lip to hide the fact she was panicking.

"Ha-ha, Cranky Doodle," said Twilight, "You're so funny! If you'll excuse me, I'm gonna check the kitchen. Maybe she and Chase got lost amongst the, uh... artichokes!"

She then chuckled nervously once more and ran out of the room. It was then Chase entered as felt a little concerned for Twilight. He then noticed Celestia was looking at him sternly.

"Chase Young, what is going on?" Celestia asked firmly.

Chase sighed to himself as he felt guilty for this.

"Sorry, Twilight. But I gotta spill the beans." Chase said silently before he turned to Celestia with a firm look. "There's… been a mishap."

Princess Celestia stared at Chase for a moment before she became firm with him.

"Then go find Twilight, bring her back with Starlight as well as her new friend and don't be late." Celestia said.

Chase sighed as he knew this was a night he will never forget before he ran out of the room to get Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie.

(Scene changes)

It didn't take long before Twilight was walking about town in search of her pupil.

"Starlight?" Twilight called out, "Has anyone seen Starlight Glimmer? I'm looking for her."

Twilight then rushed off when there was no reply. She then came to a stop when she saw Trixie's stage all set up at the bottom of a hill and several ponies were gathering at the stage.

"Trixie!" Twilight said bitterly. At the bottom of the hill, Applejack, Clay, and Pinkie had come to see the show.

"So this is the Humble and Penitent Trixie's Equestria Apology Tour?" said Pinkie as she looked at the stage.

"Ain't that a mouthful of molasses," Applejack remarked.

"Really weird." Clay said bluntly.

"It's a working title!" Trixie retorted as she stuck her head out of the curtain and then retreated.

Backstage, Starlight was with her.

"Oh, this is gonna be the greatest night of my life!" Trixie said as Starlight had a brief surprised look.

"Excuse me. Our lives." Trixie corrected herself.

"I'm so glad I'm not at that boring dinner." Starlight expressed though not quite as excited as Trixie. "I just hope I can give Twilight and Chase a good cover-up story for all of this because I really would hate to see the look on their faces if they found out what I was really up to." She added somewhat humorously but really feeling uncomfortable for being dishonest with her teachers.

"You should've," said Trixie, "Twilight could've given Princess Celestia the slip."

"Ahem?" said a voice as Starlight winced to see that Twilight had found them and was looking very angry.

Starlight just looked worried. Trixie was the only pony who didn't look worried.

"You just decided to skip our dinner without telling me and my husband?" Twilight said sternly to Starlight specifically, "Are you aware that, at this very moment, Princess Celestia is waiting for you at the table with exquisite silverware placement?"

Twilight stuck her nose into Starlight's face.

"Well?" Twilight demanded.

"Yes, but-" Starlight tried to explain.

"This is exactly why I didn't want you to make friends with Trixie!" Twilight scolded angrily.

"A-ha!" Trixie interjected as she got into Twilight's nose. Starlight just stood at the right of the cerulean unicorn, "You and Chase still don't trust me! But guess what, Princess? It doesn't matter if you want to give me a second chance or not! Starlight had to choose between you two and me, and she chose me! Your pupil chose me! So, HA! I win!"

Starlight was stunned.

"You win?" Starlight asked, looking puzzled. "That sounds like you just made friends with me to beat Twilight and Chase."

"Exactly!" Trixie gloated.

Starlight was devastated and she looked deeply hurt. Trixie soon realized her mistake as she saw her fighting back tears.

"Wait! I mean, no!" Trixie replied, trying to do damage control, "I got caught up in the moment. I like you. Beating Twilight and Chase was just a bonus." Trixie then gasped and face-hoofed herself. Twilight gave her a glare from the background, "Saying that didn't help, did it?"

"I should've known. Nopony else in Ponyville wanted to be my friend! Why would you?" Starlight snapped angrily.

She started sobbing as she ran out of the backstage area and into the background.

"Wait, it's not like that!" Trixie called out, "I am your friend!"

It was no good. Starlight had disappeared. Trixie just groaned sadly when Twilight came out.

"Well, you won," said Twilight sternly from the background, "I hope you're happy!"

"Looks like the Great and Powerful Trixie is back to a solo show," Trixie sighed and put a fore-hoof to her forehead. Twilight then noticed just how sad and upset the cerulean unicorn looked.

"Trixie?" Twilight called out with concern.

"...Which is exactly the way she likes it!" Trixie retorted angrily, "Thank you, Princess Twilight, for that annoying pony who wanted to be my first friend! I am not sad at all!"

Despite her efforts to play off her hurt feelings, poor Trixie was crying as she finished speaking and slammed the door to the backstage area. Trixie quickly wiped her eyes and snorted.

"It was for the best Trixie," she told herself, "you hurt Chase so much and you probably would've hurt Starlight too. You don't deserve friends. Why else did you drive Chase away all those years ago to make him angry? And now you've probably done it again...it's not your fault Chase hasn't believed you back at the castle...and who's to say you won't make Starlight feel the same way..." It was at that moment all the guilt and shame bubbled over and Trixie couldn't contain it anymore.

"GAH!" Trixie cried out as she buried her face into the floor and wept.

Little did she know that Twilight was leaning against the door and had heard everything. Twilight felt ashamed. She knew she was to blame for this mess.

It was then Chase flew into view from above as he hovered beside Twilight.

"Hey, honey." Chase said, getting his wife's attention as he landed in front of her. "You doing okay?"

"Not really, sweetie." Twilight said sadly. "I almost could've done something so wrong. And now I've just ruined a friendship for two ponies..."

Chase looked at his wife sadly before he gently guided her away from Trixie's wagon to a tree where they could talk in private.

"You know, you're not the only one here. Maybe we were too hard on those two." Chase said feeling guilty. "Maybe we just need those two to get to know each other a bit more than they realized."

"How? I mean there's no way they'll ever forgive us for this." Twilight said sadly before she looked at her husband regrettably. "Can you ever forgive me for running off to find Starlight?"

Chase smiled.

"Like I'd ever say no to the most beautiful and gorgeous pony I've ever laid eyes on before I married her?" Chase asked softly.

Twilight smiled and she giggled as the two shared a loving nuzzle with each other before they went off to find Starlight together.

(Scene changes)

Once Trixie had managed to calm down, she used her magic to activate the spotlight. She didn't care to figure out it. In fact, she didn't even care about her show and it showed as she appeared on stage wearing her hat and cape with a very blunt look on her face.

"Come one, come all," Trixie announced with no enthusiasm in her voice, "Come and see the Pathetic and Friendless Trixie's "Way-To-Go-Dum-Dum-You-Really-Messed-It-Up-This-Time Repentance Tour"." The crowd just looked confused.

"It's a working title!" Trixie snapped before going back to her unenthusiastic tone, "Behold, your fears come true. A pony-eating manticore." It was then a chained manticore was presented and it roared at the crowd. Fluttershy, who was with Applejack, Clay, Pinkie, and her husband Sokka, grabbed Applejack and trembled nervously. Sokka quickly pulled his wife close.

"You're okay, sweetie," he said soothingly, "I'll protect you." Fluttershy just whimpered in reply.

"For tonight, the Great and Powerful Trixie will be performing the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive," Trixie told the crowd. Everypony gasped and Fluttershy used a fore-leg to cover her eyes.

"Now, now, save your gasps for when I defy the beast's jaws of doom and appear inside this black box," Trixie explained before adding dramatically, "I was supposed to perform this trick with my great and powerful assistant, who was also my great and powerful friend!"

Trixie didn't say that last part as the crowd divided to let the cerulean unicorn make her way toward the cannon. It was then revealed that Starlight had ran just above the hill where Trixie's show had taken place. She was looking upset while wiping her cheek since they were still sticky from all her tears.

It was then Chase and Twilight approached her.

"Starlight…" Chase was cut off by Starlight.

"Please don't." Starlight spoke up before Chase could say a word.

He and Twilight could tell where she was going.

"You both were right to be wary of Trixie and you have every right to be mad at me for buying into Trixie's manipulations. She was using me just to get one over you." She said very guilty and could only blame herself for being gullible enough to fall for it.

"Starlight, when Chase and I first came to Ponyville," Twilight told her, "Princess Celestia gave us room to make our own decisions and our own friends. Just like my husband does for you, I need to give you the same freedom. I shouldn't have tried to pick and choose your friends for you. Just like us, you have to make your own decisions and your own friends."

Chase nodded in agreement. At the bottom of the hill, Trixie was inside the cannon. She had removed her regular hat and was replacing it with a cone-shaped helmet. Then the cannon raised into position for the precise trajectory.

"But...what if Trixie really was using me just to one-up you?" said Starlight.

"From what I've seen," said Twilight, "she's the real thing."

"You sure about that honey?" Chase asked as Trixie lit the fuse with her magic, "I know I want to believe in her, but I still haven't fully trusted her after what she did to us."

"Just trust me, sweetie." Twilight said to her husband sweetly.

Starlight and Chase just shared unsure looks with each other. Back at the bottom of the hill, the manticore roared and the cannon's fuse was growing shorter and shorter.

"Starlight? If you're out there and you still want to be friends, let's be great and powerful together! Please?" Trixie said to herself her last words before meeting her fate as the fuse hit its mark launching Trixie into the direction of the manticore.

Trixie then shrieks and shields herself for what's about to happen as she flies into the manticore's mouth in one bite and gulps her down with a swallow much to the crowd's horror as Fluttershy faints into Sokka's forelegs. The audience began chattering with each other before there was a magic zap and the box fell apart and there was Trixie, her cloak and mane looking rather tattered, alive and in shell-shock.

"Behold, the Peat and Growerful Triskie...!" she said woozily before falling over to the side.

There was a brief pause before the crowds cheered, including Fluttershy, who had recovered. It was then a familiar lilac unicorn appeared and helped Trixie to her hooves. That was when Trixie saw her and was surprised. Starlight just smiled and gave her a wink, which Trixie had a grateful smile on her face.

"And now, I'm proud to introduce one of my great and powerful assistants!" said Trixie before saying quietly, "And best friend," Then went back to her louder voice, "Starlight Glimmer!" The crowd cheered.

The crowd all cheered for them as the two unicorns bowed before their audience. The curtains closed as Starlight and Trixie hugged each other after having made amends with each other as Twilight and Chase appeared backstage.

"Trixie!" Twilight called as the royal couple approached them.

"What do you two want?" Trixie asked defensively with an eye roll.

"I was wrong. I'm sorry," said Twilight and walked up to the cerulean unicorn with Chase, "And I have to hand it to you. I could've never pulled off a trick like that." Starlight smiled.

"Thank you, princess." Trixie gratefully told the alicorn as she and Starlight then set off some celebratory fireworks.

"So, now that the shows over, Trixie." said Chase as he walked up to Trixie, "What were you going to say earlier?"

Trixie winced before looking nervously at Twilight, giving the impression she didn't want Twilight there. Twilight sighed.

"Trixie, you can tell him the truth," said Twilight gently.

"What truth?" Trixie asked skeptically.

"I heard what you said after you closed the door," said Twilight, "I told Chase about it. I'm hoping you'll tell him yourself." Trixie's body trembled as she bit her lip.

"Trixie, if there's anypony you can open up to, it's Chase," said Starlight, "He's already made it clear that he can relate to you to some extent. And he won't think you're weak if you need to cry or scream or vent either. I think I can figure out why you're always acting rather awkward around him. But only you can confirm or deny it."

"I don't deserve his friendship! I just DON'T!" Trixie bellowed before she lowered her head and started to cry, "I hurt him too much...I'm a bad pony..."

Chase looked at her with a stern look on his face.

"Trixie Lunamoon," said Chase in a firm tone, which surprised Starlight and Trixie, the former because she had never known Trixie had a last name and the latter because Chase had said her full name, "I'm going to ask you a question and I want you to be completely honest with me." Trixie looked at Chase fearfully with eyes filled with falling tears.

"You told Starlight earlier today that you didn't know how to do the Moonshot Manticore Mouth Dive on your own," said Chase sternly as Trixie cringed, "Did you somehow manage to figure out the trick? Or did you just act out of faith that either Starlight would save you in time?"

Now Twilight was giving Trixie a concerned look. Even Starlight had a firm expression on her face.

"Nopony wants me here," Trixie sobbed, "Twilight didn't want me here or to be your friends. I drove you both away. I felt like I had nothing to lose if I just went for it. Either I figure out the trick on the fly or...or...I accept my fate..."

"Trixie..." said Twilight, feeling more guilty and ashamed as Trixie cried harder.

"Listen Trixie," said Chase, sternly. "If Starlight and I are going to be your friends, please don't do that again."

Starlight was tearing up.

"Yes, Trixie," said Starlight, "I know it's hard to move on from the past, especially when it feels like other ponies won't let you forget. But you don't have to give up. I'll be your best friend and we can do great and powerful things together."

"She's right, Trixie," said Chase, "You don't have to be a soloist anymore. You've got two ponies who would be more than happy to be your friends."

"Make that three," said Twilight as Trixie looked at her in surprise.

"But...but...but..." Trixie stuttered.

"Listen, my husband and I were never trying to upstage you," said Twilight, "We only wanted to protect our friends. The first time was from the Ursa Minor Snips and Snails brought to town. The second time was so we could get you to remove the Alicorn Amulet. It was never about being better than you."

"I...know...that now," said Trixie sadly, "But you and Chase are still better than me. I was just so jealous because you two are married, Chase is good at jiu jitsu skills, and you're good at magic. After all, you both are the Princess and Prince of Friendship while Chase is also the Master of Jiu Jitsu. I'm just a struggling magician who can't be taken seriously..."

"Oh, I'm sure you gain a lot of respect for that last trick, Trixie," said Twilight as she put a fore-hoof on the cerulean unicorn's back.

"You think so?" Trixie asked timidly.

"We know so," said Chase and Starlight together.

Trixie just sniffled and was now feeling better as the two ponies gave her a group hug. Twilight just smiled. Then Starlight's and Chase's stomachs began to growl loudly. Trixie and Twilight just stared as the two ponies blushed as they pulled away from Trixie.

"I guess with all the excitement, we skipped dinner," said Starlight sheepishly as Trixie chuckled. Twilight giggled but then gave a strained squeak.

"Dinner...dinner. Dinner!" Twilight said in a panic, "Princess Celestia and the dinner!"

"Oh! Right!" Chase said urgently. "Princess Celestia is still at the castle waiting for us!"

Starlight and Trixie just looked at Twilight and Chase. Twilight now just smiled and was sweating nervously as Chase rolled his eyes, knowing he had to explain the princess about this.

(Scene changes)

Back at the castle, the ice sculpture was now half melted, and Celestia was feeling very bored and agitated.

"How do you get your hair to do that all the time?" Cranky asked.

Celestia's only reply was a long sigh and an eye roll. By the time Twilight, Chase, Starlight, and Trixie arrived at the castle, Celestia was just sitting alone, looking very cranky. Chase was the first to walk into the dining room and saw that the sun princess was alone. He figured that she had sent the others Twilight had invited home. Twilight gulped nervously, but then Chase went into the dining room before her.

"Celestia?" Chase asked gently yet firmly. "We're back."

Then he saw the irritated look on Celestia's face, but he kept his ground.

"Well, what took you all so long?" Celestia asked in a slow but furious tone.

"Sorry we're late." Chase said softly but firmly. "You see..."

"It's my fault, your majesty," said Trixie as she removed her hat, "I was the one who convinced Starlight not to show up tonight."

"You don't say?" Celestia said in a very blunt tone. Trixie looked really nervous as Twilight stood beside her.

"If you're willing to stay a little longer," said Twilight, "My husband can make us some fresh food to eat and I'll explain everything. No more cover ups. No more fake new friends. Just the truth."

The four ponies held their breath as Celestia just looked at them bluntly. There was a long silence as they waited for the sun princess to give her answer. Celestia gave a long sigh.

"Very well," said Celestia, "Since it appears the lesson here is how important is it to give a pony a second chance."

The four ponies all smiled nervously at each other. In time, Chase had gotten new dishes ready and everypony was enjoying themselves. Celestia was definitely in lighter spirits once Twilight had told her everything that had happened.

Initially, Trixie tried to take the blame, but Celestia wouldn't let her and told the cerulean unicorn that she could address the sun princess informally, which Trixie reluctantly agreed to. Then Celestia, as punishment in her words, told Trixie and Starlight about the time Twilight went crazy trying to find a friendship problem. Starlight and Trixie laughed.

"Who knew miss perfect would go crazy just because she didn't want to be tardy with her work," Trixie teased, "the world isn't going to explode if you miss an assignment."

"Oh hush up," Twilight retorted with bright pink cheeks as she shoved some food in her mouth. It was then Chase returned with the main course.

"How's everypony enjoying the food?" Chase asked.

"Delicious as always, Chase," said Starlight.

"Indeed," said Trixie, "and this is coming from a pony whose traveled all over Equestria and tasted all sorts of good eats. I never knew you were such a good cook."

"Guess all of my mother's cooking paid off," said Chase as he went to take a seat beside his wife, "I hope Celestia wasn't too harsh with you."

"Not...really..." said Twilight sheepishly, "Just a lecture about not showing off being a teacher, trusting our pupil, and that I need to listen to you more..."

"That last one definitely needs alot of work," Chase remarked.

"Chase..." Twilight warned as the alicorn prince chuckled.

"Kidding dear," said Chase as he began eating his share of the food. Then he finished his fill and sat up. "I'm gonna go check on the cake."

He left the dining room. Trixie saw Chase walk off and stopped laughing. Starlight soon did the same and the others noticed how glum Trixie looked.

"Trixie, what's wrong?" Starlight asked.

"I didn't mean to hurt Chase's feelings all the years since we were foals," said Trixie sadly, "I even heard of what happened to his grandfather long ago, but I guess I only made things worse when I began bullying him."

"Trixie, please remember that the past is behind us all," said Celestia, "One of my star pupils has forgiven you and I have as well. I don't see the same pony who used to bully and hurt Chase as a colt, but a pony who had gone through tough trails on her life and is now trying to be a better pony. I know things didn't go well for you in Magic School, but I am glad to see that you didn't let that stop you from living your dream. I believe you're the pony Starlight needs for a friend." Trixie felt her eyes tear up as she gave Celestia a smile.

"Thank you...Celestia," said Trixie, "That means a lot to me. But I still can't help but feel so guilty. Starlight told me that Chase's been feeling gloomy, mainly because of his encounter with Zhao in past Cloudsdale, and because of those hurtful things I said to him. I wish I could undo the damage..."

Trixie let a single tear fall down her cheek as Chase re-entered the room with a serving cart that had a rather large chocolate fudge cake on it.

"There is a way you can help me heal," said Chase as he placed the cake on the table.

"Please tell me," Trixie pleaded.

"Answer me this question, Trixie," said Chase, "Do you think I'm special?"

"Yes, of course," said Trixie, "You are a great friend and, at the risk of getting Twilight jealous, you are really cute." Chase blushed as Starlight, Celestia, and Twilight giggled.

"Thanks..." said Chase, feeling slightly embarrassed and quickly recomposing himself, "and...everypony tells me that I can trust my friends to help me get past feeling so...worthless. Can I trust you to help me too? Not because you want to make things up to me, but because you care?" Trixie smiled.

"I do care about you," said Trixie, "And yes, you can trust me to help you feel better."

"Then you're welcomed into my friendship with the rest of the group, Trixie." Chase said as Trixie put a fore-hoof on her heart, smiled, and they shared a heartfelt hug together. Twilight and Starlight both awed.

"I guess Chase needed a new friend just as much as you, Starlight," Twilight said to the lilac unicorn.

"True," said Starlight, "but now I have two friends who understand how I feel and can help me get past my own doubts, fears, and insecurities."

"And we know you'll help us with ours," said Trixie as she, Chase, and Starlight shared another group hug together.

Twilight smiled, feeling very pleased that despite her own mistakes, everything had turned out alright and both Starlight and Chase made a new friend. She then turned to smile at Celestia, but found the sun princess was missing.

"Hey, where's..." Twilight then turned and gasped as her jaw hit the floor. Starlight, Trixie, and Chase pulled away and saw that Celestia was just standing next to the cake and eating it right on the spot without even cutting a slice.

"Whoa, whoa, Celestia!" Chase said, making Celestia raised her head and her cheeks were smothered in chocolate fudge frosting. "Save some for the rest of us here!"

"What?" Celestia asked innocently, "You know how much I love chocolate fudge cake." Celestia then went back to eating it as Chase just smirked.

"You know all that chocolate is going straight to your hips right?" Chase asked casually then he widened his eyes. "WHOA!"

Celestia's reply was throwing a large chunk of chocolate at Chase's face, but he ducked down as the chunk splattered against the wall. Twilight, Starlight, and Trixie laughed. Then Celestia surprised everypony by throwing some chocolate at Twilight, which made Chase join the laughter. Then Twilight tried chucking some chocolate at Trixie, which the cerulean unicorn shrieked as it splattered against her.

It was then some chocolate headed toward Starlight. Starlight yelped as she shielded herself.

"Oh, ladies," said Chase sweetly when...

SPLAT!

Chase threw chocolate at both their faces.

"CAKE FIGHT!" Celestia called out and soon the five ponies were laughing and tossing chocolate cake at each other until the dining room was completed coated in it. That was when Celestia revealed the cake fight was a trap...for Twilight.

As if being told about an embarrassing moment in front of Trixie and Starlight wasn't punishment enough, Twilight had to clean up the dining room all alone. Chase stayed out of it since Celestia let him off the hook.

Once Celestia had returned home late that night, Chase offered Trixie one of the guest bedrooms for the night, which she accepted since it wasn't often she got to sleep in a regular bed. Once she had washed the chocolate off herself, she curled up into the guest bed and closed her eyes. She spent those late night minutes thinking about her best friends Starlight and Chase. Then she fell happily asleep, snuggled cozily in the guest bed blankets.

For Chase and Starlight had given Trixie more than just friendship, forgiveness, and a second chance...

They had given Trixie hope.

And for the first time in years, Trixie felt true happiness.

Author's note: Here's chapter 6, guys and with a different set too. I'll be back to writing some more soon enough.

Peace out.